Holy Martyr Eleutherius (+305–311)

The holy Martyr Eleutherius was a noble and wealthy courtier, close to the court of the Emperor Maximian Hercules (284–305; 307–311). After his conversion to Christianity he withdrew from the palace and tried to please the Lord by prayer and good works. At last a servant denounced the blessed Eleutherius to the emperor. The lawless autocrat tried in vain to turn the saint away from the true faith, after which he ordered him to be beheaded. His body, thrown out to be torn by dogs and pecked by birds, was committed to the earth with honour by a pious Christian (the Church also commemorates the martyr on 4 August).