Martyr 4th century

Martyrs Eudoxios Agapios, Atticus, and those with them

d. c. 315

Also known as Eudoxios · Agapios · Atticus · Marinus · Oceanus · Eustratios

Christian soldiers in Sebaste who refused pagan sacrifice under Licinius and suffered martyrdom together.

Feast Day

November 3

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Commemorated as

The Holy, Glorious Martyrs Eudoxios, Agapios, Atticus, and Those with Them at Sebaste

Life

Eudoxios, Agapios, Atticus, and their companions were a group of Christian soldiers serving at Sebaste in Armenia who, by tradition, refused to offer pagan sacrifice and suffered martyrdom together. The group is recorded as ten soldiers: Eudoxios, Agapios, Atticus, Marinos, Oceanos, Eustratios, Karterios, Nikopolitianos, Styrax, and Tobias.

Their martyrdom is placed during the reign of the emperor Licinius, with the synaxarion dating their execution to about 315. When examined by the authorities, they openly confessed that they were Christians, endured severe torture, and were ultimately put to death by being burned alive.

The group is distinct from the better-known Forty Martyrs of Sebaste, a separate company of soldiers martyred at the same city around 320 by exposure on a frozen pond. Eudoxios and his companions are not numbered among that group.

Timeline 1 moments Read Hide

c. 315 Confession and martyrdom at Sebaste Serving as soldiers at Sebaste in Armenia under the emperor Licinius, the group confessed Christ when examined by the authorities, endured severe torture, and were burned alive.

Contributions & Legacy

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Historical Context

The martyrdom is set during the reign of Licinius, who was defeated by Constantine in 324. According to Eusebius of Caesarea, Licinius turned against Christians in the later part of his reign, expelling them from the imperial palace and ordering military sacrifices to the pagan gods. This policy is consistent with the synaxarion's account of soldiers at Sebaste being required to sacrifice and those who refused being put to death, and supports a date of about 315 for the execution of Eudoxios and his companions.

The synaxarion records that the soldiers were examined by several officials before their condemnation, named in the OCA account as a Duke Marcellus and a Marcus Agricola, together with a 'lord of Seville' (a designation the OCA text leaves uncertain, possibly a conflation of a title or place).

Identity and Distinction

These martyrs are frequently confused with the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste, but the two groups are separate. The Forty Martyrs were soldiers of the Legio XII Fulminata martyred at Sebaste around 320 by being left to freeze on a pond. Eudoxios, Agapios, Atticus, and their companions are a distinct group of ten soldiers executed by fire around 315 and are not mentioned among the Forty.

No dedicated article for these martyrs was found on Wikipedia or OrthodoxWiki at the time of research; their commemoration rests chiefly on the synaxarion entry.

Veneration

The Orthodox Church in America commemorates the martyrs on November 3. In Greek usage they are commemorated on November 2.

Notes

Named group kept as one row.

Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Lives of the Saints