Feast day of St. Eleutherios the Hieromartyr, Bishop of Illyricum

The Church today venerates the memory of Eleutherios the Hieromartyr, Bishop of Illyricum, and his mother AnTHI-a. This saint hailed from Rome and was orphaned of his father from childhood. He was instructed in the Gospels by the Bishop of Rome Anacletus. Though still very young, he was made Bishop of Illyricum by reason of his surpassing virtue, and by his teachings he converted many unbelievers to Christ. During the reign of Hadrian, St. Eleutherios was arrested and tortured. He was finally put to death in roughly the year 126. As for his Christ-loving mother, while embracing the remains of her son, she too was beheaded.