Martyr4th century

Martyrs Eudoxius Zeno, Macarius & 1,104 Soldiers

died early 4th century

Also known as the martyrs of Melitene

An officer and a great number of soldiers martyred at Melitene in the persecution of Diocletian (311-312)

September 6New Calendar

Feast Day

September 19Old Calendar

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Commemorated as

The Holy Martyrs Eudoxius, Zeno, Macarius, and their Companions

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Military Service

Life

Eudoxius was a commander in the Roman imperial army who, with a great company of soldiers, was martyred at Melitene in Armenia during the persecutions that followed Diocletian. With him suffered his friend Zeno, his household steward Macarius, and, by the count preserved in the synaxarion, 1,104 fellow soldiers whom he had brought to the Christian faith.

Their commemoration belongs to the wave of military martyrdoms in the eastern provinces under the emperor Maximian Galerius, when soldiers were required to sacrifice to the idols or die. The account turns on Eudoxius's quiet acceptance of his death and the solidarity of the soldiers who confessed Christ with him.

Troparion1 hymnReadHide

TroparionTone 4

Your holy martyrs Eudoxius, Zeno, and Macarius, O Lord,
through their sufferings have received incorruptible crowns from You, our God.
For having Your strength, they laid low their adversaries,
and shattered the powerless boldness of demons.
Through their intercessions, save our souls!

Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).

Timeline4 momentsReadHide

early 4th centuryEdict against the ChristiansAn imperial edict required Christians who would not sacrifice to the idols to be put to death. Eudoxius, a Christian commander, resigned his office.
early 4th centuryFlight to MeliteneWith his wife Basilissa and his household, Eudoxius abandoned his property and withdrew into the region of Armenian Melitene to avoid the persecution.
early 4th centurySurrender and trialWhen soldiers came searching, Eudoxius lodged them as guests and revealed himself the next morning. Before the governor he refused to sacrifice and cast his military belt in the governor's face.
early 4th centuryMartyrdomAfter torture Eudoxius was beheaded. Zeno openly confessed Christ and was executed, and the steward Macarius likewise confessed and was beheaded, together with the soldiers who had renounced their belts.

Contributions & Legacy

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A Commander and His Soldiers

Eudoxius held the rank of commander in the Roman imperial army and suffered for Christ in the persecution that followed Diocletian, under the emperor Maximian Galerius. He was a Christian, as were his friend Zeno and his household steward Macarius. When the edict went out that those who refused to sacrifice to the idols were to be put to death, Eudoxius gave up his high position, and with his wife Basilissa and his whole household abandoned his property and went into hiding in the region of Armenian Melitene.

When soldiers were sent to find him, the saint received them into his house as guests and lodged them; in the morning he disclosed that he was the man they were seeking. He told his wife not to weep but to keep the day of his martyrdom as a feast, then put on his military dress and went with the soldiers to the governor.

Confession and Martyrdom

Pressed by the governor of Melitene to sacrifice to the idols, Eudoxius firmly refused and denounced the folly of worshipping soulless images. As he removed his military belt - the mark of his rank - he threw it in the governor's face, and more than a thousand secret Christian soldiers present did the same, casting off their belts in open confession. After being tortured, Eudoxius was beheaded.

His friend Zeno then declared himself a Christian and was at once sentenced to death. The steward Macarius, made aware through a vision Eudoxius had granted to his wife, likewise confessed the faith and was beheaded. By the count preserved in the synaxarion the soldiers martyred with them numbered 1,104. Their feast is kept on September 6.

Family1 relativeShowHide

Wife of Eudoxius, who by his charge kept the day of his martyrdom as a feast rather than a day of mourning.

Basilissa

not commemorated

Related Saints1 saintShowHide

Saints connected to his life, mission, and place in Orthodox tradition.

An earlier company of soldier-martyrs who likewise suffered near Melitene in Armenia, under the emperor Trajan, for refusing to renounce Christ

Martyrs Romulus & the 11000 in Armenia

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Sources: Synaxarion

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EudoxiusCommemorated within this group

ZenoCommemorated within this group

MacariusCommemorated within this group

The 1,104 SoldiersSoldiers martyred with them at Melitene.Commemorated within this group