Died 7th century
A virtuous man of Crete who gave away his wealth and became Bishop of Gortyna, remembered for charity, miracles, and pastoral holiness.
Our Father among the Saints Eumenius, Bishop of Gortyna, the Wonderworker
Saint Eumenius was, from his youth, known for a virtuous life devoted to the service of God. Concerned for the salvation of his soul, he distributed all of his possessions to the poor and shunned worldly temptations.
He was chosen as Bishop of Gortyna on the island of Crete, where he became known for pastoral compassion, charity to orphans and the destitute, and miracles attributed to his prayers. He defended Orthodox doctrine against the Monophysite heresy, and for his opposition was banished to the Thebaid in Upper Egypt, where he died in the seventh century. His body was afterward transferred and buried in Gortyna. He is commemorated on September 18.
Radiant with divine light, O blessed one,
illumine us who lovingly praise your precious and glorious passing;
hierarch father Eumenius,
unceasingly intercede for us all.
Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).
We have you as a friend and helper,
gracious advocate Eumenius:
For compassion flowed from you
and you pour forth healing on the Church.
Protect those who honor you.
Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).
According to his life as recorded by the Orthodox Church in America, Eumenius was noted from the time of his youth for his virtuous manner of living. He sought to serve the one God and avoided worldly temptations.
Out of concern for the salvation of his soul, he distributed all of his substance to the poor, embracing voluntary poverty.
Eumenius was chosen as Bishop of Gortyna, an ancient see on the island of Crete. As bishop he was remembered for pastoral compassion, comforting his flock in their sorrows and caring for orphans and the indigent.
The synaxarion relates that his prayers were powerful before God: during a drought he is said to have called forth abundant rain upon the earth.
Eumenius actively opposed theological error, defending Orthodox doctrine against the Monophysite heresy. For this opposition he was banished to the Thebaid, a region of Upper Egypt.
He died there in the seventh century. His body was subsequently transferred and buried in Gortyna.
Independent English-language attestation for Saint Eumenius is limited. As of this writing no English Wikipedia or OrthodoxWiki article was found for him, and the principal accessible account is the life published by the Orthodox Church in America, on which this profile chiefly rests.
The Orthodox Church in America commemorates him on September 18, where his name appears alongside other commemorations of that day, including the Martyr Ariadne of Phrygia.
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