Eustachius

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Medieval depiction of St. Eustachius (13th century)
Saint Eustachius by Albrecht Dürer
Representation of the martyrdom of St. Eustachius and his family in the Menologion of Basil II.

Eustachius ( Greek Ευστάθιος Efstathios , Latinized Eustathius , "the steadfast") is an early Christian martyr († around 118) and saint .

Lore

The saint and his family are said to have suffered martyrdom in 118. Eustachius, who was called Placidus before his conversion, was once a master of a legion in Asia Minor under the Emperor Trajan . One day, while hunting, he met a stag with a crucifix shrouded in rays in its antlers . Placidus fell from his horse in shock. At the same time he heard the voice of Christ saying that he created heaven and earth. He is the Lord of light and darkness. This phenomenon was repeated several times; Placidu's wife heard the voice too. He was then baptized with his entire family and was given the name Eustachius.

At another apparition Eustachius was foretold a trial, whereupon all his servants, maidservants and animals of his farm would be carried off by a plague . After that, robbers attacked the settlement and left Eustachius and his family only their bare life. After these experiences, he fled with his family on a ship that was supposed to sail to Egypt. The ferryman asked for payment from Eustachius' wife; but when the latter refused, the ferryman threw him and his two sons overboard.

After Eustachius had reached the country with his children, he was struck by another trial: a wolf kidnapped one of his sons, a lion kidnapped the other. Later the wolf was chased away by farmers and the lion by shepherds, who from then on raised the two boys in their villages. Eustachius himself knew nothing about the whereabouts of his children and hired himself out as a servant in another village.

When the emperor was troubled by his enemies, he sent men to find the general Placidus. After fifteen years they found him and led him home, while at the same time Eustachius' sons were hired as soldiers. It was only by chance that Eustachius discovered the two in the traveling train. On the trip he also met his wife and mother again; Eventually the reunited family returned to their old homeland and were received with honors by Trajan's successor Hadrian . At the same time there should be a great animal sacrifice for victory. When Eustachius refused to attend this celebration, Hadrian became angry and accused his family of the lions. But these did not attack, but bowed to Eustachius and his family. Thereupon the emperor had Eustachius and the others plunged into boiling water that was in the bronze sculpture of a bull . In this they finally breathed out their life; but their bodies remained intact. The year 118 is considered to be the time of martyrdom. The Martyrologium Romanum states for September 20th:

"Romae passio sanctorum Martyrum Eustachii et Theopistis uxoris, cum duobus filiis Agapito et Theopisto, qui, sub Hadriano Imperatore, damnati ad bestias, sed Dei ope ab iis nullatenus laesi, tandem, in bovem aeneum candentem inclusi, martyrium consummarunt. (In Rome, the Passion of the Holy Martyrs Eustachius and his wife Theopistis with their two sons Agapitus and Theopistus, who were thrown to the animals by the Emperor Hadrian, but thanks to God's help they remain unharmed. Instead, they completed their martyrdom in a bronze ox. ) "

Adoration

After Eustachius' death, Christians buried his body in a "noble place" and built a church over it, which was later dedicated to his patronage . The day of remembrance of the saint in the Roman Catholic Church and Orthodox Churches is September 20 .

Eustachius is called in bereavement and in difficult situations and is therefore one of the fourteen helpers in need . Like St. Hubertus is also St. Eustachius is venerated as the patron saint of hunters. While the former is common in Belgium, France and Northern Germany as the patron saint of the hunt, in Austria and Bavaria the patron saint for hunters and rifle fraternities is more often St. Eustachius (such as the Academic Hunters Association St. Eustachius zu Würzburg ).

Web links

Commons : Eustachius  - collection of images, videos and audio files

literature

personal data
SURNAME Eustachius
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Placidus
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Martyrs and helpers in need
DATE OF BIRTH 1st century
DATE OF DEATH at 118