Today’s service (February 21) describes Saint Eustathius as the good shepherd and the double-edged sword, the decisive heretic and the owner of the heavenly biography who endured trials and sufferings for the sake of the divine preaching, so he destroyed error, established the truth, and protected the spiritual flock from the corruption caused by wolves.
He was born in Syda, Pamphylia, at a time unknown. It seems that he was brought up adhering to the true faith. Hence his heroic steadfastness and his confession of the Lord Jesus in the face of the symbols of pagan persecution of Christians, as reported by St. Athanasius of Alexandria. However, we do not know when he suffered as a confessor, in the time of Diocletian (c. 304 AD) or in the time of Licinius (c. 313 AD). He combined a life of virtue with abundant knowledge, eloquence, and intense zeal for the purity of the faith.
He was chosen as Bishop of Aleppo and emerged as a great pastor and theologian. Saint Alexander of Alexandria corresponded with him. In the reply letter of Eustathius, which was collected not long ago, our saint refuted the heresy of a group known as the Melchizedekites, who claimed that the king of Salem was greater than Christ and that he was the Holy Spirit. Then in the year 324, after the death of Saint Philogonus, Bishop of Antioch the Great, attention turned towards Eustathius and the bishops and the people wanted him to succeed them. He resisted and they insisted and he yielded. This is what Theodoretus confirmed. The transfer of bishops from one see to another was not legally permitted nor desirable in that it was a temptation for bishops aspiring to elevation and wealth. This is a corrupting stumbling block in the Church of Christ. Hence, Eustathius and others, at the First Ecumenical Council, in Nicaea, sought to close the door to transfer from one diocese to another by issuing a law preventing this (Canon 15) in line with the Apostolic Law.
Then in May of the year 325 AD, the First Council of Nicaea was held. Eustathius was one of its most prominent figures. His role in refuting Arianism was great. He was the first speaker at the council. When King Constantine entered, Eustathius was the one who welcomed him on behalf of the assembled fathers. The proceedings of the council have not reached us, and we do not know the contribution of our saint in the discussions that took place. But it seems that he shone, which made the Arians hate him and conspire to get rid of him.
Afterwards he returned to Antioch and sought to reunite it after it had been ravaged by the policy of the axes. He showed a clear concern for the purification of the clergy and preventing the arrival of suspects to the seat of the pastorate. One of those who worried Eustathius was Eusebius of Caesarea, the famous ecclesiastical history. Caesarea in Palestine was, in a way, subordinate to Antioch. Eusebius was inclined towards Arianism and sought to pass a version of the Creed other than that approved by the fathers. Hence, Eustathius’s relationship with Eusebius was tense, and it was also between Eustathius and a number of bishops of Syria and Palestine, such as Theodotus of Laodicea, Petrophilus of Pisane, Aetius of Lydda, and Cyrus, Bishop of Aleppo. This situation was exploited by Eusebius of Nicomedia, the cunning Arian, who intensified his contacts with Eustathius’ opponents. Then suddenly in 327 AD he called for an episcopal meeting in Antioch to deal with internal matters. Eustathius and some of his followers were present, but the majority were Arian. At the meeting, the Arians, according to a prearranged scenario, accused Eustathius of corruption and demanded his deposition. Three charges were filed against him: that he was a follower of Sabalius, that he spoke ill of Queen Helena, Constantine’s mother, and that he was an adulterer. To prove the charge of adultery, they brought a woman carrying a child who claimed to have been conceived by Eustathius. The man of God tried to defend himself, but the woman swore that what she was saying was the truth. In the face of this tightly woven conspiracy, Eustathius seemed to be overwhelmed. After much debate, the assembly decided to depose Eustathius. King Constantine was informed of the assembly’s decision, and he expressed his relief. He banished Eustathius to Traianopolis in Thrace and then to Philippi, where he died sometime between 330 and 337 AD. It is reported that the slanderous woman fell ill after a while and her illness became severe, so her conscience was stirred and she confessed that she had received a bribe in exchange for her slander of the man of God. She also mentioned that the child she had given birth to was from another Efstatius, known as Efstatius the Coppersmith. This information was apparently revealed, but too late. It is also reported that our saint gathered his people before he went into exile and urged them to adhere to the true faith. His person and his will had such an impact on a group of the people of Antioch that he remained in their hearts the only symbol of uprightness in the city, and they were crucified for many years (see the biography of Saint Meletius of Antioch, February 12).
Eustathius has a work in refutation of Arianism. St. Jerome said that our saint was the first to write against it. He also composed letters on the interpretation of the six days, the Psalms, and the soul. Only his letter on the Sibyl of Endor (see 1 Sam. 28) has survived, in which he refuted Origen's opinion and criticized his symbolic method. Some fragments of his treatise against Arianism are found in Eulogius of Alexandria and John of Damascus. It is said that he composed an extended liturgy (see The Church of the City of God Antioch the Great by Asad Rustum, Part I, p. 209). Sozomen the historian describes his writings as wonderful, whether for the purity of his style, the loftiness of his ideas, the beauty of his expression, or his striking choice of material.
St. Jerome calls him a resounding trumpet and marvels at the breadth of his ecclesiastical and worldly knowledge. John Chrysostom devotes a complete eulogy to him. Sozomen affirms that he impressed everyone with the holiness of his life and the eloquence of his speech. St. Anastasius of Sinai calls him the divine patriarch and the shepherd with perfect knowledge of the ways of God, the wise orator, the holy martyr and the scholar through whose mouth God speaks.
His remains were transferred to Antioch in 482 AD. Our Orthodox Church commemorates him on February 21st.
Troparion of Saint Eustathius in Tone 4
The deeds of truth have shown you to your flock as a rule of faith, an image of meekness, and a teacher of restraint, O Father Archpriest Efstathius. Therefore, through humility you have attained exaltation and through poverty you have attained wealth. So intercede with Christ God to save our souls.
Kontakion of Saint Timothy in the fourth tone
You have shone in the East, like a bright star, and you have illuminated the hearts of the faithful with the virtues of your miracles, O Timothy, who is adorned with dazzling miracles, the most blessed.
