Saint Euphemia of Chalcedon
- 16 September
- 11 July (celebrating her miracle work)
Profile
Born to a wealthy, aristocratic, and pious family; the daughter of Philophorm and Theodosia, Christians in a pagan world. Consecrated virgin who used her fortune to aid the poor. Ordered to sacrifice to a statue of Ares, she refused. She was imprisoned and tortured, but repeatedly was miraculously healed. When her example had strengthened her companions and converted all of the pagans who would listen, include Saint Sosthenes and Victor, she died. Martyr.
Born
- c.290 at Chalcedon, Asia Minor
- tortured, then thrown to wild beasts c.305 at Chalcedon, Asia Minor
- interred in Chalcedon, and a church built over her remains
- relics were brought to the Council of Chalcedon in 451; many miraculous healings occurred, orthodox Christianity was defended, and the Monophysite heresy suppressed
- relics translated to the Saint George Church in the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Constantinople c.620 when Chalcedon was attacked by the Persians
- relics thrown into the sea in the late 8th century by iconoclasts
- relics recovered by pious sailors and returned to Constantinople in 796
- Rovinj, Croatia, claims to have miraculously received at least part of her relics
Readings
We are people endowed with reason, for whom it would be the greatest disgrace to abandon the one true God, the Maker of heaven and earth, in order to worship dumb, senseless idols. We are not afraid of torments you threaten us with. They will be easy for us to bear and will show the power of our God. – Saint Euphemia to Proconsul Priscius when ordered to sacrifice to a statue
MLA Citation
- “Saint Euphemia of Chalcedon“. CatholicSaints.Info. 19 September 2017. Web. 29 February 2020. <>