Remembered on December 15

Eleutherius and his mother Anthia

  • Eleutherius

Eleutherius is remembered as a bishop of Illyria during the Roman persecutions. His traditional life tells how his mother, Anthia, taught him the Christian faith and how he continued confessing Christ when threatened and tortured. The Church remembers them together, a mother and the son she helped to raise in faith. Their witness speaks of love that remains faithful even in grief.

How they died

Tradition holds that soldiers killed Eleutherius, and that Anthia was killed by the sword while holding her son's body.

Feast day
December 15
Parishes on the Old Calendar keep it on December 28.
Kind of saint
Martyr, Hieromartyr, Bishop

Life written by Simply Orthodox; quote freely with a link.