Euphemia

Saint Euphemia was born in Chalcedon, across the Bosporus from Byzantium (modern-day Istanbul), near the end of the third century. Tradition remembers her as the daughter of the senator Philophronos and his wife Theodosia, and as a young woman who consecrated herself to Christ in virginity. When the governor ordered the people to offer sacrifice to the god Ares, Euphemia was found with other Christians at prayer, refusing to deny the Lord. Separated from her companions and pressed to renounce her faith, she endured severe tortures with steadfast courage. At last she was taken into the arena; the beasts meant to destroy her could not break her spirit, and she surrendered her life as a martyr around the year 303, during the Great Persecution. Her tomb became a place of pilgrimage, and devotion to her spread widely in both East and West. She is especially honored as patroness of Abbazia Pisani, Alba Adriatica, Carinaro, Irsina, Neviano degli Arduini, Oggiono, Rovinj, San Mauro La Bruca, Sant’Eufemia, and Sant’Eufemia d’Aspromonte. Her feast day is September 16.