Saint Euphemia
Saint Euphemia of Chalcedon (born c. 275 AD in Chalcedon, Bithynia, Asia Minor; died c. 303 AD in Chalcedon) was a young Christian woman martyred under Emperor Diocletian, whose blood is preserved in a reliquary at the Patriarchal Cathedral of Saint George in Istanbul. Her martyrdom was so universally revered that when the Council of Chalcedon (451 AD) needed to resolve the Christological controversy, the bishops placed their doctrinal statements in her reliquary and, according to the tradition, her body threw out the heretical statement and embraced the orthodox one. She is patron of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. Her feast day is September 16.
Stored in Cargo: Saint Euphemia
| Saint Euphemia | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | September 16 |
| Profession | Virgin; martyr |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; Eastern Orthodox Church |
| Patronage | Chalcedon; Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople; those suffering for the faith; Kadıköy (Istanbul); the Council of Chalcedon |
| Attributes | Palm of martyrdom; wild beasts (lion); reliquary; white lily; flame |
| Birthplace | Chalcedon, Bithynia, Asia Minor (modern Kadıköy, Istanbul, Turkey) |
| Death Place | Chalcedon, Bithynia (modern Kadıköy, Istanbul, Turkey) |
| Cause of Death | Martyrdom; subjected to wild beasts and other tortures; died of wounds in the arena at Chalcedon |
| Primary Shrine | Patriarchal Cathedral of Saint George, Phanar, Istanbul — her reliquary with preserved blood; the central shrine of the Ecumenical Patriarchate |
| Liturgical Class | Optional Memorial (Roman Calendar, September 16) |
| Historic Class | Feast |
Biography
Euphemia was born around 275 AD in Chalcedon, a prosperous Greek city on the Asian shore of the Bosporus (modern Kadıköy, Istanbul). According to her Passio (martyrdom account), she was arrested during the Diocletianic persecution under the local prefect Priscus. She refused to sacrifice to the gods and was subjected to multiple tortures — fire, iron hooks, a wheel, wild beasts in the arena — from which she was miraculously preserved for a time. She finally died of wounds inflicted by a bear in the arena on September 16, 303.
Her relics were enshrined in a great basilica built in her honor at Chalcedon, which became one of the most venerated shrines of the Christian world. It was here, in 451 AD, that the Fourth Ecumenical Council — the Council of Chalcedon — was held, defining the two natures of Christ (divine and human) in one person. The miraculous resolution of the doctrinal dispute through her reliquary (as recorded in the acts of the council) became one of the most celebrated miracles of the patristic era.
Her relics were moved to Constantinople during the iconoclast period. They now rest in the Patriarchal Cathedral of Saint George at the Phanar — the seat of the Ecumenical Patriarch — where her blood is preserved in a reliquary and is venerated on her feast day.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Chalcedon, Bithynia, Asia Minor (modern Kadıköy, Istanbul, Turkey)
Death location: Chalcedon, Bithynia (modern Kadıköy, Istanbul, Turkey)
Notable location: The site of her martyrdom and her original basilica; the Fourth Ecumenical Council (Council of Chalcedon, 451 AD) was held in a church dedicated to her at this site; her relics were later moved to Constantinople (Kadıköy (Chalcedon), Istanbul, Turkey)
Notable location: The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople; her reliquary with the preserved blood is kept here; one of the most sacred relics of Eastern Christianity; her feast is celebrated with great solemnity (Patriarchal Cathedral of Saint George, Fener (Phanar), Istanbul, Turkey)
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Shrines
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Known shrines
- Patriarchal Cathedral of Saint George, Phanar, Istanbul — her reliquary with preserved blood; the living shrine of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
- Kadıköy (Chalcedon), Istanbul — the site of her original basilica and martyrdom.
Feast day
September 16
Veneration
Saint Euphemia is venerated in the Roman Catholic Church with an Optional Memorial on September 16 and in the Eastern Orthodox Church on July 11 and September 16.
Prayers
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