Roman general, martyred with his wife and two sons under Hadrian.
Synax.CP, Sept. 20, par. 1 (cols. 59-61).
Simeon Metaphrastes, Sept. 20.
BHG 641-3; BiblSS V 281-91; DHGE XVI 6-7; Holweck 347; LCI VI 194-9; ODB 753; ODCC 482-3; ODS 154.
London, British Library, Add. 11870, fol. 151r. 1) Eustathius. Vision. Beside his saddled horse, Eustathius stands praying, looking up toward the half-figure of Christ appearing between the horns of a stag on top of a cliff. 2) Eustathius and family. Baptism. A bishop places his hand on the head of Eustathius, nude, in a font; his wife and sons stand waiting at the right. 3) Trial. The family stand before Hadrian, crowned, seated at the left. 4) Martyrdom, burning in brazen bull. (Ševčenko, N., Metaphrastian Menologion, p. 122, fig. 3E6; Walter, "London September Metaphrast," pp. 15-6, fig. 8).
Mount Athos, Esphigmenou 14, fol. 52r. 1) Eustathius. Vision. Eustathius, mounted on rearing horse, holding a spear, looks toward the bust of Christ appearing between the antlers of a stag on the mountain. At the left, another stag emerges from behind a hill. 2) Eustathius and family. Baptism. Eustathius and Theopiste, each holding one of their sons, all nude, are seated in a quatrefoil font. A bishop leans over the font, placing his hand on Eustathius' head. 3) Theopiste. Kidnapping. Theopiste is seated in a sailboat beside the ship captain who kidnapped her and a sailor. Eustathius, left on the shore, stands forlornly clutching their sons. (Pelekanides, Treasures, II, fig. 329).
Mount Athos, Esphigmenou 14, fol. 52v. 1) Sons seized by wild beasts.
Eustathius, fording a river, raises his hands in despair as a wolf carries off one son, and a lion seizes the other. Four young shepherds, carrying shepherd's crooks, set off to rescue them. 2) Eustathius and family. Martyrdom, burning in brazen bull. Hadrian, crowned, is seated with two attendants before a building at left. At right, Eustathius and his family are surrounded by flames in the brazen bull. Above, the Hand of God descends from an arc of Heaven. (Pelekanides, Treasures, II, fig. 330).
Oxford, Bodleian Library, Barocci 230, fol. 3v. Martyrs, holding crosses. The parents flank the two sons. (Hutter, I, p. 50, fig. 172; Hutter, III, p. 331; Ševčenko, N., Metaphrastian Menologion, p. 18, fig. 1A3).
Oxford, Bodleian Library, Gr. th. f. 1, fol. 10r. Martyrdom, burning in brazen bull. Eustathius, orant, and his family stand in the brazen bull. Theopistus and Agapius hold crosses. (Hutter, II, pp. 4-5, fig. 15).
Vatican, gr. 1156, fol. 253v. Martyrs, holding crosses. The parents flank the two sons.
Vatican, gr. 1613, p. 53. Martyrdom, burning in brazen bull. Eustathius and Theopiste, both orant, and their young sons are in a brazen bull surrounded by flames. (LCI VI, fig. col. 198; Menologio, I, p. 16, II, fig. p. 53).
Venice, Marciana, gr. Z 586, fol. 156r. Martyrdom, burning in brazen bull. Eustathius, Theopiste and their two sons, each holding cross, stand inside the brazen bull. No flames are visible. (Ševčenko, N., Metaphrastian Menologion, p. 178, fig. 5D10).
Cozia. Narthex, vault, south side. Martyrdom, burning in brazen bull. (Mijović, Menolog, p. 350, fig. 64).
Dečani. Narthex, center aisle, north wall. Martyrdom, burning in brazen bull. Eustathius, orant, and his family are seated in a brazen bull surrounded by flames. (Babić et al, Dečani, no. 21, fig. T IV 28; Mijović, Menolog, p. 318, fig. 42, pls. 183, 206).
Gračanica. Northwest pier, south face. Martyrdom, burning in brazen bull. Eustathius, Theopiste, and one of the sons are seated in a brazen bull surrounded by flames. The second son approaches at left. (Mijović, Menolog, p. 289, fig. 21; Petković, "Gračanica," fig. 9; Petković, Peinture serbe, II, pl. LXXVII; Todić, Gračanica, p. 102; Živković, Gračanica, fig. VI northwest 11).
Staro Nagoričino. Narthex, north aisle, west wall. Martyrdom, burning in brazen bull. Eustathius, Theopiste and one of the sons are seated in a brazen bull. The second son approaches at right. (Mijović, Menolog, p. 261, fig. 8; Todić, Staro Nagoričino, p. 85).
From Egypt. Martyred in Palestine with 40 companions in 310.
Synax.CP, Sept. 20, par. 3 (col. 62).
Holweck 545.
Gračanica. Northwest pier, south face. Martyr, holding cross. Half-figure. (Mijović, Menolog, p. 289, fig. 21; Petković, "Gračanica," fig. 9; Petković, Peinture serbe, II, pl. LXXVII; Todić, Gračanica, p. 102; Živković, Gračanica, fig. VI northwest 11).
SEE ALSO: Susanna of Eleutheropolis, September 19