Martyr
Martyr Eucarpus of Nicomedia
†ок. 300
Martyr Eucarpus of Nicomedia — a former Roman soldier who, together with his companion Trophimus, was converted by a vision of a fiery cloud and a heavenly voice during the persecution of Christians under Emperor Diocletian; for confessing Christ he was tortured and burned at the stake around 300.
Martyrs Eucarpus and Trophimus were Roman soldiers serving in Nicomedia during the persecution of Christians under Emperor Diocletian (r. 284-305), and before their conversion zealously and cruelly hunted down and persecuted Christians. One day, while out searching for believers, they witnessed a fiery cloud descending from heaven and heard a voice addressed to them, rebuking them: "Why do you persecute my servants?" Struck by this sign, both soldiers believed in Christ and freed the Christians held in prison. When this became known to the city governor, Eucarpus and Trophimus were seized and subjected to cruel torture — suspended on the rack and torn with iron hooks — and then burned at the stake, which tradition holds the martyrs entered on their own after a final prayer. Their memory is kept on March 18/31.