Hieromartyr
Hieromartyr Eleutherius of Illyria
† ок. 126 (в возрасте ок. 20 лет)
Hieromartyr Eleutherius, Bishop of Illyria — consecrated bishop at age 20 by Pope Anicetus, beheaded under Emperor Hadrian together with his mother Martyr Anthia, who came to mourn over his body.
Hieromartyr Eleutherius was born in Rome to a distinguished family in imperial service; his mother Anthia secretly embraced Christianity through the preaching of disciples of the Apostle Paul and raised him in the faith. Ordained deacon at fifteen, he was consecrated Bishop of Illyricum by Pope Anicetus at the age of twenty.
After returning to Rome and converting one of the emperor's officials, he was arrested and brought before Emperor Hadrian. Following brutal torture, Saint Eleutherius was put to death (accounts vary between beheading and being clubbed to death) around 126 AD; his mother Anthia, who came to mourn over his body, was executed alongside him.
The prefect Corivus, who had overseen his torment, was so moved that he too converted and was subsequently martyred.
His feast is kept on December 15/28. Cf. the separate, already-completed database entry for Martyr Anthia (his mother).