The Holy Hieromartyr Eutyches, Disciple of the Apostles
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Missionary Work
Life
Eutyches was a disciple of the apostolic age who, according to tradition, attached himself first to the Apostle John the Theologian and afterward labored alongside the Apostle Paul. Though he was not numbered among the Seventy, the early accounts call him an apostle on account of his missionary work with the older apostles, by whom he was ordained a bishop.
His life is remembered chiefly for the missionary preaching and the severe sufferings he endured for the faith. The Orthodox Church commemorates him as a hieromartyr on August 24.
Timeline 3 moments
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1st centuryDisciple of the apostlesHaving heard the preaching of Christ, Eutyches became a disciple of the Apostle John the Theologian and later joined the Apostle Paul, preaching together with him on early missionary journeys. The apostles ordained him a bishop.
1st centuryMissionary labors and sufferingsAs a preacher of the Gospel he endured many torments for the faith: he was starved, beaten with iron rods, cast into fire, and exposed to wild beasts. The accounts relate that a beast loosed upon him spoke with a human voice, astonishing the onlookers.
early 2nd centuryMartyrdomEutyches completed his labors in his native region, where, according to the synaxarion, he was beheaded with a sword at the beginning of the second century.
Contributions & Legacy
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Discipleship and Apostolic Standing
The surviving accounts describe Eutyches as a man of the first century who came to faith through the apostolic preaching. He is remembered first as a disciple of the Apostle John the Theologian, who entrusted him with pastoral care of the Church, and later as a companion of the Apostle Paul, with whom he preached on early journeys.
Although he was not one of the Seventy Apostles, the tradition styles him an apostle because of his missionary labors with the older apostles, who ordained him to the episcopate.
Sufferings and Martyrdom
Eutyches' commemoration as a hieromartyr rests on the many sufferings recorded of him: he was afflicted with hunger, beaten with iron rods, thrown into fire, and given over to wild beasts. The accounts preserve a wonder in which a beast set upon him spoke with a human voice and praised God, leaving the crowd amazed.
By the synaxarion's account he finished his course in his native region, where he was beheaded with a sword at the beginning of the second century.
Sources and Tradition
The episodes of his life are drawn from early synaxarial accounts, some of which connect his story to the Acts of the Apostle John attributed to John's disciple Prochoros. The details of his birthplace and the manner of his death differ somewhat among the sources, as is common for saints of the apostolic age.
