Means “to use words of good omen” from Greek () “good” and φημι (phemi) “to speak, to declare”. Saint Euphemia was an early martyr from Chalcedon.
The Holy Great Martyr Euphemia the All-Praised was the daughter of Christians, the senator Philophronos and Theodosia. She suffered for Christ in the year 304 in the city of Chalcedon, on the banks of the Bosphorus opposite Constantinople.
The Chalcedon governor Priscus circulated an order to all the inhabitants of Chalcedon and its surroundings to appear at a pagan festival to worship and offer sacrifice to an idol of Ares, threatening grave torments for anyone who failed to appear. During this impious festival, 49 Christians were hidden in one house, where they secretly attended services to the True God.
The young maiden Euphemia was also among those praying there. Soon the hiding place of the Christians was discovered, and they were brought before Priscus to answer for themselves. For nineteen days the martyrs were subjected to various tortures and torments, but none of them wavered in their faith nor consented to offer sacrifice to the idol. The governor, beside himself with rage and not knowing any other way of forcing the Christians to abandon their faith, sent them for trial to the emperor Diocletian. He kept the youngest, the virgin Euphemia, hoping that she would not remain strong if she were all alone.
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Today, September 16 at the calendar is the feast of SS. Cyprian & Cornelius.
Regarding Cyprian, one biographer starts off, “Cyprian was a barrister in Carthage when he converted to Christianity..”
The historian writing this appeared not to note the irony, but obviously implies we all agree that being a member of the legal profession was by definition being a pagan.