Euphemia


Euphemia
Saint Euphemia, Andrea Mantegna, tempera on canvas, 1454
Virgin, martyr
DiedOctober 16?, 303 AD
Venerated in
Major shrineOrthodox Patriarchal Cathedral of St. George, Istanbul, Church of St. Euphemia, Rovinj, Croatia
Feast
Attributessurrounded by one or a few lions, often holding a wheel or a cross

Euphemia (Greek: Εὐφημία; 'well-spoken [of]'), known as Euphemia the All-praised in the Eastern Orthodox Church, was a virgin martyr, who died for her faith at Chalcedon in 303 AD.

According to tradition, Euphemia was martyred for refusing to offer sacrifices to Ares. She was arrested and after suffering various tortures, died in the arena at Chalcedon from a wound sustained from a bear. Her tomb became a site of pilgrimages. She is commemorated on September 16.