St. Euphemia the All-praised

Euphemia was a young woman of Chalcedon who refused to sacrifice to Ares and was thrown to wild beasts in 303. A century and a half later, the Fourth Ecumenical Council met in her basilica. By tradition the Orthodox and the Monophysite bishops each wrote their confession, sealed both in her tomb, and when it was opened, the Orthodox scroll was in her hand and the other at her feet. Her relics are now in the Patriarchal church of St. George in Istanbul.

• Feast: September 16 (New Calendar)
• Lived: died 303
• Place: Chalcedon
• Relics today: St. George’s Cathedral, Phanar