Saint Euthymius of Sardis

A life of faith

Euthymius served as Bishop of Sardis and participated in the Council of Nicaea in 787, where he opposed iconoclasm. The OCA's life remembers repeated pressure on him to abandon the veneration of icons. Removal, exile, and physical punishment did not bring the demanded change in his confession. He eventually died after severe mistreatment under Emperor Theophilus. His commemoration belongs to the Church's memory of bishops who suffered during the iconoclast controversy. The source's compressed sequence of rulers and places requires further historical comparison; his participation in the council and steadfast confession provide the central outline of this profile.

The Eastern Orthodox Church remembers saints in prayer and commemoration. Their lives offer examples for Christians learning to live their faith.

A reflection

Consider how a firmly held conviction can be expressed without reducing others to enemies. Euthymius's commemoration remembers endurance under coercion rather than personal power.

Read the Orthodox source

Feast dates follow the linked source. Local calendars and commemorations may vary. Themes describe a saint’s life; quiz suggestions do not assign a baptismal patron. Discuss choosing a patron saint with your priest.