Martyr Euphemia of Chalcedon/Kadıköy (d. AD 303)
Euphemia was born into a Christian family in Chalcedon. From her youth, she dedicated her life to follow- ing Christ in prayer, fasting, and godly living. During the Christian persecutions under Diocletian, Chalcedon’s governor demanded that everyone worship pagan gods. As a result, many Christians went into hiding, including Euphemia. Eventually, the Christians were found and tortured, but Euphemia remained strong and refused to worship pagan gods. She was killed by wild animals in 303. Euphemia’s tomb became a Christian pilgrimage site. Her sarcophagus was eventually placed in a church dedicated to her. The Chalcedon Ecumenical Church Council in 451 (#228) was held in the Church of Euphemia. There is a sign in Istanbul’s Sultan Ahmet Square that tells us that another church was built there in the 400s and dedicated to Euphemia. It features some faded frescoes that portray scenes of her martyrdom.
Euphemia was born into a Christian family in Chalcedon. From her youth, she dedicated her life to follow- ing Christ in prayer, fasting, and godly living. During the Christian persecutions under Diocletian, Chalcedon’s governor demanded that everyone worship pagan gods. As a result, many Christians went into hiding, including Euphemia. Eventually, the Christians were found and tortured, but Euphemia remained strong and refused to worship pagan gods. She was killed by wild animals in 303.
Euphemia’s tomb became a Christian pilgrimage site. Her sarcophagus was eventually placed in a church dedicated to her. The Chalcedon Ecumenical Church Council in 451 was held in the Church of Euphemia. There is a sign in Istanbul’s Sultan Ahmet Square that tells us that another church was built there in the 400s and dedicated to Euphemia. It features some faded frescoes that portray scenes of her martyrdom.
