Euplus (Euplios) of Catania (d. Aug. 12, 304)

Euplus is remembered as a deacon and martyr of the early church in Catania, a port city on the eastern coast of Sicily beneath Mount Etna. During Diocletian’s persecution, imperial edicts pressed Christians to hand over the Holy Scriptures and prove loyalty by offering sacrifice to the gods. Euplus was arrested while openly carrying the sacred books—an act of public devotion at a time when even possession of Scripture could bring death.

Arrest and Trial in Catania

Brought before the governor, Euplus confessed Christ without hesitation. He refused every demand to surrender the books or to burn incense to idols. His courage was not reckless bravado; it was the settled strength of a conscience bound to God. The officials could restrain his hands, but they could not command his worship. His stand echoed the apostolic principle: “But Peter and the other apostles replied, ‘We must obey God rather than men.’” (Acts 5:29)

The Word He Would Not Surrender

Tradition remembers Euplus reading from the gospel as he was led to judgment, holding the pages that had first held him. The moment is fitting: the church has always been nourished and steadied by God’s Word, especially when the world tries to silence it. Scripture was not merely an object he carried, but a voice he trusted—stronger than threats, clearer than fear. His witness aligns with the Lord’s own call to fearless fidelity: “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul…” (Matthew 10:28)

Martyrdom and Christian Example

Condemned to a public and painful death, Euplus bore witness that God’s truth cannot be confiscated. His life commends Christian attributes that remain urgent: reverence for Scripture, steadfast confession, purity of worship, and love for Christ above personal safety. In every age, his memory encourages believers to hold fast when pressured to compromise—speaking truth with humility, resisting idolatry in all its forms, and trusting that the Judge of all the earth sees every faithful act done in His name.