The holy Hieromartyr Eulogius of Cordova
With the beheading of the priestmonk Perfectus in Cordova on April 20, 850, a series of some 50 martyrdoms of Orthodox Christians under the Moslem occupation of Spain began, of which we would know nothing were it not for the labors of Saint Eulogius, a priest of Cordova. He relates of his own grandfather Eulogius, that when the daily call to prayer sounded from the minarets, he made the sign of the Cross on his forehead while saying, O God, who shall be likened unto Thee? Be Thou not silent, neither be still, O God. For behold, Thine enemies have made a noise, and they that hate Thee have lifted up their heads. (Psalm 82:1‒2)
Of a noble family of senatorial origin, he was dedicated to the service of the Church of Saint Zoilus. Greatly given to the study of the Holy Scriptures and the writings of the Fathers, he was devoted to the service of the Church in his priestly ministry, and to frequent visits to the monastic houses for fasting, vigil, and prayer. After the martyrdom of Saint Perfectus, a number of other Christians began to present themselves before the Moors, confessed their faith, and received a like martyric end. Because they were severely criticized by some of their fellow Christians, who preferred an easier life of accommodation with the Moors, and even denied them the title of Martyr, Eulogius took up his pen to write in their defense, citing the Holy Scriptures, the writings of the holy Fathers, and the Lives of the Saints, to answer all their criticisms; then he recorded the martyrdoms that had taken place. He was compelled to add a second volume because of a further series of martyrdoms, and then finally a third.
Saint Eulogius knew most of the Martyrs personally, some of them being relatives or disciples of his; with some he shared imprisonment; some he encouraged in their bonds; some he exhorted when they were resolving to enter upon the course of martyrdom. Some presented themselves of their own accord for martyrdom; some were led into it by snares laid by the Moors, and then accepted it gladly; some, the children of mixed marriages–and as such, according to Islamic law, compelled to profess Islam even though one parent had been a Christian–openly professed their faith in Christ knowing it would cost them their lives.
Saint Eulogius also records the indignities suffered by the clergy, the destruction of the churches, the treachery with which the Moors set snares for Christians, and the general conditions of Christian life under the Moorish yoke of oppression–often romanticized as a golden age of peaceful coexistence. Eulogius’ lifelong friend, Paul Alvar of Cordova, records his life, and his end: Leocritia, a girl born of Moorish parents, had secretly embraced Christianity. When she began to practise her faith openly her parents began beating her ruthlessly and tying her up in bonds. She secretly sent a message to Saint Eulogius, making known her case, and that she wished to go some place where she could safely practise her faith. The Saint told her through the messengers she had sent to leave home secretly. She pretended to yield to her parents, and when the occasion came to attend a wedding of a relative, she left home but instead sped off to the home of Eulogius’s sister Anulo. From then on Eulogius took Leocritia from one hiding place to another to elude the searches of her enraged family, himself passing sleepless nights in the basilica of Saint Zoilus imploring the Lord to preserve His lamb from the wolves.
But finally both Eulogius and Leocritia were found and taken before the judge. After having both of them savagely beaten, the judge asked Eulogius why he had harbored her. He answered that it was his duty as a priest to give the draught of living water to those who asked for it, and that he would be happy to do the same for the judge should he wish it. After further enraging the judge with his valiant answers, he was taken to the emir’s palace where, to those who tried to constrain him to deny Christ, he preached Him all the more openly, inviting them to believe the Gospel of salvation. Unable to bear this they ordered his beheading. As he was led away, one of the court eunuchs slapped him. Saint Eulogius turned the other cheek to him also, saying, “Please strike this too, and make it equal with the other.” When that had been struck, he meekly turned the first to him again, but they hurried him off to the place of execution, where he crossed himself, addressed a last prayer to his Lord, and was beheaded at mid-afternoon, Saturday, March 11, 859.
His body was thrown on the bank of the River Guadalquivir; immediately a dove, gliding through the air, alit upon it, which the Moors could not drive away by throwing stones at it. That night a man passing by saw brightly shining priests with dazzling lamps who were above the Saint’s body chanting psalms; the vision frightened him so much he ran off; when he returned with a friend he saw it no more. After four days of trying to force Leocritia to deny Christ, the Moors beheaded her also on March 15. When her body was thrown into the Guadalquivir, it wondrously floated on the surface, erect. At the time of his death Saint Eulogius was Archbishop-elect of Toledo, but the Moors, fearing the esteem in which he was held by the people, and his fame as a supporter of the Martyrs, had not permitted him to receive consecration to his see.
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