Archdeacon
During the reign of Diocletian and Maximian, a persecution of Christians began. Prince Pentagur was sent to Sicily to search for Christians. In the city of Catania, he ordered the people to gather, and seeing that everyone was offering sacrifices to pagan gods, he gave authority to the chief Calvisian to punish Christians. Calvisian learned about Saint Euplus, a deacon who preached about Christ, and ordered his arrest.
Saint Euplus, having been subjected to torture, steadfastly confessed his faith, rejecting the pagan gods. He prayed to the Lord for strength to endure the torments. After severe tortures, he was imprisoned, where he prayed and received water from a spring that appeared at his prayer.
Calvisian, astonished, ordered Saint Euplus to be tortured again, but Euplus remained unyielding. Eventually, he was sentenced to be beheaded. Before his execution, he read the Gospel and instructed the people, many of whom came to believe in Christ.
After prayer, Saint Euplus was beheaded, and his body was buried by Christians. Healings occurred at his tomb, manifesting the grace of the Lord. His sufferings ended on August 11, according to other sources — August 12, 304. His relics are in Trivico, part of which was transferred to Catania.
