Saint Eustathius was arrested and brought before Cornelius, the prefect of Ankara. During his interrogation, he boldly confessed his faith in Christ, for which he was brutally beaten. He was tortured, bound with a rope and dragged from the city to the River Sangarius.
Seeing the saint’s sufferings and his steadfastness, the prefect ordered that he be locked inside a box and thrown into the river. Through divine intervention, however, an angel of the Lord appeared and carried the box safely to the land.
Once back on solid ground, the saint chanted hymns and glorified God. Cornelius, overcome with fear, shame, and cowardice, took his own life with his sword. Saint Eustathius prayed, received the Holy Communion—brought to him by a dove descending from heaven—and surrendered his soul.
His precious relics were buried in Ankara.
