The righteous Eudokim, a native of Cappadocia (Asia Minor), lived in the IX century during the reign of Emperor Theophilus (829-842). He was the son of the pious Christians Basil and Evdokia, noble by birth and known to the emperor. The righteous life of Saint Eudokim was entirely aimed at pleasing God and helping others. Having taken a vow of celibacy and chastity, he avoided talking to women and did not look at them; only with his mother, whom he deeply revered, he had useful conversations.
For his virtuous life, the emperor appointed Saint Eudokim as the ruler of the Kharsian region. Fulfilling his duties as God's servant, the righteous Evdokim governed people and judged them fairly and with meekness, took care of the poor, orphans and widows, and was a defender of the wronged. The personal Christian exploits that he carried out in secret were known only to God.
Evdokim pleased God with his blameless life, and the Lord called him at the age of 33. Lying on his deathbed, Saint Evdokim bequeathed to put himself in a coffin in those clothes in which his death would be found. Then he sent everyone out of the room and asked the Lord in prayer that no one would see his death, as no one had seen his secret exploits during his lifetime. His family buried him, as he had bequeathed to them. Immediately after the death of the righteous Evdokim, miracles began to be performed from his tomb, many patients were healed, and the fame of miraculous healings grew.
18 months later, the mother of Saint Eudokim came from Constantinople, where his parents had moved after the death of the saint, to worship the relics. She ordered to remove the stone, dig up the earth, open the coffin, and everyone saw the face of the saint, bright as a living one, completely untouched by corruption. A great fragrance emanated from him. The coffin with the relics was carried up from the ground. The saint was dressed in new clothes. The mother wanted to take her son's relics to Constantinople, but the Harsian residents did not allow them to take away the shrine dear to them. However, after some time, Hieromonk Joseph, who lived and served at the tomb of the saint, nevertheless took the relics of Saint Eudokim to Constantinople. There they were laid in a silver shrine in the church of the Most Holy Theotokos, built by the parents of the righteous.
The Church remembers the Righteous Evdokim of Cappadocia
13.08.2024, 06:00