Our Church celebrates the memory of Martyr Eupsychius of Caesarea, Martyrs Abdiesus and 270 others in Persia, Newly Revealed Martyrs Raphael (Archimandrite), Nicholas (Deacon), Irene (child), and Eleni (who was also called Susanna) of Lesbos, and those with them whose feast is postponed to Bright Tuesday, April 21, 2020.
St. Eupsychius lived during the reign of Emperor Julian the Apostate, who by all means persecuted Christians and tried to restore paganism. Saint Eupsychius was a fervent advocate of his faith, so he could not bear to see the orthodox teaching violated and the worship of inanimate idols triumphed. That is why when Julian built a temple of the goddess Fortuna in Caesarea, Cappadocia, which the pagans ostentatiously worshipped, Eupsychius took with him some other brave young men and destroyed the small idol of the goddess.
He was arrested and taken to the city’s governor, whom he vehemently reprimanded, accusing Julian of having no right to change his Christian faith, for which so much blood had been shed by martyrs and confessors during the years of persecution.
Of course, Saint Eupsychius knew that he would be punished. In fact, his associates were sentenced to torture and exile, while he himself, as the leader of the whole operation, was sentenced to death by beheading. Thus, with his outspokenness, he received the incorruptible wreath of martyrdom and the eternal values of the Kingdom of God.
Source: Church of Cyprus