4th century
Holy Martyrs Eutropius, Cleonicus and Basiliscus
Soldiers from Amasea in Pontus, relatives and comrades of St Theodore the Recruit, who were martyred in the early 4th century, Eutropius and Cleonicus by crucifixion.
Biography
Eutropius, Cleonicus and Basiliscus were soldiers from Amasea in Pontus, relatives of Saint Theodore the Recruit, who were arrested as Christians under Maximian by the governor Asclepiodotus.
In prison they continued to confess their faith and won over fellow prisoners, and according to tradition Cleonicus brought down the statue of Artemis through prayer, while God miraculously healed the wounds of all three from their torture, leading many pagans to be baptised.
Asclepiodotus finally ordered Eutropius and Cleonicus put to death by crucifixion, on 3 March 308, while Basiliscus remained imprisoned and died there some years later.