Great Martyr Eustathius (Eustace) Pacidas with his wife Theopistia and children Agapius and Theopist of Rome

According to his Life, Placidas was a Roman general under Emperor Trajan, a pagan known for charity. While hunting a stag, he saw a cross between its antlers and heard a voice. He was baptized with his wife and two sons and took the name Eustathius. Then, the Life tells, he lost everything: his servants and herds died, and on the road to Egypt a ship's captain kept his wife as payment, while wild animals carried off his sons.

He worked for years as a labourer until soldiers sent by the emperor found him and asked him to lead the army once more. After the victory he found his wife and sons again. Under Hadrian he refused to sacrifice and was condemned with his family to wild beasts and then to a heated bronze bull; c. 118.