Holy Martyr Archdeacon Euplus of Catania

Euplus was a deacon of Catania in Sicily. On 12 August 304, during the persecution of Diocletian, which ordered Christians to hand over their Scriptures, he came to the governor's hall carrying the Gospels and called out from behind the curtain that he was a Christian. The record of his trial survives. Asked to read, he read 'Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake'. He said he could not hand over the holy books, and was racked and finally beheaded, with the book still hung about his neck, according to the acts.