Christians honor St. Hieromartyr Eleutherius and his mother Antia today. Translated from Greek, the saint's name means “liberation”. The name day is celebrated by ladies baptized Svoboda, writes offnews.bg
It is believed that prayers to the saint help pregnant women give birth more easily. All those who want to be freed from some burden pray to St. Eleutherius.
St. Eleutherius was a Roman of noble origin. He received an upbringing in the faith from his mother Antia, who converted to Christianity from the Apostle Paul himself. He also received a good education, and from his youth he dedicated himself to serving God.
At the age of 15 he was ordained a deacon by Pope Anacletus, and when he turned 18 he received the rank of presbyter. At 20 he was elevated to the rank of Bishop of Illyricum and soon showed himself to be worthy of his title with the holiness of his life and with the active spread and strengthening of Christianity among his flock.
The rumor of his successful activity in favor of persecuted Christianity reached Rome. Emperor Hadrian summoned him and after much torture ordered the beheading of this confessor of Christ. Amazed by the miracles that occurred during the torture of Eleutherius, who was not touched by the beasts released against him and who remained unharmed in the midst of the fire, the prefect Coryvon himself turned to Christ and accepted a martyr's death together with Eleutherius.
Eleutherius' mother, Antia, who came to kiss her dead son, also suffered. She was also beheaded. The two torturers of Eleutherius, who believed in Christ during the torture, were also beheaded.
The relics of the Hieromartyr Eleutherius are now in Rome, in the church of "St. Martyr Susanna".