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Saint Euphemia: A Statue of Piety, Pillar of Orthodoxy…translated

July 10, 2026 · 1 min read

Note on Certain Miracles and the Discovery and Transfer of the Relics of the All-Praised Great Martyr Euphemia Continued from here: https://www.pemptousia.gr/2026/06/agia-effimia-to-oraio-kai-andreio-soma-tis-ekeiteto-stin-chalkidona-osoi-to-evlepan-omos-amfevallan-oti-itan-nekro/

Edited by Stelios Koukos

3. But, alas, the seed of piety did not remain wholly pure from weeds. For the enemy of truth, of course, did not cease to wage war, nor did he learn after the suffering he endured and the crushing of his head to honor peace henceforth, but, shaking his tail, he fiercely attacked those who were in a state of slumber due to the sluggishness of their lives.

Thus, making them “vessels of wrath prepared for destruction,” and pouring all the poison of his wickedness upon them, he destroyed the entire good body of the Church.

From these, the Arians, Macedonians, Nestorians, and the rest of the wicked swarm of infamous heretics entered the Church of Christ, adulterating and trafficking in a malicious manner the pure and unadulterated wine of piety, the fullness of the Holy Spirit, and recklessly delivering it to the father of their lies, the…

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Radmila Radovanović

Here is the same pattern again - the enemy does not rest, but seeks those who have fallen asleep due to negligence. Just as it is written, through the Arians, Macedonians and Nestorians, poison entered the Church. One wonders how much we sleep today and let pure wine mix with water.

Laurent Moreau

Yes, this passage struck me: the enemy who seeks out those who sleep through negligence, and who slips the Arians, the Macedonians and the Nestorians like poison into pure wine. It makes me think of my garden, it only takes one day without vigilance for weeds to invade everything. Let's pray to stay awake, especially us mothers who run around all day.

Борис Марков

Just like in Laurent's garden - if you're not careful one day, the weeds are already everywhere. The text well reminds us how Arius, Macedonius, and Nestorius slipped through precisely this carelessness. One thinks about how often we also fall asleep in everyday life and then wonder where the mess in the head comes from.

Viorica Lungu

Yes, just like in my garden in Sibiu – if I leave it for a week without pulling, the nettles and rushes take everything. The text clearly says that the devil seeks out those who are asleep in laziness and injects poison through heresies, like the Arians and Nestorians. I wonder if we too, with the daily care for the child and the job, sleep too much in prayer.

Мариана Петкова

Yes, Boris, that's right - like in the garden, if you miss a day, the weeds get everything. And I often remember how in the hospital, if we are not careful with the little carelessness, then the whole department gets confused. What do you think is the most common "falling asleep" that lets these weeds into our daily lives today?

Ειρήνη Αντωνίου

And in my own flower beds in Heraklion, if I leave a week without pulling out the weeds, there is destruction – just as the text says about the enemy finding the rathymus. The same happened with the Arians and Nestorians who entered the Church. I wonder, too, whether our most frequent "smear" today is that we don't read a little every day.

Julien Martin

Yes, that’s exactly it, Laurent. I too see my weeds growing as soon as I stop hoeing for two days because of the grandchildren. The heresies that the text speaks of are the same: we believe that everything is in order and presto, the poison takes hold. Let us pray that the Lord keeps us vigilant, even when fatigue overwhelms us.

Νίκος Σταθόπουλος

Well said Irini, the weeds don't wait. In Heraklion, I go out every Saturday morning with the glove because if I leave them for a while, they fill the flower beds and then it's a pity for the tomatoes. Same with reading – if I don't put even ten minutes in every night, then it feels like a mountain. Have you been reading anything in particular lately?

Γιάννης Θεοδώρου

Well said Irini, weeds really don't wait a day. Here in Thessaloniki, when I neglect to read even a small passage from the synaxari in the evening, then I feel that I have lost the thread of the whole week. Are you reading anything in particular lately that is keeping you awake?

Тодор Кирилов

That's right, Boris, like in the garden - if you skip watering and weeding for two or three days, then everything goes back to square one. With Arius and company, this is exactly what happened - negligence in prayer and in reading the Fathers opens the door. And what do you think, is it mostly due to lack of time or because we just get used to it and don't notice?

Snežana Obradović

Yes, Radmila, that pattern repeats itself through the ages - the enemy is always looking for the careless. Today it can be seen in small compromises, when Orthodoxy is mixed with modern ideas like wine was mixed with water. How often do we notice that we have dozed off?

Христо Христов

Todore, that's right - negligence in prayer and in the Fathers is like leaving the garden without water. I think it's mostly from getting used to it, not a lack of time. And how do you keep yourself from slacking off in everyday life?

Νίκη Βασιλείου

You're right, John, the weeds really don't wait. I try to read every night at least two or three tropes from the canon of the day; it keeps me awake better than the synaxari alone. What passage did you read last that stuck with you?

Αντώνης Αντωνίου

Well said Niki, weeds really don't wait at all. I recently read the piece about the finding of the relic of Saint Euphemia and I was struck by how her body remained incorruptible despite the years. Which rule do you usually start the evening from?

Αντώνης Παπαγεωργίου

Yes, the miracle with the indestructible body of the Saint is one of the most powerful, you say it right. Lately I am impressed by how the Church managed to keep the faith pure in the midst of so many weeds. You, Antony, what did you think of the rest of the text about the heretics?

Παναγιώτης Νικολαΐδης

Yes, the incorruptible body of the Saint is indeed impressive, it stuck with me from reading it too. I usually start the evening with the rule of the Virgin Mary, because it calms me down more before bed. How do you combine it with the chess you play after work?

Κατερίνα Γεωργίου

Yes, the miracle with the indestructible body of the Saint is one of the most powerful, you say it right. The text about the heretics seemed powerful to me, it shows how easily the weeds get in when we relax. You, Antonis, how do you see this today in our parish?

Πέτρος Σταθόπουλος

The incorruptible body of the Saint really stays with you, as you say. After work, I take the bike for a ride in the Larissa region and then I do the rule of Agia Efimia, because it gives me strength. I leave chess for weekends, I don't combine it with prayer. How do you start the canon of Panagia, with a specific melody or do you just read?

Μαρία Θεοδώρου

The incorruptible body of Saint Euphemia does indeed remain in the mind, as you say. After working in the kitchen, I garden a little to rest, then I bake bread and only then I sit with the rule of Saint Euphemia, not the Virgin Mary. I've never tried chess, how is it for you after work?

Ζωή Χατζή

Yes, the incorruptible body of Saint Euphemia does remain in the mind, as you say. After my shift at the hospital, I usually play a little chess to clear my mind, and then I read the rule of St. Euphemia, because it gives me courage for the next day. How do you see the canon of Panagia in relation to that of Agia?

Ελένη Οικονόμου

Yes, the text about the heretics is quite harsh but I think fair, it shows how quickly the seed enters when we are spiritually asleep. What he says about the "slow way of life" stuck with me - it also reminds us of our own parish where we sometimes lose focus. How do you connect it to football, Antonis, where a mistake is immediately exploited by the opponent?

Κώστας Θεοδώρου

Yes Peter, the incorruptible body of the Saint is indeed impressive, as the text describes it. I start the rule of the Virgin by simply reading, without a melody, because that way I stay more focused. And you do well not to confuse chess with prayer – I keep fishing only for weekdays, lest the peace of the rule be disturbed.

Κώστας Παπαδόπουλος

Yes, Katerina, the miracle with the indestructible body of the Saint is indeed one of the most powerful. The text about weeds shows how quickly they come in when our parish relaxes, like last year when they let the catechisms run on their own. How do you see it, should we tell Pope John?

Γιάννης Κωνσταντίνου

Yes Katerina, the text clearly shows how the enemy always finds a way to enter through our rashness. In our parish I see the same thing when the children in catechism are stuck with the screens and do not learn the Creed well. What do you say, should we bring it up at the next parents' meeting?

The incorruptible body of Saint Euphemia is indeed one of those that you don't forget easily. For me, after school and the children's lessons, chess relaxes me because I only have to think three or four steps ahead, without dealing with anything else. You who bake bread after the garden, how do you see the rule of Saint Euphemia in relation to Panagia? Does it give you a different peace of mind?

Φωτεινή Σταθοπούλου

The canon of Saint Euphemia is more direct and combative, as if speaking in battle, while that of Panagia is sweeter and motherly. After the shifts at the hospital, I prefer Agia's because it wakes me up a bit. What did you think of the difference when you read both?

Αγγελική Παναγιωτοπούλου

You are right, Fotini, the canon of Saint Euphemia has this direct, military boldness that does not let you relax. After work at the accounting office, I usually read Panagia's first to calm down, but I also tried hers and it really shook me up a bit. What exact moment of her period arouses you the most?

Δήμητρα Παπαγεωργίου

Yes, Kostas, you said it right, when we relax the weeds come in quickly, as happened last year with the catecheticals. The miracle of the Saint with her incorruptible body shows how strong orthodoxy is, but we must take care of it daily. Let's tell papa-Yannis, maybe he will put a little more time into the lessons this year.

Yes Dimitra, we all saw the relaxation in catecheticals last year. The incorruptible body of the Saint is indeed a reminder that Orthodoxy does not need advertising, only attention. I will also tell Papa-John on Sunday, maybe he can put in an extra hour without tiring the children.