Byzantine Saints: Confessors Barses & Eulogius, Bishops of Edessa, Protogenes, & Carrhae (25 August)

About this sermon

On August 25, the Church commemorates St. Barses, St. Eulogius, and St. Protogenes, confessors who suffered during the Arian persecution of the fourth century. Emperor Valens, determined to spread the Arian heresy, removed St. Barses from the episcopal throne of Edessa and repeatedly exiled him farther from his flock. Everywhere he went, however, the faithful received him with honor. An Arian bishop was then imposed upon Edessa. The clergy and laity refused to worship in the church seized by the Arians and instead gathered outside the city for Divine Services. Valens ordered them killed. When the official Modestus went with soldiers to carry out the command, he encountered a woman hurrying toward the gathering with her small child because she did not want him deprived of the crown of martyrdom. Shaken by their faith, Modestus returned to the emperor and persuaded him not to massacre the entire congregation. The persecution then fell upon the clergy. Eighty were chained, imprisoned, and eventually scattered into exile. Among them were Eulogius and Protogenes, who used their exile in Egypt to preach Christ, convert pagans, and baptize new Christians. After Valens died and Emperor Theodosius restored the exiled confessors, Eulogius became Bishop of Edessa and Protogenes Bishop of Carrhae. Their witness reminds us that defending the true Faith sometimes means refusing compromise even when rulers, institutions, and the surrounding culture demand it. Holy Confessors Barses, Eulogius, and Protogenes, pray for us! 00:00 Confessors Barses, Eulogius & Protogenes 00:24 The Arian Persecution 00:33 Emperor Valens Spreads Arianism 00:40 St. Barses Removed From Edessa 00:48 The Bishop Is Sent Into Exile 00:57 The Faithful Honor the Exiled Saint 01:04 His Final Exile and Death 01:11 An Arian Bishop Seizes Edessa 01:18 Catholics Refuse the Arian Church 01:27 Worship Outside the City 01:35 The Emperor Orders a Massacre 01:43 Christians Go Willingly Toward Martyrdom 01:57 A Mother Hurries With Her Child 02:05 The Official Refuses to Massacre Them 02:13 Persecution Turns Against the Clergy 02:22 Refusing Communion With the Arian Bishop 02:29 Eighty Clergymen Chained and Imprisoned 02:36 The Faithful Honor the Confessors 02:45 Eulogius & Protogenes Exiled to Egypt 02:53 Pagans Converted and Baptized 03:02 Emperor Theodosius Restores the Confessors 03:09 Return to Edessa 03:17 Eulogius & Protogenes Become Bishops 03:25 Their Final Years https://www.oca.org/saints/lives 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 ✝️ SUPPORT THE MISSION 🙏 Donate https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ 📬 Free Catholic Newsletter https://sensusfidelium.com/newsletter/ 📰 Read on Substack https://sensusfidelium.substack.com/ ──────────────────── 📺 WATCH & READ 📺 Sensus Fidelium App https://sensusfidelium.tv/ 📚 Sensus Fidelium Press https://sensusfideliumpress.com/ 👕 Official Merchandise https://sensusfidelium.com/merchandise/ ──────────────────── 🤝 PARTNER WITH US 📣 Advertise on Sensus Fidelium https://sensusfidelium.com/advertise-with-sensus-fidelium/ 🎤 Invite Steve Cunningham to Speak https://sensusfidelium.com/speaking/ ⛪ Parish Formation & Consultation https://sensusfidelium.com/for-parishes/ ──────────────────── 🌎 CATHOLIC COMMUNITY ✝️ Trusted Catholic Businesses https://sensusfidelium.com/catholic-businesses/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 #CatholicSaints #ArianHeresy #Edessa #ChristianPersecution #DefendersOfTheFaith #CatholicHistory #EarlyChurch #ChristianMartyrs #ChristianCourage #SaintOfTheDay #Orthodoxy #EmperorValens #StEulogius #StProtogenes #SensusFidelium