Theopiste, Eustathius’ wife, was eagerly waiting at their country estate for news of her husband’s meeting with Jesus. When she learned that it was the Lord’s will for them to suffer in this world, she accepted His will with all her heart.
“Let us only be careful not to fall and betray our God,” she said.
Soon, the first trial came.
The dogs, sheep, horses, and all the other animals on their large, tree-filled estate were struck by a terrible disease. One after another, they died, until the once-beautiful farm was covered with lifeless bodies.
Then death reached the farm workers and household servants. One by one, they also died. It seemed that the family was going from one funeral to the next.
After this, Eustathius and Theopiste left their country estate and climbed a mountain covered with beautiful green trees. There they prayed with tears:
“O Lord, give us the strength to carry our heavy cross.”
Meanwhile, thieves broke into their home in Rome and stole everything they owned. The only possessions they had left were the clothes they were wearing. Their misfortune became the talk of the entire city.
“Let us leave for a foreign land,” Theopiste said to Eustathius. “We have become the laughingstock of Rome. We cannot even show our faces anymore.”
With the little money they had left, they secretly made their way to the harbor and boarded a ship bound for Jerusalem. On the journey, the ship stopped for a while at Beirut.
The captain was a cruel and wicked man, driven by sinful desires. As soon as he saw the beautiful Theopiste, he devised an evil plan.
As the ship approached Beirut, he confronted Eustathius.
“You are a thief! The fare costs three times what you paid.”
“But that is the amount we were asked to pay,” Eustathius replied.
“No! You are lying. Pay the rest!”
“We are poor and have nothing left.”
“I do not care!”
“Please, have mercy on our children!”
“If you cannot pay, I will either keep your wife as my slave or throw your children into the sea. Choose!”
Theopiste cried out, “I will become your slave! Only do not throw my husband and my children into the sea to be devoured by the fish!”
The captain ordered his sailors to seize her.
The children burst into tears.
“Take your children and get off my ship,” the captain shouted at Eustathius. “If you refuse, I will throw all of you into the sea.”
Heartbroken, Eustathius took one son in his arms and held the other by the hand as he left the harbor.
Soon he came to a deep river. Beyond it, on the hillside, he could see a small village. Since he could not carry both children across at the same time, he left one boy safely on the riverbank, lifted the other onto his shoulders, and began crossing the rushing waters.
When he reached the opposite bank, he said,
“Wait here for me. I am going back to bring your brother. Do not be afraid.”
As he crossed the river once again, he suddenly saw a lion approaching the child he had left behind. The lion seized the boy and disappeared into the bushes.
At the very same moment, a wolf came from the other side of the river, snatched the second child, and ran away.
Eustathius stood frozen with grief. He believed that both of his sons were lost forever. But God had not abandoned them.
Shepherds rescued one child from the lion, while farmers rescued the other from the wolf. Each boy was raised by the people who had saved him. Neither child knew that he had a brother, and their father never learned that they were still alive.
Brokenhearted and completely alone, Eustathius settled in the nearby village.
At daybreak, a kind vineyard owner noticed him and took pity on him. He hired Eustathius to work in his vineyard and eventually entrusted him with the care of all the vines.
There Eustathius remained as a humble servant for about ten years.
Next in this series: The Emperor’s Search for General Eustathius
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