Saint Eugenios or Eugene was martyred under Diocletian and a cult devoted to him developed in Trebizond. Eugene along with the martyrs Saint Candidus, Valerian and Aquila was persecuted "during the reign of Diocletian (284-305) and Maximian (305-311)" under the military leader Lycius. They were beaten and burned.[1] The Komnenian rulers of the Empire of Trebizond adopted the saint as the patron of their country. His image appears frequently on Trapezuntine coins. The cult and pilgrimage never really developed beyond Trebizond's borders, although Alexios III built the Dionysiou monastery at Mount Athos in 1374. According to the quasi-canonical Orthodox Church in America, his prayer is thus:
| “ | Your holy martyr Eugene, O Lord, Through his sufferings has received an incorruptible crown from You, our God. For having Your strength, he laid low his adversaries, And shattered the powerless boldness of demons. Through his intercessions, save our souls! |
” |