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Baring-Gould’s sources: Roman Martyrolo gy. Almost ali Latin Martyrologies, but not always on the same day. In the ancient Roman Kalendar, published by Fronlo, on Sept. 11; by the Copts on Sept. 15, but by Greeks, Russians, and Abyssinians on Sept. 20. Authority ' The Greek Acts, which are, however, fabulous.] USTATHIUS, or Eustace, was a Roman general under Trajan, if any trust whatever maybe placed in his Acts. Before his baptism he was called Placidus, and his wife, called formerly Tatiana, at her baptism received the name of Theopista. They had two sons, Agapius and Theopistus. Eustace was out hunting one day, when still a heathen — so runs the fanciful tale — when he saw a stag coming towards him with a crucifix between its horns; and the stag cried to him, “ Placidus, Placidus, why persecutest thou me? I am Jesus Christ.” Thereupon he believed and was baptized, with all his house. The Emperor was so exasperated at his conversion that he had him, his wife, and children placed inside a brazen bull, and a fire lighted under it, so that they were burned to death when the brass became hot.
Not satisfied with these wonders, legend-makers have constructed the pedigree of S. Eustace, which is this: — Faustinus Octavius was the father of S. Clement I., and from him descended Agapitus Octavius, who was the father of Eustace. The place of the miraculous vision of S. Eustace is Guadagnolo, between Tibur and Prseneste. The body of S. Eustace was given, in the 12th cent., to the Abbey of S. Denys, near Paris. It was burnt and scattered about in 1567 by the Huguenots, but fragments are shown as belonging originally to it in the church of S. Eustache in Paris. Other relics [the bodily remains of a saint, or objects they used, kept with honor] at Douai, Prag, Epternach, Cologne, Madrid, &c.
S. Eustace was a favourite subject with mediaeval painters. He is represented as a huntsman kneeling before the miraculous stag. The famous engraving of S. Eustace by Albert Diirer is well known.
S. Eustace, as well as S. Plubert, is the patron of huntsmen.
