The Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches both honor the Christian martyr St. Eustachius, sometimes known as Eustace or Eustaches. Although the specifics of his life and martyrdom are hidden in legend, it is believed that he lived in the second century AD.

Before becoming Christians, St. Eustachius, a nobleman, and his wife Theopista went by the names Placidus and Tatiana. Agapius and Theophrastus were their sons. According to legend, Eustachius was a pagan Roman general who served under Emperor Trajan.

One day, when he was out hunting in the woods, he saw a vision of a stag coming towards him with a crucifix between its horns, and at the same moment, he heard a voice warning him that he would endure great suffering for the sake of Christ. This vision inspired him, along with his wife and children, to become Christians and they received Baptism. The vision is claimed to have taken place in Guadagnolo, close to Rome, between Tivoli and Palestrina.

Following his conversion to Christianity, Eustachius proceeded to openly practice his new faith, despite Roman law. He was eventually apprehended and imprisoned, and Emperor Trajan demanded that he renounce his faith or face death. Eustachius refused to give up his faith, and he and his family were killed as a result.

Numerous myths surround Eustachius' martyrdom. According to some accounts, Eustachius and his family were cooked alive in a bronze bull. Others saw them burnt at the stake or fed to the lions. However, in every story, Eustachius and his family uphold their devotion to Jesus and die as martyrs.

He is known as the patron saint of firefighters, hunters, and the Terni-Narni-Amelia diocese. Given that he was a military officer before becoming a martyr, he is also portrayed as a warrior saint. As a remembrance of the vision that led to his conversion, Eustachius is frequently depicted with a stag. His feast day is celebrated on September 20th.

In ancient times, a church dedicated to St. Eustachius was built in Rome, and his remains were interred there until the 12th century when it was moved to the Church of St. Denis in Paris. The Huguenots burned some of the Martyrs' remains in 1567, but some of them are still revered in Paris's Church of St. Eustachius.

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