Eustace, St

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Eustace, St a possibly legendary martyr who is traditionally regarded as one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers; he is shown (like St Hubert) confronting a hart or stag with a crucifix in its antlers.

According to his unhistorical legend, he was a Roman general named Placidas who in the time of Trajan became a convert to Christianity and changed his name to Eustace; with his wife and children he was martyred by being roasted to death in a brazen bull. His feast day is 20 September (in the East, 2 November).

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