Feast: variously kept on September 6 in certain martyrologies.
Early Life
St. Eleutherius was born in Rome of noble parents, who instilled in him from an early age a love for purity and devotion. Drawn not to the vanities of the world but to the service of God, he withdrew into solitude while still young. He desired above all things to dedicate himself to prayer, mortification, and the imitation of Christ’s poverty.
The Call to Monastic Life
He placed himself under the guidance of St. Gregory the Great, who discerned in him the marks of sanctity. With his blessing, Eleutherius embraced the monastic state. He soon became known for his strict observance, his humility, and his extraordinary patience in trials.
Abbot of St. Mark’s Monastery
St. Eleutherius was chosen abbot of the monastery of St. Mark on the Caelian Hill in Rome. There he governed his brethren with both firmness and gentleness, teaching more by example than by words. He was especially noted for his spirit of intercession: whenever Rome was afflicted by plague, famine, or distress, the people sought his prayers, and God was pleased to answer them.
Gifts of Grace
God confirmed his sanctity by miracles. It is related that on one occasion, when he was visited by a man tormented by evil spirits, Eleutherius made the sign of the Cross over him, and the demons departed. His reputation for holiness spread beyond the walls of Rome, though he himself sought always to avoid glory.
Holy Death
After governing his monastery faithfully and preparing his soul by a life of austerity, St. Eleutherius passed peacefully to the Lord around the year 585. His tomb in Rome became a place of pilgrimage, where many received heavenly favors through his intercession.
Legacy and Veneration
St. Gregory the Great, who knew him personally, bore witness to his sanctity in his Dialogues, a sure testimony of his holiness. The Church commemorates him as an abbot of great humility and a powerful intercessor, a model of the monastic life lived with zeal, prayer, and detachment from the world.