EUTYCHIUS, St., martyr. — Unknown to most ancient hagiographical documents, he is commemorated in the Gerontian Martyrology on 2 July as buried in the cemetery of Callistus in Rome. The only source that speaks of him is the eulogy of Pope Damasus, preserved on the original inscription in the basilica of St Sebastian ad Catacumbas. From it we learn that E., having been captured and subjected to an interrogation, was shut up in prison where he was left for 12 days without food and forced to sleep on shards. He died as a result of his sufferings and his body was thrown into a ditch. The martyr himself revealed the place, and when found he was buried with honour and venerated. He seems to have died during the persecution of Diocletian.
BIBL.: A. De Waal, S. E. martire nel cimitero e dal cat. cumbr. in Römische Quarntalschrift, 29 (1915), pp. 260-265; P. Stryer, Römische Mariengrußle. Berlin 1935, pp. 143-145; A. Ferrara, Epigrammata Damasiana. Città del Vaticano 1944, pp. 144-148; R. Valentini-G. Zucchetti, Codice topografico della città di Roma, II, Roma 1942, p. 44 sq.