THE patron saint of St Eustachius Church will be commemorated this Sunday (September 23). St Eustachius Day is being held at the church as part of the six-week programme, ?Called to Care?, for the parishioners and the Tavistock community. Church vicar the Rev Michael Brierley said people often asked, ?Who was St Eustachius?? Mr Brierley said: ?He was a Roman general in the second century. One day he was out hunting and saw a vision of Christ between the antlers of a stag and dedicated his life to God.? Eustachius?s name was Placidus before his conversion. He was a Roman general of a legion in little Asia under emperor Trajan. He refused to sacrifice to heathen gods and died a martyr to his faith. The patronal festival will start at 9.45am, then at 4pm the Friends of St Eustachius will hold its annual meeting in the parish centre, followed by a cream tea. Everyone is welcome. Then at 6pm there will be the patronal festival evensong with Mr Brierley drawing together the themes of St Eustachius, church ministry and the town community.
