Eusebius of Esztergom

Blessed Eusebius of Esztergom
Eusebius of Esztergom
Priest
Born	ca. early 1200 Esztergom, Hungary
Died	20 January 1270 Szentkereszt (today Pilisszentkereszt), Hungary
Venerated in	Roman Catholic Church
Beatified	8 February 2009, Saint Peter's Square, Vatican City by Benedict XVI
Feast	20 January
Attributes	Priest's attire
Patronage	Hermits

Blessed Eusebius of Esztergom (Hungarian: Esztergomi Boldog Özséb, Polish: Euzebiusz z Ostrzyhomia, German: Eusebius von Gran; Esztergom, Hungary ca. 1200 – Szentkereszt (today Pilisszentkereszt), Hungary, 20 January 1270) was a Hungarian canon, hermit and the founder of the Order of Saint Paul the First Hermit.

He was born in early 1200s in Esztergom, Esztergom County, Hungary. According to Gergely Gyöngyösi's book The life of the hermit brothers of I Saint Paul the Hermit (Vitae fratrum Eremitarum Ordinis Sancti Pauli Primi Eremitae, 1496) Eusebius came from a well-known Hungarian family. Cécile Tormay states that Eusebius was a relative of the royal family of the Hungarian Kingdom. It can be found in other sources that he was the son of the granger of the royal court.

Already in his childhood, he had shown his deep religious faith and his excellent ability to learn. He spent a lot of time praying and contemplating. He studied in the Seminar of Esztergom to become a priest. Later for his merits, he was named canon in Esztergom County. In his spare time he wrote books. Even the names of these books did not survive. But according to Gergely Gyöngyösi these works were written in canon law.

At that time he was often visited by hermits from the Pilis Mountains who sold him wattled baskets in exchange for bread. Eusebius also visited them personally several times. The life of these hermits aroused his interest and he desired to become a hermit.