The Church commemorates Holy Wonderworkers and Unmercenaries Cyrus and John, who offered everything for free, with love and divine enlightenment for those who suffer.
Saints Cyrus and John lived under the reign of Emperor Diocletian (284-305). St. Cyrus came from Alexandria and St. John from Edessa, Syria.
When the persecution of Diocletian broke out, Saint Cyrus went to a seaside place in Arabia and, after being tonsured as a monk, settled in this place.
Saint John went to Jerusalem where he heard about the miracles performed by Saint Cyrus. He then went to Alexandria. After learning where Saint Cyrus lived, he found him and stayed with him. The miracles of Holy Unmercenaries is the encomium written by Saint Sophronius the Sophist, Patriarch of Jerusalem (commemorated on March 11) because the saints healed his eyes.
During the period of persecution, Saint Athanasia, who was a widow, was also arrested, as well as the three daughters of Theodota, Theoctista, and Eudoxia. The news upset Cyrus and John. Cyrus and John, fearing lest these girls, on account of their youth, might, in the midst of torments, rush to encourage them while they were preparing themselves for martyrdom. They too were arrested and brought to the governor. There they boldly and courageously confessed their faith in God. The governor tried in vain to break her fighting spirit by blaming her. She gave courage to her daughters, saying that physical beauty is temporary, while the beauty of the human soul is immortal and eternal. However, her daughters were happy because they were to leave this vain world with her for the love of Christ and never be separated from her. The governor became furious and ordered them to be subjected to dire torture. After the tortures, they beheaded Saints Cyrus and John Saint Athanasia and her daughters in AD 292.
Source: Church of Cyprus
~Orthodox Times, January 31, 2026, https://orthodoxtimes.com/memory-of-holy-wonderworkers-and-unmercenaries-cyrus-and-john-3/
These Saints lived during the years of Diocletian. Saint Cyrus was from Alexandria, and Saint John was from Edessa of Mesopotamia. Because of the persecution of that time, Cyrus fled to the Gulf of Arabia, where there was a small community of monks. John, who was a soldier, heard of Cyrus’ fame and came to join him. Henceforth, they passed their life working every virtue, and healing every illness and disease freely by the grace of Christ; hence their title of “Unmercenaries.” They heard that a certain woman, named Athanasia, had been apprehended together with her three daughters, Theodora, Theoctiste, and Eudoxia, and taken to the tribunal for their confession of the Faith. Fearing lest the tender young maidens be terrified by the torments and renounce Christ, they went to strengthen them in their contest in martyrdom; therefore they too were seized. After Cyrus and John and those sacred women had been greatly tormented, all were beheaded in the year 292. Their tomb became a renowned shrine in Egypt, and a place of universal pilgrimage. It was found in the area of the modern day resort near Alexandria named Abu Kyr.
Apolytikion of Unmercenaries Cyrus & John
Plagal of the First Tone
Since Thou hast given us the miracles of Thy holy Martyrs as an invincible battlement, by their entreaties scatter the counsels of the heathen, O Christ our God, and strenghten the faith of Orthodox Christians, since Thou alone art good and the Friend of man.
Kontakion of Unmercenaries Cyrus & John
Third Tone
From divine grace, ye received * the gift to work awesome marvels: * thus, O Saints, throughout the world * ye ever work signs and wonders; * and ye cut out all our passions * and all our suff’rings * with an invisible surgery, for ye truly * are divinely-wise physicians, * O godly Cyrus, * and John, beloved of God.
~Website of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese (GOA), https://www.goarch.org/chapel/saints?contentid=409&PCode=15LF&DT=01/31/2025
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