Today, October 12, the Church remembers the holy hermit Kyriakostranslated

The memory of St. Kyriakos, a hermit who lived in the 5th-6th centuries, is celebrated by the Orthodox Church on October 12.

The future saint came from the family of the presbyter of the cathedral church, John, and his wife Eudoxia, who lived in Corinth. Since childhood, he was quiet and prudent, loved to read the Holy Scriptures, for which the local bishop appointed him a reader in the church.

Having once read the words of the Gospel: “If anyone wants to follow Me, let him turn away and take up his cross and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24), he secretly went to the pier, boarded a ship and sailed to Jerusalem.

Having met experienced monks there, Saint Cyriacus remained in the Holy Land, where he labored for many years.

At the age of 37 he was ordained a deacon, and some time later he was ordained a presbyter and appointed canonarch, serving as a canonarch for 18 years. During these years, he asceticised in the Suki monastery of St. Chariton, where he spent a total of 30 years.

Among other monks, Saint Cyriacus stood out for his strict fasting and perfect kindness. Every night he read the Psalter in his cell, interrupting the reading only to go to the church for the midnight office, but he slept very little.

At the age of 70, taking with him his disciple John, the Monk Kyriakos went into the desert...