St. Cyriacus the Hermit of Palestine; Martyr Petronia

Orthodox Calendar, September 29 St. Cyriacus the Hermit of Palestine Saint Cyriacus was born at Corinth to the priest John and his wife Eudokia. Bishop Peter of Corinth, who was a relative, seeing that Cyriacus was growing up as a quiet and sensible child, made him a reader in church. Constant reading of the Holy Scriptures awakened in him a love for the Lord and of a yearning for a pure and saintly life.

Once, when the youth was not yet eighteen years old, he was deeply moved during a church service by the words of the Gospel: “If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me” (Mt.16:24). He believed these words applied to him, so he went right to the harbor without stopping at home, got onto a ship and went to Jerusalem.

After visiting the holy places, Cyriacus dwelt for several months at a monastery not far from Sion in obedience to the igumen Abba Eustorgius. With his blessing, he made his way to the wilderness Lavra of Saint Euthymius the Great (January 20).

Saint Euthymius, discerning in the youth great gifts of God, tonsured him into the monastic schema and placed him under the guidance of Saint Gerasimus (March 4), pursuing…