SAINT CYRUS AND COMPANIONS, MARTYRS
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| A page of one of Fortunatus Hueber's Saints' books, "Stammenbuch..." (1693) |
Saint Cyrus (called Abba-Cher in the Coptic calendar), a martyr in Egypt, was born in Alexandria, and devoted himself to medicine, being particularly concerned with the healing of souls, and converting many of the pagans to Christianity.
When the authorities wanted to take him prisoner for this reason, he fled to Arabia, became a monk and acquired so much fame by the miracles wrought by his prayers, that a soldier named John heard of this in Edessa and went to join Cyrus in the monastic state.
When both of them learned that a Christian woman, named Athanasia, and her three daughters, Theodosia, Theoctiste, and Eudoxia, had recently been arrested at Canope in Egypt, they hastened to that city to encourage them to steadfast confession.
But as soon as the pagans recognised that they were Christians, they too were put in chains, were condemned, and - in front the eyes of these holy ladies - were subjected to the most heinous tortures and finally sentenced to death by the sword. The holy ladies were beheaded a few days after Cyrus and John - namely on January 31. Their martyrdom occurred during the reign of Emperor Diocletian.
The relics of Saints Cyrus and John first came to Rome, and from there to the Michaelshofkirche [Church] in Munich.
*A hagiography source used by the authors
Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints - Sources and Abbreviations
PRAYER:
Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of Saints Cyrus, John, Athanasia, Theodosia, Theoctiste, and Eudoxia, may increase our devotion and promote our salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
➡️ More information about these holy martyrs
Sources of these articles (in the original German): books.google.co.uk, de-academic.com, zeno.org, openlibrary.org
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