Monday 29 September 2025
Ven. Cyriacos, Hermit of Palestine
Monday of the 17th week after Pentecost
Saints commemorated
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Saint of the day
Ven. Cyriacos, Hermit of Palestine
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St Mary of Palestine (6th c.)
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Holy Martyrs Dada and those with them (4th c.)
Dada, Gabdelas and Casdoa were martyrs of fourth-century Persia under King Shapur II, whose long persecution made the Persian church a church of martyrs to rival the early centuries under Rome. The received account makes them members of the king's own household: Dada a great noble and steward of the court, secretly a Christian, condemned to the fire when discovered; and Gabdelas and Casdoa the king's son and daughter, converted by the miracles that attended Dada's and each other's sufferings, and dying of tortures inflicted at their own father's command. They are commemorated together on September 29.
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Venerable Cyprian of Ustiug (1276)
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Cyriacus the Hermit
Cyriacus the Hermit (448–556) was one of the great anchorites of the Judean desert: a Corinthian who came to Palestine at eighteen, was clothed in the schema by Euthymius the Great, trained under Gerasimus of the Jordan, and spent some seventy years of his hundred-and-seven-year life in the lavra of Souka — the "Old Lavra" of Chariton — and the wildernesses beyond it, living at the last in Chariton's own hanging cave. A healer and strict faster who said the sun had never seen him eat or grow angry, he was in extreme old age a pillar of the Orthodox resistance to the Origenist movement among the desert monks. His life was written by his younger contemporary Cyril of Scythopolis, who knew him personally. He is commemorated on September 29.
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Theophanes the Merciful
Theophanes the Merciful was a householder of Gaza in Syria Palaestina, remembered for a single, complete virtue: he gave away everything. He took in strangers, tended the sick, and spent his whole substance on the poor until he himself was left in want; struck then by a disfiguring wasting illness, he bore it with thanksgiving, foretold the calm that would attend his death, and after his repose his body was found whole and fragrant, flowing with healing myrrh. No date is transmitted for him; he is commemorated on September 29.
Troparia & kontakia
Kontakion — Tone 8
As a mighty champion and helper, the sacred Lavra that honoureth thee keepeth thy memorial with festival year by year; but as thou hast boldness before the Lord, guard us from the enemies that rise against us, that we may cry to thee: Rejoice, thrice-blessed father. Divinely armed with purity of soul, and firmly grasping unceasing prayer as a spear, thou didst cut down the hosts of the demons, O Cyriacus our father: pray without ceasing for us all.
Troparion — Tone 1
Thou wast a citizen of the desert and an angel in the body, and thou wast shown forth a wonderworker, O our God-bearing father Cyriacus. By fasting, vigil and prayer receiving heavenly gifts of grace, thou healest the sick and the souls of them that run to thee with faith. Glory to him that gave thee strength; glory to him that crowned thee; glory to him that worketh healings for all through thee.
Troparion — Tone 4 (from the common of martyrs)
Thy martyrs, O Lord, in their contest received incorruptible crowns from Thee, our God; for possessing Thy strength they cast down the tyrants and shattered the feeble insolence of the demons. By their intercessions save our souls.
Troparion — Tone 8 (from the common)
In thee, O father, that which is according to the image was preserved unimpaired; for taking up the cross, thou didst follow Christ, and by thy deeds thou hast taught us to despise the flesh, for it passeth away, but to care for the soul, which is immortal. Wherefore thy spirit rejoiceth with the angels, O venerable Theophanes.
Readings
Epistle
Ephesians 1.22-2.3
22And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. 1And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
Gospel
Luke 4.37-44
38And he arose out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon’s house. And Simon’s wife’s mother was taken with a great fever; and they besought him for her. 39And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them. 40Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them. 41And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And he rebuking them suffered them not to speak: for they knew that he was Christ. 42And when it was day, he departed and went into a desert place: and the people sought him, and came unto him, and stayed him, that he should not depart from them. 43And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent. 44And he preached in the synagogues of Galilee.