Tuesday 29 September 2026
Ven. Cyriacos, Hermit of Palestine
Tuesday of the 18th 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
Gospel
Luke 5.12-16
12And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. 13And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him. 14And he charged him to tell no man: but go, and shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. 15But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities. 16And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.
Epistle
Ephesians 5.20-26
20Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; 21Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. 22Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 24Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. 25Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,