Cyriac the Hermit

Venerable Cyriacus the Hermit.

St. Cyriacus the Hermit was a Palestinian ascetic of the fifth and sixth centuries. Coming to the Holy Land as a young man, he passed his long life in the desert of Judea in the communities founded by the great desert fathers, advancing ever deeper into solitude, fasting, and unceasing prayer, and attaining great old age.

He was a firm defender of the Orthodox faith against the errors of his time, and many sought out his counsel in the wilderness. He is commemorated on September 29.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, Cyriac the Hermit is commemorated on September 29. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on October 12 of the civil calendar.

Who celebrates a name day

People with these names keep their name day on this feast:

Kyriakos, Cyriacus

Also commemorated on September 29

• Malachi the New Martyr of Rhodes

  Martyr, Μαλαχίας ο Νέος

  New Martyr Malachi of Rhodes, monk martyred in Jerusalem.

• Petronia the Martyr

  Holy Woman, Πετρωνία

  Holy Martyr Petronia.

• Gobdelaas, Dadas, Kasdoos and Kasdoa

  Martyr, Γοβδελαάς, Δάδας, Κάσδοος και Κασδόα

  Holy Martyrs Dadas, Gobdelaas, Kasdoos and Kasdoa of Persia.

• Theophanes the Merciful of Gaza

  Venerable, Θεοφάνης ο Φιλεύσπλαγχνος

  Righteous Theophanes the Merciful of Gaza.

• Three New Martyrs of Vrachori

  Martyr, Νεομάρτυρες Βραχωρίου

  The three New Martyrs of Vrachori, the present Agrinio, martyred under the Ottomans.

Icon: public domain image from Wikimedia Commons.