During the time of persecution of Christians, under the Emperor Diocletian, the righteous Cyrus lived in Alexandria, Egypt. He was a healer and healed many people from physical and mental illnesses. He did not take money; on the contrary, he helped whomever he could.
When the persecution of Christians began in Alexandria, Cyrus retired to the desert and took monastic vows there. Between fasting and prayer, he always found time for healing.
There, in the desert, he was found by the warrior John, who had heard a lot about the unmercenary healer and wanted to become his disciple. He set off from his native Edessa first to Jerusalem, then to Alexandria, and then to the desert.
John became an indispensable assistant to Saint Cyrus, helping people a lot not only with treatment, but also with instruction.
One day, the saints heard that in the city of Konopa the Christian Athanasia and her three daughters had been captured.
John and Cyrus went there to strengthen their mother and daughters in the faith, to accept the crown of martyrs, but not to abandon Christ.
They spent a lot of time with the prisoners, prayed and talked together.
Someone reported to the ruler, two monks were captured. In front of Athanasia and her daughters, they were tortured, but they did not renounce the faith of Christ. Then the ruler ordered the beheading of the monks.
Their bodies were transferred by local Christians to the church of St. Mark and buried at the altar.
Many years later, already in the 5th century, the Patriarch of Alexandria faced a problem.
Despite the fact that the persecution stopped, churches were built everywhere and monasteries were opened, there was one place where paganism flourished. In the small village of Menoufes, not far from Konop, there was a pagan temple. Hundreds of adherents of the old faith flocked there. They made sacrifices to Isis and performed pagan rituals. While praying, Cyril of Alexandria had a vision. An angel appeared to him and said that the temple would be destroyed if the remains of John and Cyrus were transferred there.
The Patriarch gathered the people, told about the vision and almost the entire city went to Konop to find the burial place of the saints.
They easily found the tomb, made sure that the relics were preserved incorruptible and transported them to Menoufes, to the Church of the Saints Evangelists.
Immediately miracles began: the demon that lived in the temple disappeared. The pagan priests proclaimed Christ their Savior. Many people were healed.
Since then, pilgrims began to arrive from all over the earth to venerate the holy relics and receive healing.
On July 11, the church remembers this event.
Cyrus and his brother John showed us an example of selfless service to the Lord, the strength of their faith and strength of character.
Memorial Days
July 11
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