Saturday, 31 January 2026

Unmercenaries Cyrus and John

71 days before Pascha · Tone 8 · Red squigg (doxology typikon symbol) · No Fast

Saints commemorated

Holy Wonderworkers and Unmercenaries Cyrus and John

Saint Cyrus was a noted physician in the city of Alexandria, where he had been born and raised. He was a devout Christian and devoted his medical skills to healing the sick without charge, treating both bodily afflictions and spiritual infirmities. He was renowned throughout Alexandria for his compassion, his skill as a healer, and his Christian charity in serving the poor and the suffering.

Saint John was a pious Christian soldier from the city of Edessa. When the persecution of Christians by Emperor Diocletian began, John was deeply moved by reports of the holy physician Cyrus and his dedication to serving others in Christ's name. John went first to Jerusalem seeking guidance, then to Alexandria and subsequently to Arabia to find Cyrus. He desired to become a companion and fellow-martyr with this great physician and Christian saint.

The two saints were eventually arrested by the pagan authorities during the Diocletian persecution (284-305). When they steadfastly confessed their faith in Christ and refused to renounce their religion, they were brought before the magistrate along with the pious Christian woman Athanasia and her three young daughters: Theoctista (aged fifteen), Theodota (aged thirteen), and Eudoxia (aged eleven). The magistrate sought to use the suffering and threats against the children to weaken the resolve of Cyrus and John.

However, the faith of all the saints proved unshakeable. They endured terrible torments with unwavering courage. They were flogged mercilessly and then all five were beheaded, receiving the glorious crown of martyrdom. These three young girls preserved their virginity and their faith unto death. The holy martyrs Cyrus and John became known as Unmercenaries—healers who worked miracles without accepting payment—and as Wonderworkers through the miracles worked through their intercession after their martyrdom. They are venerated as the patron saints of physicians and healers in the Orthodox Church.

Martyr Tryphaena of Cyzicus

Tryphaena was born in Cyzicus on the Hellespont, a city in what is now Turkey, to devout Christian parents named Anastasios, a senator of high rank, and his virtuous wife Sokratia. She was raised in the Christian faith and grew up as a faithful follower of Christ, being instructed from childhood in Christian virtue and piety. During her lifetime, when she came of age, she was known throughout the city for her Christian devotion and her courage in witnessing to her faith. During a period of persecution of Christians, Tryphaena revealed her Christian upbringing and extraordinary courage. In order to strengthen those whose faith was wavering, she boldly confessed Jesus Christ before the authorities and refused to deny Him or to make offerings to the pagan gods and idols. When the ruler Caesarius heard of her steadfast confession and refusal to renounce her faith, he became enraged and ordered her arrest. The holy martyr endured a series of terrible torments. She was pushed into a fiery furnace, but by the grace of God she was miraculously preserved from the flames. She was then thrown from a tall tree onto a bed of iron nails, yet she was not destroyed. Afterwards, she was given to wild animals to be devoured, but the beasts would not harm her. Finally, she was gored by a maddened bull. Through all these trials, Tryphaena displayed unwavering faith and courage, and in this manner she received the glorious crown of martyrdom in the first century. After her martyrdom, according to the Church's tradition, a spring of pure water welled up at the place where Saint Tryphaena's blood was shed. Women who had given birth but had no milk were able to nurse their infants after drinking this water, which flowed forth as a testimony to her holiness and her continued intercession. Saint Tryphaena became the patroness saint of Cyzicus and is invoked by women who have difficulty in nursing their infants. Her feast day is celebrated on 31 January in the Orthodox Church.

Saint Arsenius of Paros

Arsenius was a holy man venerated in the Orthodox tradition of the island of Paros in the Aegean Sea. He devoted himself to the Christian life with fervour and dedication, exemplifying the virtues of faith, prayer, and pastoral concern. Arsenius is remembered in the liturgical tradition as a saint whose holiness and spiritual witness contributed to the spiritual life of his island community. Though specific biographical details remain sparse in the historical record, his memory persists in the commemoration on 31 January as a testament to God's grace working in all who seek Him with sincere hearts.

Saint Marcella of Chios

Marcella was a holy woman venerated in the Orthodox tradition, associated with the island of Chios in Greece. Little detailed biographical information survives regarding her life, but she is commemorated as a saint whose faith and virtue bore witness to the transformative power of grace. Marcella exemplified Christian commitment and spiritual discipline, and her memory is preserved in the liturgical tradition of the Orthodox Church as a testament to the possibility of holiness for all the faithful. She is venerated as an intercessor and saint, commemorated on 31 January.

Saint Nikita the Recluse of Pechersky

Nikita was a Russian Orthodox monk of the Kiev Pechersky Monastery (the Monastery of the Caves) and later Bishop of Novgorod. He devoted himself to the monastic life with great dedication and ascetic fervour, pursuing spiritual perfection through prayer, fasting, and obedience to the monastic rule. Nikita became known for his spiritual wisdom and pastoral care, eventually being elevated to the episcopate as Bishop of Novgorod, where he oversaw the spiritual welfare of his diocese with integrity and pastoral concern. He maintained his monastic discipline even as a bishop, exemplifying the integration of episcopal authority with ascetic practice. Whether in his earlier monastic years or his subsequent role as a bishop, Nikita remained a faithful servant of God and His Church, committed to the propagation of Orthodox faith and the spiritual edification of his people. He is venerated in the Russian Orthodox Church as a holy monk and bishop, commemorated on 31 January.

Venerable Nicetas, hermit of the Kiev Caves and Bishop of Novgorod

1108

His is a remarkable story of spiritual delusion (prelest in Russian) and repentance of delusion. Nicetas was a young and zealous monk of the Lavra of the Kiev Caves who, against the advice of his abbot St Nikon (March 25), retired alone to a cave and walled himself in. Some time later, the young monk experienced a delightful scent filling his cave. Believing himself to be receiving a divine revelation, he cried out ‘Lord, show Thyself to me, that I might worship Thee face to face!’ A voice answered, ‘I am sending you an angel: do whatever he tells you.’ The Devil soon appeared to him as an ‘angel of light’ and Nicetas, completely taken in, prostrated before him. The Devil ordered him to stop praying and to devote all his time to reading and memorizing the Old Testament. Nicetas obeyed without question. After awhile, the Devil began to reveal to him things that were happening in the outside world, so that the young monk acquired a reputation for prophecy among visitors to his cave. When the Elders of the Caves realized that Nicetas never spoke to his visitors or anyone else of the New Testament, they decided that he was beguiled by the Devil. Breaking down the door of his cave, they drove out the deceiver by their prayers and forcibly took the young hermit back to the monastery. As soon as the evil angel had been driven off, Nicetas became like a young child: he instantly forgot the entire Old Testament (which he had virtually memorized) and even lost the ability to read, so that he had to be sent to school again. Slowly he returned to himself, realized his former delusion and repented in tears. Thereafter he devoted himself to humility and obedience in the monastic community. Such was his repentance and progress in the virtues that he was later made Bishop of Novgorod. He reposed in peace in 1108 and became known for working many miracles, especially healing of blindness.

Marcella of Rome

410

The daughter of a prominent Roman family, she was given in marriage despite her reluctance, but was widowed after less than a year. Following the example of the prophetess Anna, she dedicated her widowhood to God and turned her fine house in Rome into a monastery, living there in strict asceticism. “When the Church was riven by controversies about the doctrines of Origen, Saint Marcella kept silent for a while but, deciding at length to take up the cause of Orthodoxy, and maintaining a sweet and gentle manner in the exchanges, she succeeded in confounding the arguments of the heretics.” (Ormylia Synaxarion) When the Goths invaded and pillaged Rome in 410 they broke into her house. Marcella received them calmly, but when they demanded money she answered that no one as poorly clothed as she was could be expected to have any money. At this the invaders beat her mercilessly despite her great age. She bore their blows without complaint, asking only that they spare her spiritual daughter Principia. Struck to the heart by her response, the barbarians took her and her disciple to the Church of St Paul, where she reposed two days later.

Daily readings

Epistle

weekly cycle

2 Timothy — 2 Timothy 2.11-19

¹¹It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: ¹²If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: ¹³If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself. ¹⁴Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. ¹⁵Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. ¹⁶But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. ¹⁷And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; ¹⁸Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some. ¹⁹Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

Gospel

weekly cycle

Luke — Luke 18.2-8

²Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: ³And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. ⁴And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; ⁵Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. ⁶And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. ⁷And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? ⁸I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?