About the Holy Martyr Deacon Cyril

Commemorated on March 29

      About the Holy Martyr Deacon Cyril, Blessed Theodorit relates, that during the reign of Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine the Great he destroyed many idols in the city of Iliopolis. For this he was killed under Julian the Apostate. Pagans cut up his body and, like wild beasts, they bit at it, for which the Lord punished the torturers with blindness, boils and other terrible ills.
      During this time in the Palestinian cities of Ascalon and Gaza the pagans tormented to death many Christians – priests, and likewise women and children that had dedicated themselves to God. The torturers cut up their bodies, covered them with barley and threw them for lacerating to the swine. For their terrible torments the holy martyrs received crowns of victory in the Kingdom of Heaven, and the torturers rightful recompense – eternal torment in hell.

© 1996-2001 by translator Fr. S. Janos.