Feast Day: July 7th
The Life of Saint Kyriaki: However, Kyriaki had consecrated both Soul and body to God, she replied: “I am a pure bride of my Christ and I desire to die a virgin.”…
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Prayers
Apolytikion: Thou didst prove an auspicious and pleasing sacrifice, a Holy offering, O valiant prizewinner Kyriaki, when thou broughtest thy Creator thine own spotless Soul; which Christ in turn hath glorified, for through thee, He poureth forth Divine gifts and endless graces upon the faithful who praise thee, since He is the Lover of mankind.
Kontakion: The Martyr of Christ hath called us all together now to praise and acclaim her wrestlings and her Godly feats; for possessed of bravery of mind, she hath proved worthy of her name, being lady and mistress of her mind and the passions of unseemliness.
Hymn of Praise: Saint Kyriaki, an only child, whose parents themselves died for the Faith – Her parents, God’s Saints. Saint Kyriaki, now an orphan, gave all she had to the poor: only her body and garment remained, and that, she sacrificed for Christ! Kyriaki, pure as the dew, refused the world’s enticements, refused the temptations of men, and disdained the terrors of the Earthly life. She went to suffering as to a wedding; enduring tortures and deep wounds, succored by the sweet name of Jesus! She suffered bitter pains, harsh humiliations, assured of Life Eternal in God’s Kingdom! Her whole body ran red with blood, but the joy of Paradise is sweet! O Kyriaki, God’s chosen one, wondrous Martyr for Christ, you were driven from the Earth with a sword, but crowned with Glory in Heaven! Teach us to honour the Faith: encourage us to give our lives for the Faith, by your Prayers, help us, O wonderful Spiritual candle, amidst the candles of Paradise.
Saint Kyriaki was born to righteous parents Dorotheos and Eusebia. They were wealthy and cared for the poor, however did not have a child of their own. After many years of Praying to God asking He grant them a child, they conceived, and when the baby was born they named her Kyriaki, the Lord’s day, because she was born on a Sunday.
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Growing up, Saint Kyriaki respected her parents greatly, and loved to listen to the lives of the Saints. Although she was very intelligent and beautiful in appearance, she remained modest, rather focusing on adorning her Soul with the beauty of fasting, discipline, Prayer and guarding her senses, wishing to dedicate her virginity to Christ.
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When she rejected to marry the son of the magistrate, Emperor Diocletian ordered Saint Kyriaki and her parents to sacrifice to idols. However both her parents remained strong in their faith, and after being greatly tortured, they were finally beheaded for their love of Christ. Saint Kyriaki was then presented with great flatteries to turn her away from Christ, however this did not touch her Soul at all, and she responded…
“Do not think, O king, by these flatteries or by frightening punishments that I shall deny my sweetest Jesus Christ; for there is no torment, no punishment and no torture which can separate me from His love. Though you would give me other riches with my patrimony, or even if you were to give me your Earthly kingdom, it would be impossible for me to renounce the piety of my fathers. Moreover, I cannot consent to marry; for I prefer none other to my Christ, to Whom I have given myself, so I may live and die a virgin.”
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Saint Kyriaki received many great tortures including being whipped, flogged, presented to wild beasts to devour her and being raised up by her hair while her body was burnt, but she remained steadfast during all these tortures, praying to Christ the whole time.
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That night Christ appeared to Saint Kyriaki speaking to her and then healing her wounds, He said…
“Fear not, O Kyriaki, the tortures, for My Grace shall be with you, and shall deliver you from every temptation.”
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Another time, it was thought that Saint Kyriaki was going to offer sacrifice to the idols, however when she Prayed to Christ in the temple all the idols came crashing down.
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Saint Kyriaki was then thrown into a fire, but a cloud came into the clear blue sky and rain poured down, putting out the fire.
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Saint Kyriaki was then thrown to the lions but rather than pouncing on her to eat her, they were friendly with her. She was then finally beheaded, receiving the Crown of Martyrdom and joining her beloved Lord Jesus Christ in His Eternal Heavenly Kingdom.
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Below are some photos of the Holy Relics of Saint Kyriaki.
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