Venerable Cyriacus the Anchorite

Kyriakos the Anchorite (also known as Cyriacus the Hermit) (Greek: Ὅσιος Κυριακός ὁ Ἀναχωρητής, Hosios Kyriakos ho Anachōrētēs) was born in Corinth in the year 448. His father was a priest named John and his mother's name was Eudoxia. Kyriakos had Bishop Peter of Corinth for a relative, who made Kyriakos a reader in church. Kyriakos's studies of the scriptures encouraged him to want what the culture deemed a pure and saintly life. Cyriacus, before turning 18, attended a church service on Matthew 16:24 ("Whosoever would to come after Me, let him deny himself and raise up his cross and follow Me") that so deeply moved him he immediately he went to the harbour, got onto a ship, and set off to Jerusalem instead of going home. After visiting holy places of Christianity, Kyriakos dwelt for several months at a monastery not far from Sion. This placed him in obedience to Hegumenos Abba Eustorgius. With his support he made his way to the wilderness Lavra of Euthymius the Great (January 20). Euthymius was impressed by him and tonsured him into the monastic schema and placed him under the guidance of Gerasimus (March 4). He then pursued asceticism at the Jordan in the monastery of Theoctistus. Gerasimus, seeing that Kyriakos was still quite young, ordered him to live in the community with the brethren. Gerasimus became something of a mentor to the young man and each Sunday imparted the Holy Mysteries of his faith to his disciple. The young monk took to monastic obediences: he prayed fervently, he slept little, he ate food only every other day, and nourished himself with bread and water. After the death of Gerasimos, the twenty-seven-year-old Kyriakos intended to return to the Lavra of Euthymios, but he had since died. Therefore, Kyriakos asked for a solitary cell where he pursued asceticism in silence. During this period he communicated only with the monk Thomas. Later even that ended as Thomas was sent to Alexandria where he was consecrated bishop.