Cyril of Gortyna

Holy Hieromartyr Cyril of Gortyna was for fifty years bishop in Gortyna, in Crete. He suffered in the time of the persecutions, under the emperor Decius (249-251) or, according to other sources, under Diocletian (284-305) and his co-⁠emperor Maximian. Some lives say that he lived in the time of a ruler named Lucius, in the first or second century.

From his youth he had been marked by virtue. As a Christian he was once brought before a court and, after questioning, thrown into prison. Freed in a miraculous way, Saint Cyril came, at a command from on high, to Rome, where he greatly helped the Church by his preaching. When persecution began, the ascetic, then fifty years old, went to Jerusalem to uphold the spirit of the Christians there (according to other data he was sixty). On the way he had a vision and received a command not to pass Crete by. On the island he was chosen bishop of the city of Gortyna, and over the long years of his ministry he turned many from the darkness of paganism to the light of truth.

In deep old age Saint Cyril was taken to trial for his preaching among the pagans. Brought before the governor, who tried to force him to sacrifice to idols, the aged hierarch firmly confessed his faith in Christ and refused the soul-⁠destroying demand. The governor condemned the saint to burning, but the fire did not touch him. Seeing the miracle, many pagans believed in Christ, and the governor, amazed, praised the God of the Christians and set the bishop free.

Saint Cyril went on preaching and brought many pagans to Christ, but he grieved that he had not been counted worthy to suffer for the Saviour. After some time it was reported to the governor that Saint Cyril did not cease to proclaim the Gospel and went on successfully turning the people from the darkness of paganism to the light of Truth. An order followed to put the old man to death. Hearing the sentence, Saint Cyril rejoiced to be counted worthy of a martyr's death for the Truth, and himself bowed his head beneath the sword. He was about eighty or ninety years old.

Saint Cyril is commemorated on 22 July and 19 September, in the new style. His life is also found in the Lives of the Saints by Saint Dimitry of Rostov.