Cyril of Reggio

Saint Cyril was bishop of Reggio (Reggio Calabria) in southern Italy between 710 and 740. Of Greek descent, he is venerated as a saint in both the Catholic and the Orthodox Church, and is commemorated on 3 July.

He was at first a hermit in the caves near present-⁠day Terreti, a place later called Santa Penitenza (Holy Repentance). He was then appointed bishop of Reggio and held the see until 740, the year of his death. In this period his diocese passed from Roman to Constantinopolitan obedience. Cyril managed to make the change without disturbance, and not to let the faithful feel too much the iconoclast struggle of that time.

He was the teacher of Leo the Wonderworker, whom he ordained priest and then archdeacon. After the death of Saint Cyril the place Santa Penitenza took the name Motta San Cirillo in his honour.