Cyrus of Alexandria

Saint Cyrus, martyr, was an unmercenary physician of Alexandria, who suffered in 311, according to the Russian source, together with his disciple John. He is regarded as the first physician of Alexandria. He is commemorated on 31 January and on 28 June, with a service of six troparia.

He was an Alexandrian by birth and from his youth learned the art of healing well. He healed without payment all who came to him and, by the power of faith and prayers, brought many pagans to Christ.

In the persecution begun under Diocletian, Cyrus, wishing to escape pursuit for confessing Christianity, withdrew into the wilderness, in Arabia, where he received the monastic tonsure and continued to heal the sick by his prayers. But when he learned that the persecutors had taken for torment Saint Athanasia with her three daughters, Theoctista, Theodotia and Eudoxia, he decided to go with his disciple John to the city of Canopus, in Lower Egypt, to strengthen the Christian women who were condemned to death for Christ.

By the order of the ruler of the city, Cyrus and John were seized by pagans and subjected to heavy torments before the confessors, but they remained unshaken in their faith. Leaving them, the tormentors began to torment the holy maidens and, unable to break their firmness, cut off their heads. After them the holy wonderworkers and unmercenaries, Cyrus and John, received the same martyr's death.