Saint Cyrus was a devout Christian from Alexandria in Egypt who practiced the medical profession and preached Christ to people, calling on them to abandon idol worship and follow Jesus. Some pagans reported him to the governor of the city, who was pursuing Christians by order of Emperor Diocletian. This was around the year 303 AD.

Saint Cyrus managed to escape while the soldiers were about to arrest him, so he reached the borders of Arabia (i.e. southern Syria), where he became a monk. There he became famous due to the healing incidents that occurred through his hand.

A soldier from a noble family from Edessa (Mesopotamia), named John, heard about him and decided to leave the army, give up all wealth and glory, and follow Christ. He first went to Jerusalem, then met Saint Cyrus in Egypt and became his student and assistant.

When the persecution intensified, the governor arrested a pious woman named Athanasia and her daughters Theoctist, Theodotus, and Evdoxia, who were 15, 13, and 11 years old. Cyrus and John infiltrated the prison to toughen up the female prisoners and encourage them. The soldiers found out about them, captured them, and tortured them severely in front of everyone. When the governor saw the courage of the Christians in the face of pain and death, he ordered all of them to be beheaded. So the saints, the girls, and their mothers came forward to die bravely, and their heads were cut off. Then some Christians came and took the bodies and buried them in St. Mark's Church in Alexandria.

In the fifth century, Saint Cyril, Patriarch of Alexandria, transferred the relics of Saints Cyrus and John to Abu Qir to combat the worship of the goddess Isis. Healing incidents near their shrine increased, and the shrine became a pilgrimage for believers from all walks of life. Saint Sophronius, Patriarch of Jerusalem, visited it in the seventh century.

Our church celebrates Saints Cyrus and John (along with the martyrs Athanasia and her daughters Theoctist, Theodotus, and Evdoxia) on January 31st, and calls them “the silversmiths” because they practiced medicine and healing without receiving any compensation.

Troparion for the Saints in the fifth tune
You have given us the wonders of your saints, the martyrs, a wall that cannot be fought, O Christ God. With their supplications, you dispersed the counsels of the nations and supported the rule of the kingdom, since you are good and love of mankind.

Qandaq for the Saints, third tune
Since you have attained the gift of miracles through divine grace, O saints, you work miracles without lethargy, removing all our ailments by the power of an unseen hand, O Kyros, who is determined with divine John, for you are still divine doctors.