The memory of the Holy Great Martyr Kyriaki is honored by our holy church on July 7th of each year. She lived on earth for a few years, only 21, which, however, were enough to please the Lord. Let us look at the life of the Saint and we will understand why she is called a "great martyr".
We are in the third century AD and the persecutions against Christians continue fiercely. In Nicomedia in Asia Minor, a Greek Christian couple lives with wealth, but also with a sorrow. They have no child. The problem torments them and they pray fervently to God and beg him to grant them a child. God heard the prayer of the pious couple Dorotheos and Eusevieria and gave them a little girl. Because she was born on a Sunday, they named her Kyriaki. This cute little girl was raised “in the education and admonition of the Lord” by her pious parents. Kyriaki stood out from the children of her age for her beauty and wisdom.
For her physical and mental beauty, she becomes a sought-after "bride". Manyν They ask her to marry them. Because she decided to dedicate herself to the Lord from a young age, she rejects all the proposals, saying that she is engaged to Christ. She also rejects the proposal of the son of the judge of Nicomedia. The judge denounces her parents and on Sunday to the emperor Diocletian, a terrible persecutor of Christians.
The emperor orders the torture of Dorotheus and Eusebia. They do not deny Christ and are exiled to Melitene, between Cappadocia and Armenia, where they die of torture for the love of Christ.
The emperor sends Kiriakia to be interrogated by Maximian. Apparently, the blessed Kiriakia did not change her faith despite the torture. One night, while in her prison cell, she heard the voice of God: “Do not be afraid of torture, Kiriakia, my spirit is with you.” After Maximian failed to convince Kiriakia, he sent her to the prefect of Bithynia, Hilarion, who had a reputation as a cruel torturer. He asked Hilarion to either make Kiriakia a pagan or send her back to him.
Hilarion tries in every way to change the young Kyriaki's faith. He tries to deceive her in a "friendly" way by saying that her beauty is for pleasures and not for torture. He thought, perhaps, that he had before him a girl of lust and carnal pleasures. His virgin daughter responds bravely and boldly: "Neither to my youth nor to my beauty do I pay the slightest attention. And the brightest of earthly things are temporary, like flowers and hollow, like shadows. Today, he said, I am beautiful, tomorrow an ugly old woman. Should I, then, make my beauty the center of my life? However, I have come to know its value in the wrinkles that await it and in the grave that calls it. Did you think, then, that I would commit the monstrous folly of losing my eternal splendor in order to stay a little longer on earth? That's why I tell you again, take it: I am and will be in life and in death a Christian."
Hilarion is enraged and orders new tortures. Her wounds from the suffering are immediately miraculously healed. The guards, seeing the miracles, believe in Christ and are killed by the pagans. The Saint is led to a pagan temple to be sacrificed. She prays to the Lord, saying: “Lord Jesus Christ my God, You alone have the power of heaven and earth, please hear Your humble servant and cause these vain idols to be crushed, so that it may be known that You are the only true God who works miracles.” Before she finished her fervent prayer, a strong earthquake shook the temple and all the statues turned to dust. Panic ensues. Many believe in Christ upon seeing what is happening.
Apollonius succeeds Hilarion in the torture. At first, he tries with words and promises to tempt the Saint. When he realizes his failure, he changes tactics. He resorts to violence. They throw the blessed Kyriaki into the flames, but the flames do not touch her, like the three children in the furnace and the burning and unburned bush. They offer her as food to wild beasts, but they calm down. He addresses Apollonius and says to him: “You see, O man, that all your power is a shadow compared to the power of my God. And you will see something else. I will die, but not as you want, but as He wants.”
The terrible Apollonius failed. He is furious. He and the torturers and officials who preceded him have tried everything. All that remains is to order the beheading of the Saint. The soldiers immediately lead the Saint to the place of execution. She asks for a little time to pray. The executioners allow her. Kneeling, she prays fervently to our Lord. She thanked Him for everything and begged Him not to burden these people with her slaughter, but to take her soul and rest it in His kingdom. And God heard her prayer. As soon as it was over, she was given a peaceful end. Her soul had traveled and her remains were resting peacefully.
Ἀπολυτίκιον
You loved the Lord, the Lord, and the King Christ, with all your heart, O Sunday of the soul, and joyfully fought, from which, as a Virgin Martyr, glorified by Him, you pour out to those who honor you, the grace of healing, the forgiveness of sins, which is requested of all.
Another Apolitikion
Your lamb, Jesus, cries out with a loud voice. I desire you, my Bridegroom, and I strive to seek you, and I am crucified and buried in your baptism; and I suffer for you, that I may reign with you, and I die for you, that I may live in you; but as a spotless sacrifice, accept what is offered to you with desire. By these intercessions, as merciful, save our souls.
Another Apolytikion (Download)
As a fountain, O many-crowned virgin-martyr of Christ, you have enlightened all His Church, and you have been excellent. You have saved those in the darkness of idolatry, with your glorious miracles, O Sunday champion. Through Christ's boldness, intercede for our salvation.
Κοντάκιον
The Martyr of Christ, she summoned us, her labors, her divine and her struggles, to praise her now, for she was fearlessly praised, as a bravery of the mind, a mistress of the mind, and also of unseemly passions.
Photo anonimous, Bulgaria – http://orthodoxico.com/, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7936255 https://el.wikipedia.org/wiki/
