Saint Kyriaki or in Greek “Agia Kyriaki” is being celebrated on the 7th of July for her modesty, bravery, and the power of her belief!
Saint Kyriaki was a gift from Lord Himself
Agia Kyriaki was the daughter of Dorotheos and Eusebia. They were childless and begged God to give them a child. Indeed, God prospered, and this Christian couple had a child. She was born on a Sunday, which in Greek is Kyriaki, meaning the day of the Lord, which is why she was named Kyriaki.
Diocletianic Persecution
During the persecution of Diocletian, in the year 282 AD, her parents were arrested and after interrogation were tortured and beheaded by Duke Justus.
Kyriaki though was referred to Caesar Maximianus, and from there to the lord of Bithynia Hilarianos, who reminded her that her beauty is for pleasure and not for torture.
Then the Virgin Daughter replied: “Neither in my youth nor in my beauty do I pay the slightest attention. And the brightest of earthly things are temporary, like flowers and hollows, like shadows. Today, there was, I am beautiful, tomorrow an ugly old woman. So should I make my beauty the center of my life? But I knew its value in the wrinkles that await it and in the grave that calls it. Did you think, then, that I would do the monstrous nonsense, lose the eternal splendor to stay a little longer on earth? That is why I say it again, there was: I am and will be a Christian in life and in death “.
Outraged, Hilarianus severely tortured her and ordered her beheaded. But before the sword fell, she prayed and surrendered her spirit to the Lord.
Today is a Great Celebration of the Western Orthodox Church and Roman Catholicism.
