On June 22 in the new style, or on July 9 in the old style, the Orthodox Church honors the memory of the holy martyrs Pankraty and Cyril. On this day, they traditionally break their fast with the first cucumbers and come to the Temple for worship, prayer and spiritual cleansing.
The Hieromartyr Pankraty, or Bishop of Taurinemen, was born when Jesus Christ lived on earth. Pankratius' parents, natives of Antioch, heard about the gospel of Jesus Christ in Jerusalem. Without thinking twice, the father went there with his son to personally meet the great teacher.
Young Pankraty was shocked by the divine teaching and believed in Christ, made friends with the disciples of the Lord. The Holy Apostle became his best friend.
After the ascension of the savior Jesus Christ, one of the apostles came to the homeland of Pankraty and baptized his parents and the whole house. After the death of his parents, Pankraty left his estate and went to the Pontine Mountains, where he lived in a cave, spending days and nights in prayer and spiritual meditation.
The holy Apostle Peter passed through those places. He persuaded Pankratius to go with him to Antioch, from where they crossed over to Cilicia, where the holy Apostle Paul lived.
The holy apostles ordained Pankratius, and he became bishop of the Sicilian city of Tauromenia, where he began to work diligently on the Christian enlightenment of the people. Within a short time, the Bishop of Tauromania erected the Temple for worship. Soon, almost all residents of the surrounding area adopted the Christian faith. But one day the pagans staged an uprising, attacked the holy apostle and stoned him to death. At present, the relics of the saint are in Rome, the Temple named after him.
Cyril of Gortinsky lived under the emperor Diocletian and co-ruler Maximian. He served as a bishop all his life. In old age, the holy martyr was forcibly forced to renounce the faith and worship idols. The bishop refused to fulfill the barbaric demand, he was sentenced to be burned.
During the first execution, the fire did not touch the holy elder. This event shocked the pagans and many of them were converted. At that time, the bishop was released, but soon he was again seized and executed. At the age of 90, the great martyr was beheaded with a sword.
