The Venerable Martyr Cyprian the New

Life

Born in the village of Klitsos in Epirus. After the death of his good parents, Cyprian went to the Holy Mountain, was tonsured a monk there, and gave himself to asceticism in a cell near the Monastery of Koutloumousiou. He laid upon himself toil upon toil and struggle upon struggle, until he became renowned and respected throughout the Holy Mountain. But he was not satisfied with himself. He was tormented by the thought that he could not be saved except through martyrdom for Christ. He therefore left the Holy Mountain, came to Thessalonica, appeared before the Pasha of Thessalonica, and called upon him to reject the false faith of Muhammad and to accept the true faith of Christ. The Pasha ordered him beaten and driven out of the city. Unsatisfied with such small suffering for Christ, Cyprian went to Constantinople and wrote a letter to the Grand Vizier, in which he set forth the falseness of Muhammad and the truth of Christ the Lord. The enraged Vizier sent him to the Sheikh ul-Islam, who, after hearing all that Cyprian had to say, ordered that he be beheaded. Cyprian was exceedingly joyful, and he went to the place of execution as to a wedding. And so this man of God suffered for Christ on July 5, 1679, and realized his ardent desire.