Portal:Catholic Church/Patron Archive/August 8 2007

Saint Cyriacus is a saint who lived under Roman Emperor Diocletian.

A Roman nobleman, Cyriacus converted to Christianity during his adult life and renounced his material wealth, giving it away to the poor. He spent the rest of his life ministering to the slaves who worked in the baths of Diocletian.

He is considered one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers.

Cyriacus is credited with exorcizing demons from two girls, both daughters of influential Romans at the time. The first was Artemisia the daughter of Emperor Diocletian; which resulted in both Artemisia and her mother Saint Serena converting to Christianity. He is also credited with driving demons out from Jobias the daughter of Shapur I of Persia (reigned 241 - 272), which led to the conversion of the King's entire household.

Under the reign of Western Roman Emperor Maximian, Cyriacus among others (including Saint Largus and Saint Smaragdus) was tortured and put to death, beheaded on the Via Salaria in 303, where he was then buried. It is claimed his relics were later moved to Santa Maria in Via Lata in Rome, and the Saint Cyricus Abbey in Alsace.

Attributes

Patronage: temptation on the deathbed, Saint-Cierges, Switzerland, eye disease

Prayer: