Cloud of Witnesses
Hieromartyr4th century

Hieromartyr Cyriacus Patriarch of Jerusalem

died c. 360–363

Also known as Jude before baptism

A Jewish man who, by tradition, helped Saint Helen find the Cross, then became Christian and Patriarch of Jerusalem, suffering martyrdom under Julian.

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November 10Old Calendar
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Commemorated as

The Holy Hieromartyr Cyriacus, Patriarch of Jerusalem

Life

Cyriacus, also called Judas Cyriacus, Quiriacus, or Kyriakos, was a fourth-century figure venerated as Patriarch of Jerusalem and a martyr in both the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches. The Orthodox Church commemorates him on October 28; the Catholic tradition keeps his feast on May 4.

By tradition he was a Jewish man whose birth name was Jude (Judas), who possessed knowledge of where the Cross of Christ lay buried and revealed it to the Empress Helen during her search at Golgotha. Following the discovery of the Cross he came to believe in Christ and was baptized, taking the name Kyriakos, a Greek name meaning 'lordly' or 'of the Lord.'

On account of his virtuous life he was later chosen as Patriarch of Jerusalem. During the persecution under the Emperor Julian the Apostate in the fourth century he was put to death after prolonged tortures, and is honored as a hieromartyr.

Troparion1 hymnReadHide
TroparionTone 4

By sharing in the ways of the Apostles,
you became a successor to their throne.
Through the practice of virtue, you found the way to divine contemplation, O inspired one of God;
by teaching the word of truth without error, you defended the Faith,
even to the shedding of your blood.
Hieromartyr Cyriacus, entreat Christ God to save our souls.

Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).

Timeline4 momentsReadHide
  1. 4th centuryFinding of the CrossBy tradition, Judas reveals to the Empress Helen the place at Golgotha where the Cross of Christ lay buried.
  2. 4th centuryConversion and baptismAfter the discovery of the Cross, he believes in Christ, is baptized, and takes the name Kyriakos.
  3. 4th centuryPatriarch of JerusalemOn account of his virtuous life he is chosen as Patriarch (Bishop) of Jerusalem.
  4. c. 360–363Martyrdom under JulianDuring the persecution of Julian the Apostate, Cyriacus is put to death after prolonged tortures.

Contributions & Legacy

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The Finding of the Cross

According to tradition, Judas possessed knowledge of the location of the Cross at Golgotha, an inheritance passed down through his family line, which he disclosed under torture when Helen sought it. The oldest surviving Syriac account of this discovery dates to approximately 500 AD.

After pointing out the place where the Life-Creating Cross lay buried and witnessing its recovery, he sincerely embraced faith in Christ and was received into the Church through baptism, taking the name Kyriakos. The fifth-century historian Sozomen (died c. 450) recorded accounts of the discovery in his Ecclesiastical History, noting a tradition that 'a dead person was also revived by the touch of the Cross.'

Episcopate and Martyrdom

Following his conversion and ordination, Cyriacus was made Bishop, or Patriarch, of Jerusalem. The Orthodox tradition attributes his selection to his pure and virtuous life.

He was martyred during the persecution under Julian the Apostate. Sources place his death around 360, with the Orthodox synaxarion dating his suffering to 363. Accounts describe him in dialogue with the emperor and suffering severe torments, in some narratives alongside his mother, named Anna. He was killed after prolonged tortures.

Relics & Shrines

By tradition the Empress Galla Placidia presented the city of Ancona, Italy, with his relics, and Cyriacus is honored as the patron saint of Ancona. The Cathedral of San Ciriaco on Monte Guasco in Ancona, said to occupy the site of an ancient temple of Venus, holds his body, which remains visible in his tomb. Construction of the Romanesque cathedral, built of grey stone in the form of a Greek cross with a dodecagonal dome, began in 1128 and was completed in 1189.

His head was reported to have been housed at Provins in France, where Henry I of Champagne established a collegiate church to contain it.

Identity and Disambiguation

The saint commemorated on October 28 is the fourth-century figure associated with the finding of the True Cross and martyred under Julian. He is often misidentified with a separate Cyriacus of Jerusalem, a bishop who, according to a stub tradition, died around 133 AD. The two are distinct persons.

Cyriacus is also known under several names and epithets, including Judas Cyriacus, Cyriacus of Ancona, Quiriacus, and Kyriakos.

Related Saints1 saintShowHide

Saints connected to his life, mission, and place in Orthodox tradition.

Mother of Constantine the Great and finder of the True Cross; tradition holds that Judas (Cyriacus) revealed to her the place at Golgotha where the Cross lay buried, and was converted at its discovery.
Empress Helen

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Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Lives of the Saints