By Archimandrite Photios Ioakeim
Among the multitude of holy bishops who illuminated the invisible firmament of the Church of Cyprus, is included the select circle of holy shepherds of the Diocese of Karpasia, within which our God-bearing Father Thyrsos, Bishop of Karpasia, the anchorite, undoubtedly holds a prominent place. The other co-enthroned holy bishops of Karpasia are our God-bearing Fathers Philon, Synesios and Sosikrates.
The surviving historical-literary sources for the person and life of Saint Thyrsos are unfortunately meager. For example, he is not included in the so-called Synodikon of Orthodoxy of the Church of Cyprus — as are certainly not included several bishops of the island, known from other sources. The oldest hagiological source for Saint Thyrsos is the so-called Penteorton manuscript of the Karpasite monk Akakios, which he wrote in 1733 and in which he included Services and short synaxaria of five saints of the Diocese of Karpasia, among whom was Saint Thyrsos. The same traditions and similar Services to the manuscript of Akakios are also included in the manuscript of the Metropolis of Kition, written in 1805 by Antonios Teirmentzoglou, a pilgrim, who in this case copies Akakios, but in a free manner.
In his concise synaxarion, Akakios preserves traditions and certain miracles related to Saint Thyrsos. Although the chronological information he provides is vague and confusing — and certainly reflects the perceptions of the late Turkish period in Cyprus — there is a certain historical core to it. The Saint is considered there to be a descendant of Karpasia and that, after a successful episcopate, he abdicated the throne of Karpasia and became an ascetic in a seaside cave near the village of Agia Triada in Aigialousa, where he was buried after his holy repose.
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| Fig. 2: The sacred altar of the old church of Saint Thyrsos, looted after the Turkish invasion of 1974 |
According to the usual order of the Orthodox Church, later, with the consolidation in the consciousness of the local Church of the belief in his holiness, an early Byzantine church was built in his name on the site, where his cave and tomb were [Fig. 2]. His church that survives today, single-aisled and vaulted, where architectural elements from earlier phases were incorporated, dates back to the 14th/15th centuries [Fig. 3]. In 1911, apparently due to the gradual dilapidation of this church and its small size, a new, more spacious church was built on a higher level.
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| Fig. 3: Exterior view of the old church of Saint Thyrsos from the west |
A particularly important archaeological piece evidence from the days of Saint Thyrsos is his supposedly upper tomb inside his old church, which, despite clear later interventions, was clearly originally an arcosolium (an arched vaulted tomb that was common during the late Roman/early Byzantine period) [Fig. 4]. Thus, we can conclude that the Saint lived during the early Byzantine period. Moreover, the custom of certain bishops resigning from the throne in order to become simple monks — as Saint Thyrsos did — is quite early. And in the case of the Church of Cyprus, we have, among others, the shining example of Archbishop Sergios of Constantia (642-660[?]), who resigned from the archbishopric and became an ascetic on Mount Sinai.
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| Fig. 4: The tomb space of Saint Thyrsos, which was originally an arcosolium |
Furthermore, one observes the fresco of Saint Thyrsos in the Church of Saint George in Sakkas, located not far from his church, near Agia Triada of Aigialousa, which dates back to approximately the 12th century [Fig. 5]. In the same church, a fresco of Saint Synesios, Bishop of Karpasia, from the same period, is also preserved. Later portable icons of Saint Thyrsos, dating from the 17th century and onwards, are also preserved.
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| Fig. 5: Saints Thyrsos and Barbara (12th century). Fresco in the Church of Saint George Sakkas, near the village of Agia Triada Aigialousa |
Fragments of the holy relics of Saint Thyrsos are in the Holy Archdiocese of Cyprus.
In the above old church of Saint Thyrsos, at a special point where one descends from a small staircase, there is a Byzantine “pool”, where its well-known holy water, famous for the treatment of skin diseases, flows. According to local tradition, after being anointed with the holy water, the believer should not leave there unless he first washes it off in the nearby sea.
The memory of our Holy Father Thyrsos is celebrated on July 23.
By his intercessions, Christ our God, deliver and save us from visible and invisible enemies. Amen.
Bibliography:
1. Christos Taousianis, The Episcopate of Karpasia, Nicosia 1996.
2. Proceedings of the First Scientific Conference, Limassol 2010.
3. New Service of the Saint, composed by the Hymnographer Haralambos Bousias, together with a rich bibliography, was included in the series Kypria Menaia, IX (July), pp. 158-171.
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
In the above old church of Saint Thyrsos, at a special point where one descends from a small staircase, there is a Byzantine “pool”, where its well-known holy water, famous for the treatment of skin diseases, flows. According to local tradition, after being anointed with the holy water, the believer should not leave there unless he first washes it off in the nearby sea.
The memory of our Holy Father Thyrsos is celebrated on July 23.
By his intercessions, Christ our God, deliver and save us from visible and invisible enemies. Amen.
Bibliography:
1. Christos Taousianis, The Episcopate of Karpasia, Nicosia 1996.
2. Proceedings of the First Scientific Conference, Limassol 2010.
3. New Service of the Saint, composed by the Hymnographer Haralambos Bousias, together with a rich bibliography, was included in the series Kypria Menaia, IX (July), pp. 158-171.
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
