Saint Thyrsos, Bishop of Karpasia, the Anchorite

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.

  

Homily on our Venerable Father Anthony the Great

By Archimandrite Photios Ioakeim

Anthony our great Father, the first inhabitant of the desert, the founder of monasticism, the pride of the Orthodox, the boast of the ecumene, the glory of the faithful, the seal of the Gospel, the heir of eternal good things, the support of the ecumene - as we sing in his beautiful apolytikion. The patron of the village of Spilia, has summoned us again this year, my beloved brethren in the Lord, to this blessed temple of his, in the celebration of his brilliant memory, so that we can joyfully honor him with hymns and psalms and spiritual odes and become partakers of his grace and blessing, glorifying the only true Triune God, "who is glorified in His saints."

This venerable heavenly citizen and earthly angel, who was found worthy, like few others in history, of the lofty title of "Great" for his truly great divine works, was found worthy by divine Providence and for the benefit of posterity, to be biographed by another "Great" man of the Church, Athanasios the Great, whom he had as his disciple for a while. This wonderful Life of Anthony the Great was written by Athanasios the Great as the archbishop of the renowned metropolis of Alexandria, and he initially sent it to monks in Egypt, so that they could study it and have it as a model of life. The later Synaxaria of Anthony the Great also draw from this wonderful life, and from him we will also glean the most important things from the equal to the angels life of our celebrated saint.