View source for Cyriacus of Antioch

{{oriental}}

St. '''Cyriacus of Antioch''', also known as Mor Kyriakos of Antioch, is a father of the [[Church of Antioch (Syriac)|Syriac Orthodox Church]] who served as [[Patriarch]] of Antioch and All the East in the late 8th and early 9th centuries. Our Holy Father Cyriacus of Antioch is commemorated by the Syriac Orthodox Church on [[August 16]].

==Life==
St. Cyriacus was born and raised in the Mesopotamian city of Tikrit, known today for also being the hometown of Saladdin. Het received his educational and spiritual formation at the Monastery of the Pillar near al-Raqqa, where he also became a [[monk]]. As a monk, St. Cyriacus became widely known for his virtuous and pious life and for his knowledge and understanding of the teachings of the Church.

In 793, the [[Holy Synod]] of the Syriac Orthodox Church elected Cyriacus Patriarch of Antioch. During his patriarchate he held five councils of the Church, issuing canons for the improvement of the Church and seeking to reconcile a sect of the Monophysite Julianist [[heresy]] to Orthodoxy, although his attempt to do so was blocked by his brother hierarchs.

Despite his holiness and faithfulness to Orthodoxy, Cyriacus was resented by some of the [[clergy]] and [[laity]] for his strictness in enforcing the canons of the Church and suffered because of their malice. He nevertheless served as Patriarch of Antioch for 24 years. In that time he consecrated 86 hierarchs to serve the Church in Syria, Mesopotamia, and the East.

St. Cyriacus fell asleep in Nineveh (modern day Mosul) on August 16, 817 and was buried in his hometown of Tikrit.

==External link==
*[http://www.soc-wus.org/ourchurch/Mor%20Kyriakos,%20Patriarch%20of%20Antioch.htm Mor Kyriakos of Antioch] (Syriac Orthodox Patriarchal Vicariate of the Western United States)

[[Category:Bishops]]
[[Category:Oriental Orthodox]]
[[Category:Non-Chalcedonian Saints]]
[[Category:Patriarchs of Antioch]]
[[Category:Syrian Saints]]