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The Cult of Saints in Late Antiquity


from its origins to circa AD 700, across the entire Christian world


Sophronius of Jerusalem, in his Miracles of the Saints Cyrus and John (52), recounts how *Kyros and Ioannes/Cyrus and John (physician and soldier, martyrs of Egypt, S00406) healed from paralysis Zosimos, a doctor from Constantinople, at their sanctuary at Menouthis (near Alexandria, Lower Egypt). Written in Greek in Alexandria, 610/615.

Evidence ID

E07759

Type of Evidence

Literary - Hagiographical - Collections of miracles

Sophronius of Jerusalem, The Miracles of Saints Cyrus and John, 52


There was also a certain Zosimos from Byzantium who was a public medic (archietros). He was entirely paralysed and could not move any single member by himself. He needed to be carried, fed and generally attended by other people. He revealed the powerlessness of his art, since he who promised healing to others could not heal himself.
He thus had himself carried to the true physicians, that is the martyrs Cyrus and John. After only three days spent in prayer to them, he received an order to take a bath in the hot springs. He executed the order and entered the steam room carried on a couch by porters who withdrew after they deposited him there.

Τούτων δ ποιησαμένων τν ξοδον, Κρος μάρτυς ν μοναχοσχήματι τνοσοντι παρίσταται, οκναρς τος πλείοσι φαίνεται, ἀλλ’ ὕπαρ, ὡςν τε καγράφεται· καφανεςναστναι τνοσοντι προσέταττεν, καθερμοςγκυβιστσαι τος νάμασιν.

‘When they withdrew, the martyr Cyrus in monastic garment stood by the sick, not in a dream as he appears to many, but in reality, just like he was and like he is depicted. And having appeared, he commanded the sick to get up and plunge into the hot springs.’

Zosimos, although not scared by the apparition, responded that he was incapable of doing so. The martyr, however, repeated his command. Inspired and encouraged by him, the sick man obeyed his order and, dragging himself on his legs and hands with great difficulty, he reached the bath and crawled into the water like a snake. When he got out, he was healed. He exited the baths running on his feet and praising God and the martyr. When the other people saw him healthy, they joined him in praise and went to take a bath too.


Text: Fernández Marcos 1976, lightly modified in the light of Gascou 2007
Summary: J. Doroszewska



Record Created By

Julia Doroszewska

Date of Entry

03/09/2019

Related Saint Records
IDNameName in SourceIdentity
S00406Kyros and Ioannes/Cyrus and John, physician and soldier, martyrs of EgyptΚῦρος καὶ Ἰωάννης Certain


Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL:
Julia Doroszewska, Cult of Saints, E07759 - http://csla.history.ox.ac.uk/record.php?recid=E07759