The Church commemorates today Martyrs Chrysanthus and Darius. Their life reminds us that there is no discrimination and exclusion on the path to holiness, since many of our fellow believers led either the monastic life or marital life, were deemed worthy to be included in the Orthodox Liturgical Calendar. It is enough for somebody to carry one’s personal cross with patience, love and humility.
Saint Chrysanthus was a son of a pagan senator and lived in Alexandria under the reign of King Numerian around AD 285. His father was very infuriated when he learnt that his son had been converted to Christianity. Initially, his father tortured his son. Eventually, he decided to forcibly marry him to the idolatrous Greek Daria, hoping that he would persuade him to return to paganism.
Nevertheless, the grace of the Holy Spirit helped Chrysanthus to catechize with love and devotion to his wife and to convert her to Christianity through baptism. They decided to follow the path of abstinence, preaching the word of God and helping the poor. Their action infuriated the pagans who terribly tortured the two saints. Finally, Saints Chrysanthus and Daria were deemed worthy to receive the wreath of martyrdom.
Source: Church of Cyprus