By Bishop Grigorios of Mesaoria
Our Church commemorates today Martyr Polyeuctus of Melitene and Saint Eustratius the Wonderworker.
Saint Eustratius lived in the 9th century AD and came from the city of Tarsus, Bithynia. His parents were kind and wealthy, who took care to raise him with the ideals of Christianity. When he was twenty years old, he went to Abgar monastery (on Olympos in Asia Minor), where his uncles were monks. There he lived a strict ascetic life, fasting and praying every day. Saint Eustratius served and assisted everyone with a willing heart and humble mind.
The Fathers of the Monastery saw, through the Holy Spirit, that Saint Efstratius led a virtuous life with rich gifts and humility. Then, after the death of the abbot, he was chosen as igumen of the monastery.
Source: Church of Cyprus