The Church commemorates Saint Eutychius, Patriarch of Constantinople, and New Hieromartyr Gennadius. The Church also commemorates Venerable Gregory of Sinai.
Saint Eftychius was nurtured from a very early age in the Orthodox faith and theology. Later, he was tonsured a monk and was ordained a deacon and a presbyter in the monastery of Amasea.
During his stay in Constantinople, Patriarch Menas of Constantinople was impressed by his coherent personality and gained the favor of Emperor Justinian, who recommended that Eftychios be elected after the passing of the Patriarch in AD 552.
From his new position, the Saint showed all his spiritual and administrative gifts, as well as his adherence to the Faith and the Tradition of the Orthodox Church. That is why he confronted Justinian when the latter was lured by heresies into the falsification of the Orthodox Faith.
For his vehement defense of the Orthodox faith, Patriarch Eftychius was deposed and exiled for twelve years. But when the truth came to light, he returned to Constantinople and was received with great honors under the reign of Emperor Tiberius. He continued his pastoral work until his passing.
Source: Church of Cyprus
