By Bishop Gregorios of Mesaoria
Our Church commemorates today Saint Euxiphius of Cyprus, Bishop of Soloi, and Venerable Anastasius, who practiced in Peristeronopigi in Mesaoria, and Venerable Epiphanius, who practiced in Kyrenia Mountains (also known as Pentadaktylos) in the area of Chytroi.
Saint Euxiphius was from Rome. His parents were pressuring him to marry. However, Saint Euxiphius wanted to be consecrated to virginity and become a monk. So he secretly left Rome and travelled to Limnitis near Soloi. There he met the Mark the Evangelist, who baptized and ordained him Bishop of Soloi. Mark the Evangelist urged him to become a preacher of the Holy Gospel. Saint Euxiphius was so gifted that he converted many pagans to Christianity.
He fell asleep in the Lord and was buried in Soloi after fifty years of being the shepherd of God’s people. Saint Euxiphius is highly venerated in the village of Astromeritis, where there is a temple dedicated to his memory.
The Church also commemorates Venerable Anastasius was from Peristeronopigi. In the basement of the altar of the old temple, there is the hermitage and the tomb of Venerable Anastasius.
SOURCE: Church of Cyprus
