January 12, 2022

Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate Canonizes Two Former Ecumenical Patriarchs: Cyril I Loukaris of Crete and Cyril VI of Thrace


On the 11th of January 2022, the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate decided to include in its official list of Saints two former Ecumenical Patriarchs, who suffered and died martyrically under the Ottomans and had their bodies cast into the sea.

Saint Cyril I Loukaris of Crete was born in 1572 and was martyred on the 27th of June 1638. The Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Alexandria on 6 October 2009 had previously canonized him, and he is commemorated on the 27th of June.

Saint Cyril VI of Thrace was born in 1769 and was martyred on the 18th of April 1821. He was recognized as a Saint in 1993 by the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece and he is commemorated on the 18th of April, or it is carried to Thomas Sunday depending if it falls during Great Lent or Holy Week.

For further reading, see:

Saint Cyril Loukaris Resource Page