Nobles from Beroea in Syria, Marana and Cyra lived for forty-two years as recluses in the open air, burdened with heavy iron chains as penance. They left their enclosure only once for a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, performed on foot and while fasting. They died around 443 after a life of extreme austerities.
Guided reading
5 reading sections
SAINT MARANA AND SAINT CYRA, VIRGINS,
Origins and choice of the reclusive life
Marana and Cyra, noblewomen of Beroea in Syria, renounce the world to devote themselves to asceticism and retire with their attendants to a solitary place near their native city.
Marana Marane Recluse virgin of the 5th century from Beroea. and Cyr Cyre Recluse virgin of the 5th century, companion of Saint Marana. a were both born in Beroea, in Sy Bérée Birthplace and site of the saints' first retreat. ria; they Syrie Region of origin of the saints. belonged to noble parents, and they had been very well brought up. The world offered them a seductive future: but they despised its charms and pleasures to devote themselves entirely to the love of Jesus Christ. They formed an intimate friendship that only ended with death. Resolved to save themselves from the dangers of the world, united by the same thought and the same desire, they retired to a solitary place, a little outside the city where they were born. They each took their attendants, who did not wish to leave their holy mistresses nor live separated from them.
A life of extreme austerity
The two saints live without shelter, exposed to the elements, and impose upon themselves the wearing of heavy iron chains while communicating with the world through a simple window.
The two holy maidens, with the help of their companions, closed with stones and sand the avenues of the place where they wished to live far from all distraction, and they remained there, without house or shelter of any kind, exposed to the rigors of the sun, the rains, the winters, and all the variations of weather and seasons. They had made a kind of window in their enclosure wall, through which they received their food and things of absolute necessity, and through which Marana spoke to th Marane Recluse virgin of the 5th century from Beroea. e women who came to consult them and be edified by their holy conversation.
The two austere recluses were clothed in a long veil or cloak, which covered not only their whole body, but their face, feet, and hands. They had burdened themselves with irons that crushed them: a collar, a belt, bracelets, and shackles. Cyra, who was the weaker, was so overw helm Cyre Recluse virgin of the 5th century, companion of Saint Marana. ed by them that she could hardly straighten her poor body, weighed down under the load. They had been leading this austere life for forty-two years when the pious Theodoret, Bishop of Cyrrhus, came to visit them duri Théodoret Bishop and ecclesiastical historian who visited the holy sites. ng his ascetic peregrinations; he begged them to unburden themselves for a moment of their iron load during the conversation he had with them: which they did out of deference; but, upon his departure, they immediately resumed the burden, sweet to the love that burned within them for their heavenly Spouse.
The meeting with Theodoret of Cyrus
After forty-two years of reclusion, Bishop Theodoret visits them and temporarily convinces them to remove their chains out of deference to his authority.
A charming gaiety, a truly divine joy, animated these poor girls, thus recluse, exposed to all the insults of the air, living on some poor and rare food and a little clear water. Three times, they spent an entire Lent without eating anything, in imitation of the Savior, who nourished them with His burning charity. They left their asylum only once; it was to go on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land; they traveled on foot, without taking any food, the path from Beroea to Jerusalem; they returned in the same way , aft Bérée Birthplace and site of the saints' first retreat. er having co Jérusalem Holy city where the Cross was lost and subsequently recovered. nfessed their devotion, and shut themselves up, never to leave again, within the enclosure of their wall. They died holily on August 3, around the year 443.
Miraculous fasts and pilgrimage
The saints perform forty-day fasts and undertake a pilgrimage on foot to Jerusalem without taking any food before returning to their enclosure.
Excerpt from The Life of a Saint for every day of the year, by t he parish priest of M. le curé de Vitel Author of the source work for the biography. Vitel.
Passing and references
The two virgins died in 443. The account is taken from the hagiographic compilation by the parish priest of Vitel.
A charming gaiety, a truly divine joy, animated these poor girls, thus recluse, exposed to all the insults of the weather, living on a few poor and rare foods and a little clear water. Three times, they spent an entire Lent without eating anything, in imitation of the Savior, who nourished them with His burning charity. They left their asylum only once; it was to go on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land; they traveled on foot, without taking any food, the road from Beroea to Jerusalem; they returned the same way, after having confessed their devotion, and shut themselves in, never to leave again, within the enclosure of their wall. They died holily on August 3, around the year 443.
Excerpt from The Life of a Saint for every day of the year, by the parish priest of Vitel.
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Retirement to a solitary place near Beroea
- Life as homeless recluses for forty-two years
- Wore heavy iron chains (collar, belt, bracelets)
- Visit of Bishop Theodoret of Cyrrhus
- Pilgrimage on foot to Jerusalem without food
Miracles
- Survival of three entire Lents without any food
- Round trip on foot from Beroea to Jerusalem without eating