St. Marcian of Cyrrhus

Marcian came from Cyrrhus in Syria and belonged to a prominent family. Butler describes his decision to leave the advantages of court life and retire to the desert of Chalcis. There he lived in a small enclosure, giving his time to psalmody, reading, prayer and work.

He practised severe restraint, but Butler also records his care to take enough food to retain strength for his duties. Eventually he admitted two disciples, Eusebius and Agapetus. A larger community grew nearby, with Eusebius as its abbot and Marcian offering instruction to the monks.

When a distinguished company of bishops and officials asked him to teach them, he first kept silence. His answer directed their attention to the lessons already given by God through creation and the Gospel. His own humility did not permit him to treat himself as a greater teacher. Even the prospect of honour after death troubled him, and he asked his disciples for an unknown burial place. Butler follows Theodoret’s Religious History in preserving the memory of this Syrian ascetic.