Marina and Kira

Marina and Kira or Marana and Kira ( dr. Greek Μαράνα καὶ Κύρα ; lat. Marana et Kyra ; IV century - V century) - Christian ascetics, Syrian nuns, reverends.

Marina and Kira
Μαράνα καὶ Κύρα
Marina and Kira. Minology of Vasily II
Is revered	in Orthodoxy and Catholicism
In the face	reverend
Day of Remembrance	in Orthodoxy - February 28 ( March 13 ), February 28 ; in the Catholic Church - February 28, March 13 .
Asceticism	prayer feat fast

Information about the life of Marina and Kira is reported by Theodorite of Cyrus in the 29th chapter of his book “ The History of God-Lovers, ” who personally knew them. Marina and Kira were born in the city of Veria . They were of noble origin and were educated according to their origin. Leaving wealth and luxury, they fenced for themselves a small open-air place outside the city, closed there and blocked the door with earth and stones. To their maidservants who wished to share their exploits, Marina and Kira built a small house near their fence. Through a small hole in this fence, Marina and Kira looked after their associates, servants, and encouraged them to pray. Instead of a door in the fence at Marina and Kira, a small window was made through which they took the necessary food. Through this window they talked with women coming to them. For these conversations, they chose a certain time - Pentecost , the rest of the time they remained silent. Only Marina spoke with the women who came, and no one had ever heard Kira's voices. Marina and Kira constantly wore very heavy chains on their bodies. Kira, who had a weaker physique, leaned over the ground to the ground and could not straighten her body. Their clothes consisted of large bedspreads, which fell from the back to the bottom, completely covering the legs, and went down to the waist in front, completely covering the face, neck, chest and arms. Theodorite of Cyrus saw the ascetics several times. Marina and Kira, out of respect for the hierarchal dignity of Theodorite, ordered the maids to open the door and let him inside the fence. Theodorite saw very heavy chains on weak wives, hardly persuaded them to remove the chains, but after his departure they again laid the chains on their bodies: on the neck, on the belt, on the arms and legs. Bearing all the vicissitudes of the weather - rain, snow and the scorching rays of the sun, the ascetics did not lose heart or grieve, but, thanks to their faith and prayer to God, they were able to derive joyful comfort from these visible adversities. By the time of writing the book, History of the God of Love , it was written in 444 or 445; Marina and Kira lived inside their walls in fasting and prayer for 42 years.

Imitating the prophets , Marina and Cyrus assigned various posts: imitating Moses ( Exodus 24:18 ), they stayed without food for three days for 40 days and only afterwards took a little food; three times, imitating Daniel ( Dan. 10: 2 ), they spent three weeks in fasting and then ate some food. Theodorite announces two pilgrimages made by Marina and Kira. The first is to Elia (the distance was not less than twenty days of travel ^[1] ), to the place of suffering of Jesus Christ; on the way, Marina and Kira did not take any food; only when they came to this city and worshiped the shrine, they tasted it, on the way back they observed the same strict fasting. The second - to Isauria (to the city of Sis ^[2] ), to worship the tomb of the first martyr Thekla ; the ascetics went there, making a round trip, not taking food.