Venerables Kirill and Maria lived in the ancient Rostov principality. According to legend, their estate was four miles from Rostov the Great. Boyarin Kirill served the Rostov princes. Cyril and Mary strictly followed church rules and customs, were diligent in prayer and loved the temple of God. They were especially concerned about matters of mercy.
The pious couple already had a son, Stefan, when God gave them another son, Bartholomew, in the future — of St. Sergius of Radonezh. Even before Bartholomew's birth, the Lord showed a sign of His favor to the future ascetic: one day during the Divine Liturgy, a child in his mother's womb exclaimed loudly three times. The righteous spouses made a vow: if a male baby is born, dedicate him to the service of the Church and God.
After Bartholomew, Cyril and Mary had a third son — Peter. The couple raised their children in the Law of God, piety and purity. When the time came, boyar Kirill gave his sons to learn to read and write. Stefan and Peter studied easily, but Bartholomew was not given a certificate. The boy cried bitterly and prayed earnestly that the Lord would admonish him. And miraculously, through the appearance of a mysterious monk, Bartholomew was given the great gift of God — knowledge of book teaching.
In old age, impoverished, boyar Kirill was forced to settle in the town of Radonezh, Moscow land. Stephen and Peter got married, and Bartholomew wanted to take monastic vows. The righteous Cyril and Mary were diligent admirers of monasticism, but asked Bartholomew to wait until their death to fulfill his intention in order to rest their old age. The blessed son obeyed his holy parents.
At the end of their lives, Saints Cyril and Mary wished to become monks themselves. They headed to the Intercession Khotkov Monastery, which was located three miles from Radonezh and at that time united two monasteries: for the elders and for the elders. Here the Monk Cyril and Mary spent the rest of their days preparing for eternal life. They took first monastic vows and then schema. Weighed down by illness and old age, the schema-monks did not work long in their new rank. Around 1337 they departed in peace to the Lord.
There is a legend that St. Sergius commanded, before going to his monastery, to first pray for the repose of his parents over their tomb. The veneration of Venerables Cyril and Mary dates back to the 16th century. At their relics in the Intercession Cathedral of the monastery, the Psalter was constantly read and memorial services were held. The power of the intercession of the saints was manifested in many miracles that occurred through prayer to them from their relics.
In 1992, the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church canonized Saints Cyril and Mary.