Caecilia - Mysterious philanthropic family who donated what came to be called the Callistus cemetery complex to the Rome Church around the beginning of the 3rd century - a turbulent century sometimes referred to as a Period of Military Anarchy, when Roman Emperors were as short lived as newly installed Bishops of Rome; a century when most of the martyrdoms occurred and when most of the underground catacombs were begun.  The Callistus cemetery contains the famous Crypt of the Popes and a treasure trove of other archaeological discoveries, including the oldest inscribed in stone recording of our family name we have found, so far.
Catacumbas - The district just southeast of the Valerian Wall surrounding Rome, along the historic Appian Way.  Its' name evolved into the name for the underground cemeteries; including the one in which St. Laurence was entombed, ie., the Cyriaca Cemetery.  This may have been the matriarch of an ancient branch our own Cyriac family around 250 A.D.
Depositio Martyrum
Emperors-Popes-Persecutions - A comparative chronology of the first four centuries.  (Note the turbulent 3rd century.)
Historians - Their writings may contain answers to family mysteries?!
- In the 3rd century A.D. and its connection to Saint Laurence, the martyr who is said to have converted Rome.
Inscriptions found in 3rd century Rome and elsewhere. CAR KYRIACo.. FIL DUICISSIMO VIBAS N SPIRITOSAN This 3rd century inscription was found in the middle of the 19th century by Giovanni Battista de Rossi when he dug out and/or explored the ruins of the Callistus catacomb south of Rome.  It is one of the most ancient evidences of our Greek family name and is referenced by many scholars when discussing the epitaphs found within the Christian catacombs. Translation:  Dearest KYRIACo..., son sweetest, live(s) with the Holy Spirit
Mysteries regarding our family history.
St. Cyriaca and   other Saints & females have their own page.
ALL SAINTS et al (by locale)  &  at the Baths discussion  exorcist  facts head  history  legend  links  &   & Julietta Judas   the Anchorite and  the Pope
St. Andrews in Rome - Had an Abbot named around 590 A.D.
Terminology & Translations     URL=link=address=bookmark=web page/site=http://www.Cyriac-FHP.com

This sub-site concentrates the references where the connections our Cyriac family name has to Christianity can be found.  Some pages reflect a reverence to Saints Cyriac, & which are among the most ancient and ongoing among Christians.  Others reflect 3rd century activities which helped Christianity survive its almost total destruction at the hands of the last non-Christian rulers of the Roman Empire.  There are numerous references to individuals with various forms of the name Cyriac active in Rome before Christianity was legalized in 313 - enough to make one think there was a prominent family with that name that seemingly disappeared coincident with the destruction of all things Christian in Rome at the beginning of the 4th century. It appears that the Cyriac Family was one among many similar families devoting their faith, time, property and lives to ensure that Christianity survived the onslaughts of the Roman Empire - especially during the turbulent 3rd century when the turnover in both Emperors and Bishops of Rome (before the term Pope became popular) was almost constant.  That Christianity ultimately survived but not the Rome based Cyriac (and other) families may have been those families' greatest contribution to that struggle. Our research into the facts of what actually happened in 3rd century Rome and the relationship the name Cyriac had to the early struggles of Christianity may never end, but one thing is certain - that search will seldom, if ever be boring.

Ruben James Ciriacks,  March 12th, 2009

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Website link/location/URL: http://www.Cyriac-FHP.com/cl3.htm