Holy Martyr Julianna and the 630 martyrs with her

Saint Martyr Julianna, a daughter of rich pagan parents, was born in Nicomedia (Asia Minor) in 286. When she was nine, her father, Afrikan, betrothed her to a rich young man of noble origin named Eleusius whose father was a court grandee. Both children being too young to marry, the wedding was postponed till the time when they become of age. In those years Julianna learned about the Christian faith and got baptized. She turned to Christ with all her heart and began to live in exact observance of the Lord’s commandments. Eleuseus in the meantime attained a position of the governor of Nicomedia. When the time of their marriage drew near, Juliana revealed to him that she was a Christian, and could not enter into marriage with him unless he accepted her faith, saying: ‘What would it profit us to be united physically but divided in spirit?’ Eleusius was exasperated, and denounced her to her father. Julianna refused to marry Eleusius. Her furious father poured scorn on her and whipped her, but Julianna said, "I worship Christ, I love Christ, I am not afraid to suffer tortures for Him." Then her father handed her over to Eleusius for torture. The governor charmed by the beauty of his former bride, first tried kindly to persuade her denounce Christ and marry him. Then, seeing her firm determination, he started threatening her with all kinds of tortures. But neither his promises of earthly wealth, nor the fear of death could make her renounce Christ. He ordered that she be harshly beaten and tortured, then she was thrown into prison all torn and bleeding. But the Lord healed her in the prison, and she appeared before the governor whole and unharmed. He then put her into a glowing furnace, but the fire did not burn her. Back in her cell she was to face another trial: the Devil appeared before her disguised as an angel and tried to induce her to "reason and compromise." By what he was saying Julianna guessed that it was the enemy of humankind that was talking to her and praying to God, she make the devil disappear in abashment.

Seeing Julianna’s firmness and the wonders during her tortures, many came to believe in Christ the Lord. Five hundred men and a hundred and thirty women were converted. The governor condemned them all to death, and ordered that they be beheaded with the sword, and their souls entered into Paradise. After that Julianna, who turned 18 at the time, was executed too. It happened in the year of 304. God’s punishment fell on Eleusius soon: sailing over the sea, his ship broke up and he fell into the water. He did not find death in the waves, but swam to an island, where the dogs tore him to pieces and devoured him.

Holy martyr Julianna is venerated as a patroness of chastity and purity. Parts of her relics are preserved in many churches.

Kontakion:
Thou wast a comely virgin/ and a martyr wounded by divine love./ Thou wast taken up to the heavenly bridal chamber/ where thou dost pray for those who honor thee.

Source: http://www.fatheralexander.org