The Holy Virgin Martyr
Juliana of Nicomedia
Troparion in Tone 4
Your lamb Juliana, calls out to You, O Jesus, in a loud voice:
"I love You, my Bridegroom, and in seeking You,
I endure suffering.
In baptism I was crucified so that I might reign in You,
and I died so that I might live with You.
Accept me as a pure sacrifice,
for I have offered myself in love."
Through her prayers save our souls,
since You are merciful.
Troparion in Tone 4
All-blameless bride and venerable
trophy-bearer, thou art wedded to the Word of the Immortal Father, O
glorious Julianna; for having wisely disdained thy mortal bridegroom thou
didst strive beyond nature to destroy the serpent. And now thou dost delight
in the joys of thy Bridegroom.
Kontakion in Tone 1
You were a beautiful virgin, wise Juliana,
and as your soul was wounded with divine love,
your body was also pierced with the wounds of martyrdom adorning you as a
bride of Christ and His martyr.
Now as you dwell in the heavenly bridal chamber,
you pray for us all.
The Holy Virgin Martyr Juliana, daughter of an
illustrious pagan named Africanus, was born in the city of Nicomedia. As a
child, she was betrothed to a certain Eleusios, one of the emperor's
advisors. St. Juliana was endowed with a profound intellect and goodness of
soul. She saw through the delusion and deception of the pagan faith, and
secretly accepted holy Baptism.
When the time of her wedding approached, Juliana
refused to be married. Her father urged her not to break her engagement, but
when she refused to obey him, he began to beat her viciously. Then Africanus
handed his daughter over to the Eparch, who happened to be Eleusios,
Juliana's former fiancé. Eleusios fervently asked Juliana to marry him,
promising not to require her to abandon her faith. St. Juliana refused and
said that she'd rather be put to death.
They beat the saint both long and harshly, but
after each beating she received healing and new strength from God. Her
punishment took place before a large number of people. Of these, 500 men and
150 women came to confess Christ after witnessing the steadfastness and
courage of the holy virgin miraculously healed from her wounds. They were
beheaded, having been baptized in their own blood.
Convinced of the futility of attempting to separate
the holy virgin from her heavenly Bridegroom, Eleusios sentenced Juliana to
death. She accepted the sentence with joy and glorified the Lord for
permitting her to receive a martyr's crown. The holy Martyr Juliana was
executed in the year 304.
