OCTOBER 02
The holy Virgin Martyr Justina suffered for Christ in Nicomedia with the Hieromartyr Cyprian and the Martyr Theoctistus in 304.
At first St Cyprian was a pagan sorcerer, and tried to corrupt Juliana through his magic spells. The holy virgin Justina lived in Antioch. After turning her own father and mother away from pagan error and leading them to the true faith in Christ, she dedicated herself to the Heavenly Bridegroom and spent her time in fasting and prayer. When the youth Aglaides proposed marriage to her, the saint refused, for she wished to remain a virgin. Agalides sought Cyprian’s help and asked for a magic spell to charm Justina into marriage. But no matter what Cyprian tried, he could accomplish nothing, since the saint overcame all the wiles of the devil through her prayers and fasting.
Cyrian sent demons to attack the holy virgin, trying to arouse fleshly passions in her, but she dispelled them by the power of the Sign of the Cross and by fervent prayer to the Lord.
Even though one of the demonic princes and Cyprian himself, assumed
various guises by the power of sorcery, they were not able to sway St Justina, who was guarded by her firm faith in Christ. All the spells dissipated, and the demons fled at the mere mention of the saint’s name.
Cyprian, in a rage, sent down pestilence and plague upon Justina’s family and upon all the city, but this was thwarted by her prayer. Cyprian’s soul, corrupted by its domination over people and by his incantations, was shown in all the depth of his downfall, and also the abyss of nothingness of the evil that he served.
Once he realized the powerlessness of the demons, St Cyprian rejected them and became a Christian. He was baptized, and after a time, he was consecrated as a bishop. The Hieromartyr Cyprian converted so many pagans to Christ that in his diocese there was no one left to offer sacrifice to idols, and the pagan temples fell Into disuse. St Justina withdrew to a monastery and was chosen Abbess.
During the persecution against Christians under the emperor Diocletian, Bishop Cyprian and Abbess Justina were arrested and brought to Nicomedia, where after fierce tortures they were beheaded with the sword. St Cyprian, fearful that the holy virgin’s courage might falter if she saw him put to death, asked for time to pray. St Justina joyfully inclined her neck and was beheaded first.
The soldier Theoctistus, seeing the guiltless sufferings of St Justina, fell at Cyprian’s feet and declared himself a Christian, and was beheaded with them.
Troparion — Tone 4
You abandoned ungodly darkness, becoming a light of truth; / You were illustrious as a pastor; / You were glorified in contest: / O righteous Father Cyprian together with godly Justina, / Intercede for us before God the Creator of all!
Kontakion — Tone 1
You turned from the art of sorcery to the knowledge of God, / and were shown forth as a skillful healer for the world, Cyprian, inspired by God. / Together with Justina you grant cures to those who honor you; / with her, pray to the Master who loves mankind that He may save our souls.
