Hieromartyr Cyprian and Holy Virgin Martyr Justina

Life

Cyprian — a man who had moved from Carthage to Antioch, where Justina also lived with her parents, Aedesius and Cleodonia. Aedesius was a pagan priest and his entire household was heathen. But when Justina, visiting Christian churches, came to know the true faith, she converted both her father and her mother to Christ the Lord. And all three received baptism from Bishop Optatus. Cyprian, however, was a sorcerer, had dealings with unclean spirits, and practiced divination. A certain dissolute young pagan named Aglaidas desired at all costs to seduce Saint Justina, for he was captivated by her beauty, but when the holy virgin resolutely refused him, he sought help from Cyprian. Cyprian sent evil spirits, one after another, upon Justina, to inflame in her an impure passion for Aglaidas, but succeeded in nothing, for Saint Justina drove away the spirits of wickedness from herself by the sign of the Cross and prayer to God. Then Cyprian came to know the power of the Cross and was himself baptized, and in time became a presbyter and bishop. The embittered pagans accused both him and Justina, and both were brought to trial in Damascus, and then tortured and beheaded in Nicomedia at the end of the third century.