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Commemorated on July 28
The Holy Martyr
Julian suffered during the reign of Antoninus Pius (138-161) in the Italian
province of Campagna. The governor Flavian gave orders to search out and bring
christians to him for trial. During this time the young Christian Julian
arrived in Campagna from Dalmatia. Having met up with soldiers of the governor,
he greeted them with the words: "Peace, brothers!" The soldiers began
to interrogate him: where he was from and what faith he confessed. Julian,
willing to suffer and die for Christ, bravely declared that he was a Christian.
The soldiers were amazed at the courage of the youth, but obeying their orders,
they bound him and led him to the governor. "We shall see, – they said,
– how true be thy words, whether thou be willing to die for the Crucified
One".
Having undergone a
beating, the saint prayed to the Lord, that He would grant him the strength to
endure the torture to the end. His prayer was heard, and he heard a Voice:
"Fear not, Julian, I am with thee and shalt give thee strength and courage".
The holy youth was locked up in a prison, called "the Cold Pit", in
which they held him for seven days without food or water. An Angel of God
brought food and heartened the confessor.
At the following
interrogation the governor harassed the youth, saying, that it was shameful for
such an handsome youth to worship the One-Crucified upon the Cross, and urged
him to offer sacrifice to idols. Saint Julian made bold to answer, that he was prepared
to die for the true faith. The governor gave orders to tie the youth to a tree
and beat him. The martyr began to pray and again heard a Voice: "Fear not,
Julian, remain brave". Saint Julian, having turned to the crowd standing
about, said: "Listen, ye accursed ones, trust not on your gods, which ye
have made with your hands. But rather know ye the God, Who from nothing hath
created Heaven and earth". After his speech more than 30 men were
converted to Christ, and they again led off the saint to prison. In the
morning, when new tortures were started, they announced, that the temple of the
pagan god Serapis together with the idols standing in it were destroyed.
Everyone arrived in shock and was terrified, but the christians were heartened
and glorified Christ God. The pagans however attributed this destruction to
magical power and they demanded his immediate execution. They decided to do the
killing of the holy youth at the place of the ruined pagan temple. Before the
execution Saint Julian bent down on his knees and prayed, thanking the Lord for
granting him to accept death for His Holy Name. A third time he heard the
Voice, summoning him to the Kingdom of Heaven. They beheaded the holy martyr
with a sword, and he expired to the Lord, Whom he loved more than earthly life.
© 1996-2001 by translator Fr. S. Janos.
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