Holy Martyr Justin the Philosopher, Another Justin, and with Them Chariton, Euelpistus, Hierax, Paeon, Valerian, Justus and Charita (+166)

The holy Martyr Justin the Philosopher was born into the family of a pagan Greek. In the ancient Samaritan city of Shechem he was introduced to Greek philosophy and various sciences.

Once, as he was walking in the outskirts of the city, deep in thought, Justin met an old man, who in a long conversation explained to him the essence of the Christian teaching and advised him to seek in Holy Scripture the answers to all the questions that tormented him. “But above all,” the old man said, “pray earnestly to the Lord to enlighten thy mind. No one can know the truth unless the Lord make him wise, who bountifully gives to all who ask Him with faith and love.”

Justin was thirty when he was baptised, and from then on he devoted all his talent and knowledge to spreading the teaching of Christ among the pagans. “Whoever can make the truth known to another and does not do so will be called to account by the Lord,” he wrote.

Justin opened a school where he taught Christian philosophy. The saint ardently defended the truth of the Christian teaching.

Around 155, when the Emperor Antoninus Pius (138–161) began to persecute the Christians, Saint Justin personally handed him an “Apology” in defence of three Christians condemned to death, in which he convincingly proved the falsity of the charges brought against Christianity. The “Apology” made so great an impression on the emperor that he stopped the persecution. To Asia, where the Christians were especially oppressed, he sent Justin himself, who joyfully told the inhabitants of the emperor’s decision.

In Ephesus a disputation took place between Justin and the rabbi Trypho. The Orthodox philosopher, relying on the prophecies of the Old Testament, confirmed the truth of the Christian teaching. Saint Justin set down this disputation in his work “Dialogue with Trypho the Jew”.

With a second “Apology” Saint Justin addressed the Roman senate. This happened in 161, after Marcus Aurelius (161–180) ascended the throne.

On his way to Italy Justin preached the Gospel like the apostles, and by his God-inspired word converted many to the law of Christ. When the saint returned to Rome, many false charges were brought against him by a certain Crescens, who had more than once been defeated in debate with the philosopher and whose soul was gnawed by envy of him. Saint Justin was arrested and tortured cruelly to death (+166).

Besides the works already mentioned, the holy Martyr Justin wrote a “Discourse to the Hellenes”, “A Refutation of the Hellenes” and “On the Soul”. Saint John of Damascus preserved for us a large part of his work “On the Resurrection”, which has not otherwise come down to us. According to the historian Eusebius, the saint wrote the books “Against All Existing Heresies”, “Against Marcion” and others.

The relics of Saint Justin the Philosopher rest in Rome.

The holy Martyrs Justin, Chariton, Euelpistus, Hierax, Paeon, Valerian, Justus and Charita suffered together with Saint Justin the Philosopher in 166. They were shut up in the prison of Rome. Before Rusticus, the prefect of the city, the saints boldly confessed the Christian faith. Rusticus asked Justin: “Dost thou really think that in return for the torments thou endurest God will reward thee and give thee the Kingdom of Heaven?” Saint Justin answered: “I do not think it; I know it for certain and am fully convinced of it.”

The prefect of the city ordered the Christian prisoners to be put to death. The courageous confessors of Christ were beheaded.