St Julian, Bishop of Cenomania (I)

Saint Julian, Bishop of Cenomania, was consecrated hierarch by the Apostle Peter. He is identified with Simon the Leper (Mark 14:3), who received the name Julian at baptism.

The Apostle Peter sent Saint Julian to preach the Gospel in Gaul. The blessed one went south of Italy, to Cenomania; outside the city, apparently near Cremona, he settled in a small hut and began to preach the Gospel among the pagans. At first the idol-worshippers listened to the foreigner indifferently, but the sight of the miracles he worked gradually kindled trust in Julian in their hearts. A great many people came to the blessed one asking for help. And he healed their illnesses and at the same time treated the wounds of their souls: he enlightened those who were in the darkness of godlessness with the light of the faith of Christ.

To quench the thirst of his many visitors, the holy father prayed, struck the parched earth with his staff, and brought forth a spring. This miracle converted many pagans to Christianity. Once the local pagan ruler invited the bishop to his house. The blessed father took pity on a blind man sitting at the gate of the palace, prayed for him and opened his eyes. When the noble host, who had come out to meet the saint, learned of this, he believed in the true God, fell at Julian’s feet and asked to be baptised. The hierarch made him and his whole household catechumens, appointed a three-day fast for them, and then performed the Mystery of Baptism.

Following the ruler’s example, most of his subjects too followed Christ. The newly converted ruler gave his own palace for the setting up of a church and provided the necessary means as well. The venerable father laboured diligently for the spiritual enlightenment of his flock and, as before, healed the sick by the grace of the Holy Spirit; moved with pity for grieving parents, the saint even besought the Lord to raise their dead children.

The faithful servant of Christ commended his soul to the Lord in deep old age.