Holy Martyrs Juliana and the Five Hundred Men and One Hundred and Thirty Women with Her, Martyred in Nicomedia (+304)

The holy Martyr Juliana, daughter of a noble pagan, Africanus, was born in the city of Nicomedia. She was nineteen when she was betrothed to Eleusius, the eparch of the city of Nicomedia. Distinguished by her intelligence and good character, Juliana came to see the falsehood and vanity of the pagan religion, believed in Christ and was baptised. When the time of the wedding drew near, she refused to marry. Her father urged the blessed one not to break the old betrothal, but when he could not get his way, he beat his daughter terribly in his anger. After this Africanus brought Juliana before the tribunal of her former bridegroom, Eleusius, the eparch of the city. Eleusius asked the holy maiden to become his wife, promising that he would not force her to change her faith; but this time too the blessed Juliana held firm in her refusal and chose martyrdom for Christ. The saint was tortured long and cruelly, but after each torture she was granted healing by the Lord and her strength was renewed. The holy maiden’s firmness and her miraculous healings opened the hearts and minds of many pagans to the truth, and five hundred men and a hundred and thirty women openly confessed Christ. The new confessors were beheaded. Eleusius was convinced that it was impossible to cool Juliana’s longing for her heavenly Bridegroom, and ordered her to be put to death. The lamb of Christ heard the sentence with joy, glorified the Lord, and calmly bowed her neck to the sword (+304).