Saints of the Day – 26 September – St Cyprian of Antioch Bishop Martyr AND St Justina Virgin Martyr (Died 2nd Century).
The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Nicomedia, the birthday of the holy Martyrs Cyprian and Justina, Virgin. Under the Emperor Diocletian and the Governor Eutholmius, Justina suffered much for the Faith of Christ and coverted Cyprian, who while a magician, endeavoured to bring her under the influence of his magical practices. She afterwards suffered Martyrdom with him. Their bodies being exposed to the beasts, were taken away in the night by some Christian sailors and carried to Rome. They were subsequently taken into the Constantian Basilica and deposited near the Baptistry.”
Cyprian and Justina lived in Antioch at the end of the 2nd Century. Their legend arose in the 4th Century and St Gregory Nazianzen told the story of the two in a sermon and they were also mentioned by Prudentius in his verse.
Cyprian had been introduced to the secrets of magic by his pagan parents and to have expanded his knowledge while traveling in Greece. Cyprian the Magician, as he was called, used his knowledge primarily to seduce beautiful women. A young man, Aglaides, who had fallen in love with the beautiful Justina, asked Cyprian for a love spell.
Justina was a Christian and refused all proposals. Cyprian’s art also failed on her and Cyprian now wanted to win Justina for himself. But Justina remained steadfast, so that Cyprian began to doubt the power of the evil spirits. He turned to a Priest named Eusebius and was eventually converted to Christianity by him. Aglaides also became a Christian.
According to St GregoryNazianzen Cyprian became a Priest and finally the Bishop of Antioch. During the Diocletianic persecution, In c304, Cyprian and Justina were arrested, severely tortured and finally beheaded.
Their bodies were secretly taken to Rome by Christians and buried yhere in the Lateran Basilica. Some reports also mention Theoctist, a soldier who converted to Christianity after witnessing the piety and death of the Martyrs and was also executed.
AnaStpaul 