Hieromartyr Cyprian and Holy Martyrs Justina and Theoctistus (†304) — October 2 / October 15 (Julian Calendar)

On this day, October 2 according to the Julian Calendar (October 15 civil calendar), the Georgian Orthodox Church commemorates the Hieromartyr Cyprian and the holy martyrs Justina and Theoctistus.

The Hieromartyr Cyprian and the holy martyrs Justina and Theoctistus were martyred in Nicomedia in the year 304.

St. Cyprian was born in Antioch. His pagan parents dedicated him from earliest childhood as a servant to false gods. From the age of seven to thirty the blessed one studied the art of magic in the greatest centers of paganism: on Mount Olympus, in Argos, Tauropolis, Memphis and Babylon. At last, deeply versed in pagan philosophy and sorcery, he was consecrated a priest on Olympus. Cyprian gained such boldness before the evil spirits that they served him openly.

Returning to Antioch, the magus was appointed chief priest by the pagans. He amazed everyone with his power to subdue the elements, to spread diseases and ulcers, and to prepare various magical potions. The great priest destroyed the souls of many people by schooling them in sorcery and in the service of demons.

In that same city lived a Christian virgin, Justina, who had vowed virginity. Once a young man named Aglaidas asked the saint to marry him, and she refused. The youth did not give up: he turned to Cyprian and begged him to awaken a responding love in the maiden by sorcery. The magus spared no effort but accomplished nothing, for the holy martyr withstood the demon’s devices with prayer and fasting. The priest sent demons to the virgin to kindle lustful desires in her, but Justina drove the assailants back with the sign of the cross and fervent prayer. Cyprian himself, his appearance changed by sorcery, approached the Bride of Christ several times to tempt her, but the martyr, fenced in by firm faith, remained unshaken. Enraged, Cyprian brought a deadly plague upon the holy virgin’s family and the whole city, but here too he was defeated by the blessed one’s prayer. Then Cyprian clearly sensed the depth of his fall and the nothingness of those he served. “If you fear even the shadow of the cross and tremble at the mention of Christ’s name, what will you do when Christ Himself comes out against you?” he asked Satan. At that moment the demon fell upon the one who had renounced him, tormenting him and trying to strangle him. But Cyprian made the sign of the cross, called on the Saviour for help, and for the first time experienced in himself the power of the true God. After thirty years of serving the dark powers of hell, Cyprian, cleansed by repentance, followed Christ: with the blessing of Bishop Anthimus he made a public confession and burned in the middle of the city his books of sorcery, brought from a distant cave. The blessed one’s repentance was so sincere that on the seventh day after his baptism he was appointed reader, on the twentieth day subdeacon, on the thirtieth day deacon, and a year later priest. Soon Cyprian was ordained bishop as well. The hieromartyr converted so many pagans to Christianity that not a single idol-worshipper remained in his diocese. When Diocletian began the persecution of Christians, Bishop Cyprian and the abbess Justina were seized, taken to Nicomedia, and after cruel torments were beheaded. The soldier Theoctistus, who witnessed the martyrdom of the saints, believed in the Saviour, openly confessed himself a Christian, and was put to death together with the chosen ones of the Lord.