On this day, June 21 according to the Julian Calendar (July 4 civil calendar), the Georgian Orthodox Church commemorates the Holy Martyr Julian of Tarsus (c. 305).
Holy Martyr Julian of Tarsus was born in one of the provinces of Cilicia in Asia Minor. His father was a pagan senator; his mother was a Christian. After the death of her husband, Julian’s mother moved to the city of Tarsus, where she had her son baptized and raised him in piety.
When the holy one reached the age of eighteen, Emperor Diocletian (284–305) began his persecution of Christians. Julian was among those arrested and brought before the governor Marcian for trial. For a long time they offered this God-loving young man the chance to renounce Christ, but neither promises of gifts and honor, nor threats, nor torture could bend the steadfast confessor.
The blessed martyr was led from city to city throughout the region of Cilicia for an entire year, subjected to interrogations and torment. At last he was thrown into prison. Julian’s mother followed her son everywhere, encouraging him and fervently beseeching the Lord to strengthen her son’s faith still more. In the end she herself boldly confessed Christ before the governor. The enraged Marcian ordered her feet to be cut off. The blessed martyr died from her wounds.
Julian himself was sewn into a sack filled with sand and venomous reptiles and cast into the sea (c. 305). The martyr’s remains, which the waves washed ashore near Alexandria, were honorably committed to the earth by a devout Christian woman. Later the incorrupt relics of Julian were translated to Antioch. Saint John Chrysostom glorified this chosen servant of the Lord with a laudatory homily.
May the intercessions of Holy Martyr Julian of Tarsus be with us all.