The Holy Martyr Julian of Tarsus in Cilicia (305)
Julian was of noble and senatorial origin. He lived in Tarsus in Cilicia and suffered during the reign of Diocletian. Even though he was only eighteen years of age when he was subjected to torture for the Faith, St. Julian was sufficiently educated and strengthened in Christian piety. The imperial deputy led him from town to town for an entire year, torturing him and all the while trying to persuade him to deny Christ. Julian’s moth- er followed her son at a distance. When the deputy seized Julian’s mother and sent her to counsel her son to deny Christ, she spoke to him for three days in prison, giving him the opposite advice, teaching him and encouraging him not to lose heart but to go to his death with thanksgiving and courage. The torturers then sewed Julian in a sack with sand, scorpions and serpents and cast the sack into the sea, and Julian’s mother also died under torture. His relics were thrown onto the shore by the waves, and the faithful translated them to Alexandria and buried them honorably in the year 305. St. Julian’s relics were later translated to Antioch. St. John Chrys- ostom himself delivered a eulogy on the holy martyr Julian. “From the mouth of the martyr,” Chrysostom said, “proceeded a holy voice, and to- gether with the voice a light emanated brighter than the rays of the sun.” Further, he added: “Take anyone, be it a madman or one possessed, and bring him to the grave of this saint, where the relics of the martyr repose, and you will see how he (the demon) without fail will leap out and flee as from a burning fire.” It is obvious from these words how numerous must have been the miracles that had taken place at the grave of St. Julian.
