Getting to know the Saints: Tell us about your patron saint!

[Mary Kissel]

Thanks for posting this story

MaryCecilia

[尼古拉前执事]

And now for Julianna...

Juliana of Nicomedia

The Holy Martyress Juliania, daughter of an illustrious pagan named Africanus, was born in the city of Nicomedia. In her adolescent years she was betrothed to a certain Eleusios. Saint Juliania was endowed with a profound intellect and an inclination to goodness of soul, and she saw through the delusion and deception of the pagan faith. She secretly accepted holy Baptism. When the time of the wedding approached, Juliania resolutely refused to be married. Her father began to urge her not to break the long engagement but, not getting his wish, he began to beat her viciously. Then Africanus handed his daughter over to the magistrate of the city, which was that very Eleusios, the former fiancee of Juliania. Eleusios heatedly asked Juliania to marry him, promising not to require of her a change of faith. Saint Juliania refused and preferred the torture. They beat the saint both long and harshly, but after each beating she received from God healing and new strength. Her beating was done before a large number of people. Of these, 500 men and 150 women came to confess Christ -- having witnessed the steadfastness and courage of the holy virgin miraculously healed from her wounds. They were beheaded, having been baptised in their own blood. Convinced finally of his own hopeless attempt to tear the holy virgin away from her Heavenly Bridegroom, Eleusios sentenced Juliania to death. She accepted the sentence with joy and glorified the Lord for permitting her to receive a martyr's crown. The execution of the holy Martyress Juliania was done in the year 304.

Holy, Righteous Juliana of Lazarevo

2/15 January

Righteous Juliana of Lazarevo and Murom displays an astonishing example of a selfless Russian Christian woman. She was the daughter of a nobleman, Justin Nediurov. From her young years, she lived piously, fasted strictly and allotted much time to prayer. Having been orphaned early on, she was given over to the care of relatives, who did not understand her and laughed at her. Juliana bore everything patiently and uncomplainingly.

Her love for people was expressed in the fact that she often tended the sick and sewed clothing for the poor. The pious and virtuous life of the maiden attracted the attention of the owner of the village of Lazarevo (not far from Murom), Yuri Osorin, who soon married her. The husband's parents came to love their modest daughter-in-law and put the management of the household into her hands. Domestic cares did not interrupt Juliana's spiritual struggles. She would always find time for prayer and was constantly ready to feed orphans and clothe the poor. During a severe famine, she, going without food herself, would give up her last bit of food to a beggar. When an epidemic began after the famine, Juliana devoted herself wholly to the care of the sick.

Righteous Juliana had six sons and a daughter. After the loss of two sons, she decided to withdraw to a monastery, but her husband persuaded her to remain in the world in order to continue to raise the children. According to the testimony of Juliana's son, Callistratus Osorin, who wrote her life, she became even more demanding of herself at this time: she increased her fasting and prayer and would sleep no more than two hours at night, having placed a log under her head.

Upon the death of her husband, Juliana distributed her portion of the inheritance to the poor. Living in extreme poverty, she nonetheless was always full of the joy of life and affable, and she thanked the Lord for everything. The Saint was counted worthy of a visitation from Hierarch Nicholas the Wonderworker and of instruction from the Mother of God on church prayer. When righteous Juliana departed unto the Lord, she was
buried alongside her husband in the church of Saint Lazarus. Here also her daughter, Schema-nun Theodosia, was buried. In the year 1614, the relics of the righteous one were found, which gave off a fragrant myrrh from which many received healing.

Parish Life (January, 1997)

[Julianna]

Thank you when is the first Julianna commemorated?

[Justin2]

Justin Martyr, sometimes called Justin the Philosopher is my baptismal namesake. He was around in the second century (correct me if I'm wrong, please) and he gave an extensive apology to the Roman prefect about liturgical and eucharistic worship, the oldest surviving record on this subject. There's also a writing about his dialogue with a rabbi, but I haven't read anything on him in awhile, but I will now that I've been inspired by this subject!

[Reader Nilus]

My patron Saint is St Nilus of Sora or St Nil Sorsky. He lived in 15th Century Russia. He introduced heychasism to Russia and he was a non-processor.
O venerable father Nilus, blessed of God, our divinely wise instructor and teacher! Having withdrawn from the turmoil of the world for the sake of God's love, thou didst choose to make thine abode in the trackless wilderness and impenetrable forests. And having increased the children of the wilderness like a right fruitful branch, thou didst show thyself to them as an image of every monastic virtue by word, writing and manner of life. And having lived on earth like an angel in the flesh, thou now dwellest in the mansions of heaven, where the cry of those who keep festival is unceasing, and, standing with the choirs of saints before God, thou dost continually offer up praises and glorification unto Him. We beseech thee, O thou who art blessed of God: Instruct us also who live under thy protection, that we may follow in thy steps without wavering; that we may love the Lord God with all our heart, please Him alone and think of Him alone, manfully and skillfully trampling underfoot those thoughts which drag us down, and may ever vanquish the assaults of the enemy; that we may love all the restraints of the monastic life, and come to hate the beautiful things of this world out of love for Christ, and plant in our hearts every virtue wherein thou didst labor. Entreat Christ God, that He illumine the minds and hearts of all Orthodox Christians who dwell in the world, that they may see salvation, that He establish them in faith and piety, and in the doing of His commandments, protect them from the deception of this world, and grant unto them and to us remission of sins, and bestow upon them, according to His true promise, all things they need for this transitory life. Yea, let those who abide in the wilderness and in the world live a life of inner stillness, in all piety and honor, and glorify Him with mouth and heart, together with His unoriginate Father and His all-holy, good and life-creating Spirit, always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Nilus

[Valentina]

All i know is that she was a Martyr but that's it. I never knew much about her. Thanks to anyone who finds out about her.

[Natasha]

This was all I could find:

The Holy Virgin-Martyrs Hennatha, Valentina and Paula suffered in the year 308 under the emperor Maximian II Galerius (305-311). Saint Hennatha came from the city of Gaza (in the south of Palestine), Saint Valentina was a native of Palestinian Caesarea, and Saint Paula -- from the surroundings of Caesarea.

Saint Hennatha was the first to be brought to trial before the governor Fermilian, bravely declaring herself a Christian. They beat her, and then they suspended her from a pillar and began to scourge her.

Saint Valentina, accused of not worshipping the gods, was led to a pagan temple for an offering of sacrifice, but she bravely hurled a stone at the sacrifice and turned her back on the burning of it with fire. They mercilessly beat her and sentenced her together with Saint Hennatha to beheading with a sword.

Last of all there was brought Saint Paula, whom they subjected to many torments. She endured them however by the help of God with great patience and courage. Before death Paula gave thanks to the Lord for strengthening her in the deed, and having bowed to the christians present, bent her neck beneathe the sword.