Cyprian and Justina

Holy Martyrs Cyprian and Justina.

St. Cyprian was a famed sorcerer of Antioch who was hired to bend the Christian virgin Justina to an unwanted suitor. Every art of his magic was shattered against her prayer and the sign of the Cross, and Cyprian, recognizing a power greater than all his demons, burned his books, was baptized, and in time became a bishop of the Church.

During the persecution under Diocletian, Cyprian and Justina were arrested, tortured, and beheaded together. They are invoked by the faithful against the works of magic and are commemorated on October 2.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, Cyprian and Justina is commemorated on October 2. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on October 15 of the civil calendar.

Who celebrates a name day

People with these names keep their name day on this feast:

Kyprianos, Cyprian, Ioustini, Justina, Justine

Also commemorated on October 2

• Theophilos the Confessor

  Venerable, Θεόφιλος ο Ομολογητής

  Venerable Theophilos the Confessor, monk of Bulgaria who suffered for the holy icons.

  Name days: Theophilos, Theofilos, Theophilus, Theophilia

• George the New Martyr of Karatzasou

  Martyr, Γεώργιος ο Νεομάρτυς

  Holy New Martyr George, who suffered at Karatzasou in Asia Minor under the Ottomans.

• Theodore Gavras the Great Martyr

  Martyr, Θεόδωρος Γαβράς

  Holy Great Martyr Theodore Gavras, governor of Trebizond, beheaded by the Turks for refusing to deny Christ.

• Cassian the Greek of Uglich

  Venerable, Κασσιανός ο Έλληνας

  Venerable Cassian the Greek, wonderworker of Uglich, a Byzantine prince who became a monk in Russia.

• Theodore Ushakov the Admiral

  Saint, Θεόδωρος Ουσακώφ

  Righteous Theodore Ushakov, admiral of the Russian fleet and liberator of the Ionian Islands.

Icon: public domain image from Wikimedia Commons.