Cyprian and Justina

Who they were

The legend of Cyprian and Justina tells of a pagan magician of Antioch who used demons to try to seduce a Christian virgin, Justina; she drove them off with the sign of the cross. In despair Cyprian made the sign of the cross himself, was freed, became a Christian and in time a bishop, while Justina led a community of virgins.

In Diocletian's persecution both were seized, tortured at Damascus and beheaded at Nicomedia on the river Gallus in 304, together with a Christian, Theoctistus, who had embraced Cyprian.

The miracles

There was never a formal cause: they have been honoured as martyrs since early times. Their story is legendary.

Why that counted as sanctity

Their legend tells how the cross overcame the powers of darkness, turning a sorcerer into a saint and a martyr beside the virgin he had tried to corrupt.

Connected on this site

• Cyprian of Antioch Saint one of this group
• Justina of Nicomedia Saint one of this group
• Cyprian of Antioch Saint
  “Saints Cyprian and Justina (Greek: Κυπριανός & Ίουστίνη) are honored in the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church and Oriental Orthodoxy as Christians of Antioch, who in 304, during the Diocletianic Persecution, suffered martyrdom at Nicomedia (modern-day İzmit, Turkey) on September 26.” — Wikipedia
• Justina of Nicomedia Saint
  “Saints Cyprian and Justina (Greek: Κυπριανός & Ίουστίνη) are honored in the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church and Oriental Orthodoxy as Christians of Antioch, who in 304, during the Diocletianic Persecution, suffered martyrdom at Nicomedia (modern-day İzmit, Turkey) on September 26.” — Wikipedia