Cyprian of Antioch

Who they were

Cyprian and Justina were Christians of Antioch who, according to their legend, were beheaded at Nicomedia on 26 September 304, under Diocletian, on the bank of the river Gallus. The story says Cyprian was a pagan magician who used demons to try to ruin Justina, a Christian virgin, but 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 became head of a convent.

The Catholic Encyclopedia treats this account as a legend, though an early one known to St. Gregory Nazianzen and Prudentius, and notes that no Bishop of Antioch was called Cyprian. The legend says their bodies were taken to Rome by Christian sailors and later placed in Constantine's basilica.

The miracles

There was never a formal cause: he has been honoured as a saint since before the Church's formal processes began.

Why that counted as sanctity

A magician of Antioch who, in the old legend, was converted by the sign of the cross and died a martyr.

Connected on this site

• Cyprian and Justina Saint honoured together
• Cyprian and Justina 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