Feast Day: February 16 (West); December 21 (East)
The Noble Convert
Juliana, daughter of the pagan official Africanus, secretly embraced Christianity despite her father's hostility. When betrothed to Eleusius, a Roman senator, she refused marriage unless he converted—a demand that sealed her fate.
Betrayed and Imprisoned
Her father and rejected suitor handed her over to Roman authorities. In prison, Satan appeared disguised as an angel, urging her to sacrifice to pagan gods. Juliana recognized the deception, crying: "Lord God of heaven and earth, do not desert me!" She bound the demon in chains until he confessed his deceit—an episode immortalized in medieval art showing her leading a chained devil.
Tortures and Miracles
Juliana endured horrific torments:
- Brutal beatings (after each, God healed her)
- Burning in flames
- Plunged into boiling oil
- Finally beheaded in 304
Her courage converted 630 witnesses (500 men, 130 women) who were immediately martyred themselves, baptized in their own blood.
Widespread Veneration
Saint Gregory the Great (d. 604) requested her relics for an oratory in Campania, confirming her early cult. Her remains were enshrined in Naples, with portions in Brussels, Santillana del Mar (Spain), and elsewhere.
Medieval Popularity: Venerated as patron of the sick, especially in the Netherlands. Churches across Europe bear her name. The Anglo-Saxon poet Cynewulf (8th c.) immortalized her in verse.
Iconography: Depicted with chained devil, palm of martyrdom, or enduring tortures
Legacy: Her steadfast purity and victory over demonic temptation inspire Christians facing persecution, temptation, or pressure to compromise faith.
May Saint Juliana intercede for all who battle spiritual warfare and defend Christian virginity!
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