Memorial Day of the Hieromartyr Cyprian and the Holy Martyr Justina (15/10)

Saint Cyprian was a pagan originally from Antioch. Even in early childhood, he was given by wicked parents to serve the pagan gods. From the age of seven to thirty, Cyprian studied at the largest centers of paganism — on Mount Olympus, in the cities of Argos and Tauropol, in the Egyptian city of Memphis and in Babylon. Having comprehended the wisdom of pagan philosophy and sorcery, he was ordained a priest on Olympus. Returning to Antioch, Cyprian began to be revered by the pagans as the main priest, surprising people with his ability to control the elements, send pestilence and ulcers, and summon the dead. Many people's souls were destroyed by the great priest, teaching them sorcery and serving demons.

In the same city lived the Christian — girl Justina. Turning to Christ from pagan error and leading to the true faith of her father and mother, she devoted herself to the Heavenly Bridegroom and spent time fasting and praying, preserving virginity. When the young man Aglaid offered Justina to become his wife, the holy martyr refused. Aglaid turned to Cyprian and asked him to use sorcery to persuade Justina to marry. But no matter how hard Cyprian tried, he could not do anything, because the holy martyr crushed all the machinations of the devil with prayer and fasting.

Cyprian sent spells to the holy maiden of demons, who incited carnal passion in her, but she drove them out by the power of the Sign of the Cross and fervent prayer to the Lord. Even one of the demonic princes and Cyprian himself, who by the power of magic took on various forms, could not tempt Saint Justina, who was protected by a strong faith in Christ. All the spell disappeared, and demons fled from one species and even the name of the holy virgin.

An angry Cyprian sent pestilence and sores to Justina's family and the entire city, but even here he was defeated by her prayer. His soul, corrupted by dominion over people and elements, was revealed the full depth of its fall and the insignificance of those whom he served. «If you fear even the shadow of the Cross and tremble at the Name of Christ, — Cyprian said to Satan, — what will you do when Christ himself comes to you?». The devil immediately attacked the priest who rejected him and began to beat and strangle him.

Saint Cyprian first experienced the power of the Sign of the Cross and the Name of Christ, protecting himself from the attack of the enemy. With deep repentance, he came to the local bishop Anfim and gave all his books to be burned. And the next day, having come to church, I did not want to leave it until I received Holy Baptism.

By the feat of his subsequent righteous life, Saint Cyprian affirmed the great power of ardent faith in Christ, which atoned for all his more than thirty years of service to Satan: seven days after Baptism he was placed as a reader, on the twentieth day — as a subdeacon, on the thirtieth — as a deacon, and a year later he was ordained a presbyter. Soon Saint Cyprian was elevated to the rank of bishop.

The holy martyr turned so many pagans to Christ that there was no one in his diocese to sacrifice to idols, and their temples were abandoned. Saint Justina retired to the monastery and was elected abbot. During the persecution of Christians under Emperor Diocletian, Bishop Cyprian and the abbess Justina were captured and brought to Nicomedia, where, after severe torment, they were truncated with the sword in 304. The warrior Theoktistos, seeing the innocent suffering of the saints, declared himself a Christian and was executed along with them.

Knowing about the miraculous conversion to Christ of the holy Hieromartyr Cyprian, who was a minister of the prince of darkness and who broke his bonds by faith, Christians often resort to the prayerful help of the saint in the fight against unclean spirits.

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