A martyr at Caesarea in Cappadocia, Saint Julitta preferred faith to the advantages of the world. Condemned to the pyre, she died suffocated by smoke while the flames miraculously spared her. A spring of fresh water gushed forth near her tomb, bringing health to the inhabitants.
Guided reading
4 reading sections
SAINT JULITTA OR JULIET,
Courage and sacrifice
Julitta renounces her worldly advantages and shows great fearlessness in the face of her impending martyrdom.
sacrifice of all the advantages she had reason to hope for in the world; they admired above all that fearlessness with which she contemplated death.
The Martyrdom and Burial
Julitta dies at the stake, likely suffocated by the smoke, but her body remains intact and is buried in Caesarea.
Everything being prepared for the execution, she placed herself upon the pyre where she expired. It appears that she was suffocated by the smoke; at the very least, the flames having risen around her in the shape of an arch did not touch her body, and the Christians retrieved it entirely. She was buried in the vestibule of the great church of Caesarea. Saint Basil, speaking of this precious treasure around the year 375, expressed himself thus: "It enriches with blessings the place where it is, and those who come there. We have seen," he adds, "near the place where it was deposited, a spring of very pleasant water emerge, while all those in the vicinity are salty and unhealthy, so that this martyr, like an attentive mother, relieves all the inhabitants of the city. This water gives health and heals diseases. It is this same benefit that Elisha once granted to the inhabitants of Jericho, by changing into a sweet and pleasant drink the water of the place, which was salty by nature. Men," adds the Saint, "do not yield to women in the defense of the faith! May the ex ample of Saint sainte Julitte Mother of Saint Cyricus, martyr, whose tooth and bones are preserved in Nevers and Nolay. Julitta teach you that the weakness of our nature does not prevent us from celebrating Christian generosity." Saint Julitta is honored on this day by the Greeks and the Latins.
The miracle of the spring and the testimony of Saint Basil
Saint Basil reports the appearance of a miraculous spring near her tomb and exhorts the faithful to follow her example of faith.
Acta Sanctorum Acta Sanctorum Monumental hagiographic collection by the Bollandists. ; Godescard Godescard Hagiographer and translator, primary author of the source. .
Sources
The sources mentioned include the Acta Sanctorum and the works of Godescard.
Acta Sanctorum; Godescard.
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.