Saints Juventius and Maximinus

The feast of these two holy martyrs was celebrated in the church of Antioch, the day after that of Saint Babylas, as seen in the homily that Saint John Chrysostom delivered on the day of this very feast. They were two Roman soldiers, officers in the guard company of Emperor Julian the Apostate. It happened one day while they were at table that they spoke quite loudly about the violence being exercised against Christians. Julian, informed of their remarks, summoned them. When they were in his presence, the Caesar wanted to force them to retract and to sacrifice to idols. The two Saints having refused, he confiscated their property, condemned them to be cruelly beaten, then sent them to prison, where they were beheaded a few days later (363). The Christians stole the bodies of the martyrs to bury them; a magnificent tomb was raised over their holy remains after the death of Julian, which occurred six months later, to the day. Theodoret recounts their martyrdom in his *Ecclesiastical History*, Book III, Chapter 14; one reads these words toward the end: "Full of veneration for these courageous athletes of piety, Antioch has placed them in a magnificent tomb, and to this day, she honors their memory with an annual public feast." Nicephorus also speaks of them, Book II, Chapter 12.

The feast of these two holy martyrs was celebrated in the church of Antioch, the day after that of Saint Babylas, as seen in the homily that Saint John Chrysostom delivered on the day of this very feast. They were two Roman soldiers, officers in the guard company of the Emperor Julian the Apostate. It happened one day while they were at table that they spoke quite loudly about the violence being exercised against Christians. Julian, informed of their remarks, had them brought before him. When they were in his presence, the Caesar wanted to force them to retract and to sacrifice to the idols. The two Saints having refused, he confiscated their goods, condemned them to be cruelly beaten, and then sent them to prison, where they were beheaded a few days later (363). The Christians stole the bodies of the martyrs to bury them; a magnificent tomb was raised over their holy remains after the death of Julian, which occurred six months later, to the day. Theodoret recounts their martyrdom in his *Ecclesiastical History*, Book III, Chapter 14; one reads these words toward the end: "Full of veneration for these courageous athletes of piety, Antioch has placed them in a magnificent tomb, and to this day, she honors their memory with an annual public feast." Nicephorus also speaks of them, Book II, Chapter 12.

The feast of these two holy martyrs was celebrated in the church of Antioch, the day after that of Saint Babylas, as seen in the homily that Saint John Chrysostom delivered on the day of that same feast. They were two Roman soldiers, officers in the guard company of the Emperor Julian the Apostate. It happened one day while they were at table that they spoke quite loudly about the violence being exercised against the Christians. Julian, informed of their remarks, had them brought before him. When they were in his presence, the Caesar wanted to force them to retract and to sacrifice to the idols. The two Saints having refused, he confiscated their property, condemned them to be beaten cruelly, then sent them to prison, where they were beheaded a few days later (363). The Christians stole the bodies of the martyrs to bury them; a magnificent tomb was raised over their holy remains after the death of Julian, which occurred six months later, to the day. Theodoret recounts their martyrdom in his *History*, Book III, Chapter 14; one reads these words toward the end: "Full of veneration for these courageous athletes of piety, Antioch has placed them in a magnificent tomb, and to this day, she honors their memory with an annual public feast." Nicephorus also speaks of them, Book II, Chapter 12.