Cyprian of Antioch

Saint Cyprian of Antioch, hieromartyr, was, according to his life, a former pagan magician who, overcome by the prayer of Saint Justina, received baptism, became bishop and died a martyr in the year 304 at Nicomedia, together with her. The Orthodox Church commemorates them both on 2 October. Their story is told at greater length under Holy Martyr Justina; here the deeds of Cyprian are recalled briefly.

Life according to tradition

According to the life, Cyprian was born at Antioch, in a pagan family. He studied at Argos, Tauropolis, Memphis and Babylon, and returned to Antioch as a pagan priest and sorcerer. A young pagan who wished to marry Justina asked his help. Cyprian sent evil spirits upon her, but they achieved nothing, since she scattered them by prayer and fasting. Even the chief of the demons was conquered by the sign of Christ. Cyprian, brought to despair, made the sign of the Cross himself and was freed from the toils of the devil. He burned his books of sorcery before Bishop Anthimus, was baptized and received wonderful gifts. He was then deacon, priest and finally bishop, as successor of Anthimus.

Martyrdom

In the persecution of Diocletian, Cyprian and Justina were seized and taken to Damascus, where they were tortured, then brought before Diocletian at Nicomedia. Their faith did not waver. By the emperor's order they were beheaded on the bank of the river Gallus, a tributary of the Sangarius, and with them the soldier Theoctistus, who, seeing Cyprian's faith, declared himself a Christian. After four to six days the bodies were taken to Rome by Christian sailors, to the estate of a woman named Rufina. It is said that Cyprian was sixty-⁠four.

Veneration

Part of the relics of Cyprian and Justina are on the island of Cyprus, in the village of Meniko near Nicosia, where a church was built in their memory. The relics were brought from Syria to Cyprus in 1298. Another part is in Greece, in a monastery bearing their name. On the day of their commemoration a service of six verses is held. Their story was used by Calderón in the play The Wonder-⁠Working Magician, and scholars have seen in it a prototype of the story of Faust. Saint Gregory of Nazianzus and Prudentius confused Cyprian with Saint Cyprian of Carthage, a mistake often repeated, and Catholic sources say that no bishop of Antioch bore this name. The Roman Catholic Church removed their feast from the calendar in 1969, for lack of historical evidence.