Julia of Ancyra

Holy Martyr Julia of Ancyra was one of the seven virgin martyrs of Ancyra, in Galatia, who died for Christ at the beginning of the fourth century, together with the Holy Martyr Theodotus. The Church commemorates them on 31 May (new style).

Saint Theodotus

The seven virgins, Tecusa, Phaine, Claudia, Matrona, Julia, Alexandra and Euphrasia, and Saint Theodotus lived in the second half of the third century at Ancyra. Theodotus was an innkeeper and had his own inn, and was married, yet had already attained high spiritual perfection: he kept purity and continence, subjected the body to the spirit, labouring in fasting and prayer. Through his conversations he brought Jews and pagans to the Christian faith and sinners to repentance. He had received from the Lord the gift of healing and cured the sick by laying his hands on them.

During the persecution of Diocletian (284-305), a governor famed for his cruelty, Theoteknus, was appointed to Ancyra. Many Christians fled the city, leaving their houses and property. Theoteknus announced that Christians were bound to sacrifice to idols and, if they refused, would be given over to torment and death. Famine came to the land. In those harsh days Theodotus gave shelter in his inn to Christians left without a roof, fed them, hid those who were pursued, and from his own stores gave to the devastated churches all that was needed for the Divine Liturgy. He entered the prisons without fear, helping those unjustly condemned and urging them to remain faithful to Christ to the end. He did not fear to bury the remains of the martyrs, carrying them off in secret or buying them back with money from the soldiers. When the Christian churches of Ancyra were ruined and closed, the Divine Liturgy was served in his inn. Knowing that he too was to be tried by martyrdom, Theodotus foretold to the priest Fronto that soon martyrs' relics would be brought to a place chosen by both of them and, as a sign, gave him his ring.

The seven virgins

At that time the seven virgins met their death for Christ, of whom the eldest, Tecusa, was the aunt of Theodotus. They had devoted themselves to God from youth, lived in unceasing prayer, fasting, continence and good works, and had all reached old age. Brought to trial as Christians, they courageously confessed their faith in Christ before Theoteknus and were given over to torture, but remained unshaken. Then the governor gave them to shameless young men for defilement. The holy virgins prayed fervently to God for help. Saint Tecusa fell at the feet of the young men and, taking the veil from her head, showed them her grey hair. The young men came to their senses, wept and went away. Then the governor ordered the saints to take part in the feast of the "washing of the idols", as the pagan priestesses did, but the virgins refused again. For this they were condemned to death. A heavy stone was tied to the neck of each and all seven were drowned in a lake.

The following night Saint Tecusa appeared in a dream to Theodotus, asking him to take out their bodies and bury them in Christian fashion. Theodotus went to the lake with his friend Polychronius and other Christians. It was dark, and a lit lamp showed the way. At that time the Holy Martyr Sosander appeared before the guard set by the pagans on the shore of the lake. The terrified guards fled. The wind drove the water to the other side of the lake. The Christians came to the bodies of the holy martyrs, took them to the church and buried them. Learning of the theft of the bodies, the governor was furious and ordered all Christians to be seized without distinction and tormented. Polychronius was seized too and, unable to bear the torments, named Theodotus as the author of the theft.

The martyrdom of Theodotus

Theodotus prepared to die for Christ. After earnest prayers with all the Christians, he bequeathed his body to the priest Fronto, to whom he had earlier given the ring. He appeared before the court. They showed him various instruments of torture and at the same time promised great honours and wealth if he would renounce Christ. Theodotus glorified the Lord Jesus Christ and confessed his faith in Him. The pagans tortured him long, but the power of God sustained him and he remained alive, and in the morning he was led back to prison. In the following days the governor again ordered torments, but understood that he could not shake the saint's courage, and ordered his head cut off. The execution took place, but a great storm prevented the soldiers from burning the body. They stayed in a tent to guard it. At that time the priest Fronto was passing on the nearby road, leading a donkey loaded with wine from his vineyard. Near the place where the body of Theodotus lay, the donkey suddenly fell. The soldiers helped to raise it and told him that they were guarding the body of the executed Christian Theodotus. The priest understood that the Lord had brought him there by His providence. He laid the holy remains on the donkey, took them to the place Theodotus had indicated and buried them with honour. Later he raised a church there. Saint Theodotus died for Christ on 7 June 303 or 304, and his commemoration is kept on 18 May (the day of the death of the holy virgins).

The description of the life and martyric struggle of Saint Theodotus and of the suffering of the holy virgins was written by a contemporary and companion of his, an eyewitness of his death, Nilus, who was in Ancyra in the time of the Diocletian persecution.