Julian of Egypt

Holy Martyr Julian of Egypt, an abbot, suffered in the time of the Emperor Diocletian, together with his wife the Holy Martyr Basilissa, with Celsus, Anthony, Anastasius, Marcionilla, seven children and twenty soldiers. The Church commemorates him on 21 January (new style).

He was born in the Egyptian city of Antinoe and, by the will of his parents, married Basilissa, a noble and rich maiden. In the marriage, the spouses remained virgins. After the death of their parents they founded two monasteries, one of monks and one of nuns, both entered the monastic life and were the abbot and abbess of the two communities. In the time of Diocletian (the source gives the year 313), Saint Julian suffered cruelly for the faith of Christ and, through his courage, brought to Christ Celsus, the son of his tormentor, the governor Marcian, and the latter's wife, Marcionilla. By raising a dead pagan he converted him too. The converts were baptized by the presbyter Anthony, and the pagan received at baptism the name Anastasius. After imprisonment all received the crown of martyrdom, being put to the sword. With them twenty soldiers and seven children died as martyrs.