Julitta of Caesarea

Holy Martyr Julitta of Caesarea lived in Caesarea of Cappadocia in the fourth century, in the time of Saint Basil the Great, who honoured her for her piety and virtues. She had a large fortune and was persecuted by a greedy and powerful man, who dragged her through lawsuits and raised false witnesses against her.

Julitta asked Basil to protect her. Knowing that she was in the right, he wrote to Pallad, a just and God-⁠fearing man, to plead her case before the prefect; and he wrote to her, to strengthen her, that the mighty God can bring her through every affliction if we put our hope in Him with a pure heart. Finally her opponent denounced her as having spoken ill of Julian's decrees favouring paganism. Asked about it, Julitta answered that she condemned paganism and that it was her duty to strengthen Christians in the true faith. For this confession she was condemned and thrown into the fire. Her body was found nearly whole and was buried in the narthex of the great church of Caesarea.

Saint Julitta is commemorated on 30 July (new style). Some sources date her martyrdom around 305, others to the time of Julian.