Friday, October 2

Early Church · d. 304

Hieromartyr Cyprian and Martyr Justina

Converted sorcerer and virgin martyr of Antioch

According to his traditional Life, Cyprian was a famous pagan sorcerer of Antioch, trained in the occult arts from childhood. A young man hired him to win over the Christian virgin Justina by magic, but every demonic assault Cyprian sent was repelled when she armed herself with prayer and the sign of the Cross. Confounded that a young woman's faith overcame all his powers, Cyprian renounced sorcery, burned his books of magic, and was baptized. He advanced in the Church, eventually becoming a bishop, while Justina entered monastic life. During the persecution under Diocletian both were arrested, tortured, and finally beheaded, traditionally at Nicomedia in 304. The Church invokes their memory especially in prayers against sorcery and occult influence, seeing in Cyprian's conversion the triumph of Christ over the powers of darkness.

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