Feast Day: October 2nd
The Life of Saint Cyprian and Saint Justina: Immediately she turned to the weapon of the Sign of the Cross, hastened to God with fervent Prayer, and from the depths of her heart cried out to Christ her Bridegroom… Gaining courage, Cyprian became bolder, and calling on the Name of Christ, he signed himself with the Sign of the Cross and stubbornly opposed the demon, cursing and reproaching him…
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Prayers
Akathist Hymn to Saint Cyprian, Saint Justina and Saint Theoctistus
Apolytikion: Thou didst abandon ungodly darkness. and become a light of the Truth. Thou wast illustrious as a Pastor, and wast Glorified in contest. O Venerable Father Cyprian, together with Godly Justina Pray to God the Creator for us.
Apolytikion: As a sharer of the ways and a successor to the throne of the Apostles, O inspired of God, thou foundest discipline to be a means of ascent to divine vision. Wherefore, having rightly divided the word of truth, thou didst also contest for the Faith even unto blood, O Hieromartyr Cyprian. Intercede with Christ our God that our souls be saved.
Kontakion: You turned from the art of sorcery to the knowledge of God, and were shown forth as a skilful healer for the world, Cyprian, inspired by God. Together with Justina you grant cures to those who honour you; with her, Pray to the Master who loves mankind that He may save our Souls.
Saint Cyprian was raised by his parents to live in the service of the pagan gods, and he became a great sorcerer and pagan priest. Saint Justina lived a Holy life of Prayer and fasting, dedicating her virginity to her beloved Christ, and she also led her pagan parents to the Truth of Christ. They encountered each other when Saint Cyprian was called upon by a young man to use his power to make Saint Justina fall in love with him. With fervent Prayer and the Sign of the Holy Cross, Saint Justina brought to nothing the demons of passion and all of their power that Saint Cyprian was sending to her, which accounted to nothing before Christ and even the name of Saint Justina.
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By witnessing Saint Justina’s unbreakable strength in Christ, Saint Cyprian realised the falseness of the demons and experienced this power himself against the demons through the Sign of the Cross. Saint Cyprian welcomed Christ into his heart, repented of his way of life and burned all his pagan and sorcery books as a testament to his new life. He was Baptised and elevated to Bishop, and converted so many pagans to Christ that the pagan temples became desolate because there were no pagans remaining in his diocese. Saint Justina then became an Abbess of a nearby Monastery.
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During the time of Christian persecution, Saint Cyprian and Saint Justina were imprisoned, tortured and finally beheaded for preaching about Christ. However, they had a moment to Pray together before they joined their beloved Bridegroom in His Eternal Heavenly Kingdom.
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Seeing the sufferings and Martyrdom of these two Saints, a soldier named Saint Theoctistus fell at the feet of Saint Cyprian declaring himself a Christian too. He also was beheaded and is celebrated together with Saint Cyprian and Saint Justina.
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