Martyr
Martyr Juliana of Heliopolis
† ок. 306
Also known as: Юлиания Илиопольская, Иулиания Гелиопольская
A Christian woman of Heliopolis who, witnessing the tortures of the Great Martyr Barbara, openly confessed her faith and was beheaded together with her around 306. She is commemorated together with St Barbara.
St Juliana is known from the Life of the Great Martyr Barbara. When Barbara, daughter of the pagan Dioscorus, was tortured by the governor Marcian and her wounds were found miraculously healed, a pious woman named Juliana, who was among the onlookers, wept and openly confessed herself a Christian, wishing to suffer for Christ. She was arrested and subjected to the same tortures as Barbara.
The governor condemned both women to beheading. Barbara was executed by her own father, Juliana by a soldier. The martyrdom is usually dated to about 306; most Greek texts place it in Heliopolis, though other places are also named in the sources. A pious man named Valentinian buried the bodies of both martyrs, and a church was built over their grave. In icons Juliana is often shown together with St Barbara. Her feast is kept with St Barbara on 4 December (17 December, new style).