Martyr
Martyr Juliana of Ptolemais
† ок. 273
Martyr Juliana of Ptolemais — sister of Martyr Paul, who denounced Emperor Aurelian's cruelty upon witnessing her brother's torment, for which she herself was tortured and beheaded around 273.
Saint Juliana and her brother Paul suffered martyrdom in the Phoenician city of Ptolemais under Emperor Aurelian (270–275). When Aurelian visited the city, Paul made the sign of the cross, was noticed and arrested, and the next day openly confessed Christ at trial, for which he was subjected to severe torment.
Seeing her brother's suffering, Juliana denounced the emperor's cruelty and injustice and was herself seized and tortured — beaten, laid on heated grates, and torn with iron hooks. Aurelian attempted to win her over by offering marriage in exchange for apostasy, which she refused with indignation.
Three soldiers, Quadratus, Akakios, and Straton, converted after witnessing the siblings' endurance and were immediately executed; after further failed attempts to break their faith, Paul and Juliana were beheaded, and their bodies reportedly remained untouched by scavengers for seven days until Christians could bury them.
Their feast is kept on March 4/17, and also August 17/30.