At the dawn of Christianity, an endless sea of blood was shed because of the establishment of a new faith. Many innocent men and women died. Among them were sincere in heart and pure in spirit, who selflessly resisted the persecution and torture of the pagans. Subsequently, these people were canonized as saints.
This article will focus on the holy martyr Julia of Carthage, her life and miracles exuded by the icon.
Life
There are two legends, only fragments repeating each other. According to one of them, Saint Julia (or Julia) was born in Carthage, into a noble family. She grew up obedient, beautiful, intelligent and sympathetic girl. She prayed earnestly and read the Holy Scriptures. When the city was captured by the Vandals in 439, a ten-year-old girl was taken prisoner, and soon sold into slavery to the Syrian merchant Eusebius. Despite her position, Julia found freedom within herself and began to work conscientiously. Her owner was a pagan and argued with the girl more than once, asking her to convert to paganism. Julia was devoted to Christ. She continued hotlyto pray, with the permission of Eusebius himself, she occasionally read the Holy Scriptures.
So several years have passed. Once the owner loaded the ship with various goods, took the girl with him (as a talisman that protects from troubles) and went to Gaul, then a rich country. Eusebius ordered to land in Corsica (near the city of Nonza), where a bull was sacrificed to the pagan gods. He decided to join the festivities. The young Christian woman asked to stay on the ship. She cried that so many people live in delusion.
When the local governor Felix Saxo found out about the Christian slave, he got Eusebius drunk. After the guest fell asleep, by order of Felix, Julia was lowered ashore. The governor ordered the young maiden to make a sacrifice to the gods. The bold refusal infuriated Felix. And Julia was immediately sentenced to death through cruel torture. The girl's face was smashed into blood, her hair was dragged, and then she was crucified. During the torture, Julia whispered prayers. She did not resist, but humbly accepted her fate. With her last breath, a dove flew out of the mouth of the martyr as a symbol of purity and purity. Neither the bird nor the beast touched the girl's body after her death.
This is the version of the life of St. Julia held by the clergy in the diocese of the city of Ajaccio.
Another version
According to the second version, which is also welcomed by the Corsicans, Julia was a native of the city of Nonza and a contemporary of St. Devota (about 303). For refusing to bow to pagan idols and sacrifice to them, the girl was tortured, andthen killed. They cut off both her breasts and threw them off a cliff. In the place where they fell, two healing springs opened. After that, the furious executioners tied St. Julia to a fig tree, where she died of pain. At this time, a dove flew out of the maiden's mouth. This moment exactly repeats the previous version of the life of the martyr.
Icon
Icons depicting saints carry a spiritual value. They protect, protect and help believers in difficult situations. Many women with the name Julia and not only turn to the image of a martyr. It is a symbol of unshakable faith and chastity. There are several options for the embodiment of the image of the virgin Julia.
The Corsican version of the life is directly reflected in the iconography. The holy martyr Julia is depicted crucified on a cross, with her nipples cut off. An example of this is a canvas dating back to the 16th century. It has survived to this day and is located in the church of the holy martyr in the city of Nonza. There you can also bow to the statue of a Christian virgin. According to local confessors, the image is miraculous. Everyone who turns to him with sincere prayer receives blessing and help.
On Orthodox icons, St. Julia is traditionally represented with Holy Scripture (or a crucifix in her hand). There are also so-called family images, in which the martyr is depicted together with other saints (St. Vladislav, Prince of Serbia, St. Nadezhda of Rome, maiden, St. David of Thessalonica). Also, craftsmen proposed several options for the execution of icons. The faces of St. Julia, embroidered with beads, are considered real masterpieces. Characteristic moments here are white clothes as a symbol of purity and innocence of the maiden and a look full of courage.
Wearable icons or medallions are becoming more and more popular. They are made by jewelers from silver and gold and are the spiritual amulets of believers. Usually these are images of the face of St. Julia. Rare of them are jewelry images of a martyr in the hands of a Guardian Angel.
Reverence
The Corsican martyr in Nonza has been venerated since her brutal murder. For this, a sanctuary (or sanctuary) was built near the city. However, in 734 it was destroyed by the barbarians. In addition, holy springs have been opened on the island, to which local pilgrims flock with requests for healing and protection.
Saint Julia's Day is celebrated annually in Corsica. The martyr herself, according to the decree of the Sacred Congregation of Rites of August 5, 1809, is considered the patroness of the island.
In the Orthodox Church, the feast day of St. Julia is July 29 (according to the new style).
Power
According to one of the legends, the body of the martyr was discovered by the monks of the Gorgon Island and buried in their monastery. Before that, an angel appeared to them and told about the sufferings of the girl and her feat for the sake of the faith of Christ.
Much later, the holy relics were transferred to the city of Brescia in northern Italy. Every year, thousands of believers come here to bow to St. Julia of Carthage and ask for help. Here you can also buy icons of the martyr. According to the clergy,she patronizes mothers and sick children.
Prayer
Absolutely everyone who needs help and healing can turn to the image of St. Julia in prayer. In Orthodox sources, you can find a troparion in honor of the martyr. It is often attached to nominal icons. Also, the invocation of a saint is possible with the help of a common prayer: “Pray to God for me, holy saint of God, the martyr Julia, as I diligently resort to you, an ambulance and prayer book for my soul.” It is after this part of the appeal to the saint, according to Orthodox custom, that the troparion is supposed to be read.
Miracles
According to legend, at the burial place of the Carthaginian martyr, a healing spring broke out from under the stone. He worked many miracles: he helped the blind to see, the deaf to begin to hear, the weak to stand on their feet, barren women to give birth. Miracles still happen today. They exude the holy image of Julia in the temple, built many centuries ago on the site of the crucifixion of the martyr.
Interesting facts
The city of Sainte-Julie in Canada, the province of Quebec, is named after St. Julia of Carthage. An asteroid was also named after her, which was discovered in 1866.
In the Orthodox tradition, another martyr named Julia is venerated. She is one of the seven holy virgins who were drowned in the lake after being severely tortured for their faith in Christ. Later their bodies were burned by the pagans. The saint is called Ancyra (or Corinthian) after her place of birth. Her memorial day is celebrated on May 31 and November 19 in a new style.
In the 7th-8th centuries. church onthe burial place of the martyr fell into disrepair and was partially destroyed. The inhabitants of Corsica decided to build a new temple in honor of St. Julia. They collected stones, sand, bricks and left them in the place they chose for the construction of the building. But on the night before the laying of the foundation, some invisible hand carried all the materials to the foot of the old church. Perplexed, people returned everything to a new place. But the next night the same thing happened. According to legend, watchmen watched as the bright maiden transported materials on white oxen. People understood that St. Julia did not want to build a church in a new place. And therefore, the place of her burial was cleared and a new church was erected in honor of the martyr.
