Saint Kyprianos and Saint Iustini
Date of celebration: 02/10
Saint Cyprian was a rich, noble, philosopher from Carthage, Libya. He lived in the years of Decius (249 – 251 AD) and practiced the magical art in Antioch.
Once a pagan named Aglaidas fell in love with a Christian virgin named Justa. The girl did not respond to his love and he took refuge in the famous magician Kyprianos. But all of Cyprian’s magic tricks proved useless in the face of the Christian daughter’s steadfast refusal. Admitting the bankruptcy of his art, he burned his magical books before Bishop Anthimos, asking to be baptized and become a priest.
Indeed, he rose through all the priestly ranks and was finally elected Bishop of Carthage. He also took Justa with him, whom he ordained a deaconess, renaming her Iustina. He showed apostolic zeal and that is why he was transferred to Decius. He was exiled to Antioch, where he was imprisoned and later to Nicomedia, where Claudius beheaded him together with Justine.
Their remains were received by pious Christians and taken to Rome, where they were buried on the city’s most famous hill.
Note: Michael I. Galanos, in his work “The Lives of the Saints” has differentiated the life of Saint Cyprian, and considers all the magic that is mentioned about the person of this Saint to be historical inaccuracies.
