Julian of Sora

CONCERNING S. JULIAN, MARTYR, AT SORA OR ATINA, IN ITALY.

Under Antoninus Pius.

Julian, Martyr at Sora or Atina in Italy (S.)

BHL Number: 4553

[1] Sora and Atina, ancient cities of the Volsci and colonies of the Romans, retain their names even now; the latter is situated near the sources of the river Melfa, above Aquinum; the former above Arpinum, on the right bank of the river Liris, not many miles from its source. Both venerate S. Julian on this day; both boast that he completed his martyrdom among them. S. Julian is venerated at Atina as Patron. Concerning Atina, Ferrarius testifies in his Catalogue of the Saints of Italy, in the Annotations, in these words: "The people of Atina also have Julian the Martyr as their Patron, whom they say suffered among them. But since on this same day, and under the same Emperor, and by the same kind of death, they assert that he was crowned, we think him to be the same Julian who suffered at Sora, since the Roman Martyrology on this day testifies that Julian suffered at Sora, not at Atina. Nor can the one venerated at Atina be said to be different from the one of Sora, since, as we have said, the Acts are the same." The same author, in his general Catalogue of the Saints, under Atina in Latium: "S. Julian, Martyr, under Antoninus." In his Notes: "To me, however," he says, "he seems to be the same as the Julian of whom mention is made on this same day in the Roman Martyrology as having suffered at Sora. Whom not only the people of Sora, but also those of Atina, on account of the proximity of the place where he suffered, venerate."

[2] Cardinal Baronius supports his native Sora. For thus, from the Martyrology of the Vatican Basilica, and at Sora he has restored to the Church's calendar: "At Sora, of S. Julian the Martyr, who, when seized in the persecution of Antoninus, and while he himself was being tortured, the temple of the idols collapsed, and he received the crown of martyrdom by the severing of his head." In his Notes he adds: "The memory of this Martyr flourishes in the city of Sora, at the place where he is said to have suffered martyrdom. There also exist manuscript Acts of the same Martyr." The same Baronius mentions him in vol. 2 of his Annals, year of Christ 175, no. 7: "At that time also," he says, "Julian, an illustrious Martyr, suffered at Sora; Concordius the Priest and Pontianus at Spoleto; Constantius, Bishop of that city, at Perugia: the Acts of all of whom survive in their respective churches where they are venerated, together with other monuments of their contests."

[3] Ferrarius testifies that there exist Acts of S. Julian written by Pietro Paolo Florio of Urbino, His Acts in his book on the Protectors of the city of Atina; which book we have not seen. But we shall give here those which our Antonius Beatillus sent to us from Naples, from an Italian manuscript codex of the most distinguished Bartolomeo Chioccarello, Doctor of Both Laws. What Ferrarius writes in his Catalogue of the Saints of Italy, from the Lessons recited in the church of Sora on this day, agrees closely with these.

ACTS

from the Italian MS. of the most distinguished Bartolomeo Chioccarello.

Julian, Martyr at Sora or Atina in Italy (S.)

From an Italian MS.

[1] When Antoninus Pius was Emperor, Christians were compelled either to offer incense to the gods or to perish by cruel torments. The Prefect of the province of Campania at that time was a certain Flavianus, Under Antoninus Pius savage above all and hostile to the Christian name. He had sent his agents and ministers of his impiety throughout the entire province far and wide, so that whatever Christians they should find, they might drag them in chains to Atina, where he was then residing.

[2] There had come at that time from Dalmatia to these shores Julian, a youth indeed in age, S. Julian the Dalmatian but an old man in character and Christian wisdom; comely of face and in the form of his whole body, but far more comely in grace and holiness; distinguished by the nobility of an ancient family, but far more distinguished in faith. When he was traveling near Anagnia, a city of Campania, he fell in with the agents of the impious Flavianus, whom he greeted with this formula prescribed by Christ: "Peace be with you, brothers." He kindly greets the lictors. From this manner of greeting, and from the singular modesty of the young man, they drew the conjecture--and it was by no means false--that he was a Christian. They therefore inquired who he was, where his home was, what his name was, what religion he professed, and what business he had there. Julian, inspired by the Holy Spirit and burning with the desire of suffering for Christ, fearlessly answered: "I am a Christian, he professes himself a Christian a Dalmatian by birth, and everywhere I exhort all to repudiate the worship of demons and to venerate the one true God and his Son Jesus Christ, for whose honor I am eager to spend even my life."

[3] The lictors, astonished at the miracle of his magnanimity and constancy, said with threatening face and voice: "This desire of dying for the Crucified One he is seized will be torn from you, unless you voluntarily resolve to sacrifice to our Gods, having repudiated Christ." And immediately they laid hands on the young man, declaring that they would test whether his words matched his deeds; and having tightly bound him, along the entire road which leads to the river Melfa, they beat him with clubs and weapons. He is beaten. But he kept praying to God that his strength might hold out to the end. God assented, and immediately a voice was sent from heaven: "Fear not, Julian; I will be with you, and will grant you strength and victory." The blessed youth gave thanks to the gracious God.

[4] The lictors brought him bound before Flavianus, and immediately, at his order, shut him up in a prison, foul and horrible, which was called "Cold Valley." He is tortured by hunger. There they left him for seven full days without any food or drink, that he might perish by that barbarous torment of hunger. He is fed by Angels. But God did not desert his client; rather, he refreshed him with the sight and conversation of Angels and with heavenly food.

[5] When the period of seven days had passed, and a vast multitude of people had assembled before the tribunal of the Governor (at which place a church was afterward built he is tested with threats and blandishments and dedicated to the Virgin Mother of God), the Governor thus addressed Julian, who had been brought forth: "Are you not ashamed, when you are of handsome and noble countenance, to cling to a base Nazarene who was nailed to a cross? You could be in the Emperor's favor, if you would send a farewell to this abominable sect." Julian answered: "For the holy religion, which you falsely call an abominable sect, I am prepared to die sooner than to worship your idols, which are most wicked demons." The Governor, having observed the extraordinary grace and dignity of his countenance, endeavored to turn him from his purpose with flattering words. But the most brave youth suffered himself neither to be softened by enticements nor to be broken by threats, so as to renounce the holy religion of Christ.

[6] Flavianus, therefore, inflamed with fury, orders his face to be pummeled with fists. He is beaten with fists. But seeing that he endured everything with a cheerful countenance, kindled by greater frenzy, he orders him to be stretched on the rack. He, thus extended, prayed to God, saying: "In you, Lord, I have hoped; in your power deliver me. You are my God, my protector, my refuge, and my deliverer. Let those be confounded who worship graven images and who have devised evil against me. I have no hope except in you, my God. Lord, in you I have hoped; do not cast me as prey to my enemies." Praying, he is encouraged by a heavenly voice. Again he was confirmed by this heavenly voice: "Fear not; fight manfully, relying on God." Then the blessed Martyr of Christ, turning to the people, said: "Bethink yourselves, O wretches, and do not place your hope in gods of this kind, which you yourselves have fashioned with your own hands. He converts many. Rather, worship that God who created heaven and earth from nothing." By these words Julian exhorted the people to acknowledge Christ as the parent of all things, and won thirty or more for God.

[7] The Governor orders him to be taken back into custody. But on the next day, when he was again brought forth, he addressed him thus: "I pity you, because you do not look to your own welfare, since you do not venerate the most invincible Gods." The most holy youth answered: "In vain do you press these counsels upon me; my resolve is fixed. I venerate, and all ought to venerate, that God who created heaven and earth." He is tortured on the rack. Flavianus, enraged, orders him to be hung on the rack and tortured. O God, wonderful in his Saints! The lictors are struck with paralysis. The hands of the impious lictors began to ache and stiffen so much that they could neither apply them to the torture of the Saint's body nor undertake any work at all. While Flavianus stood dumbfounded at the miracle, a message was brought to him that the temple of Serapis had collapsed utterly and that his statue had been shattered and reduced to dust. The temple of Serapis having collapsed. The Gentiles were therefore seized with stupor, the lictors with pain, the Prefect with shame, and they stood as if out of their minds; but the Christians gave thanks to God. Then the seditious mob cried out: "Death to the sorcerer!"

[8] Flavianus, seething with anger because he saw himself defeated by the constancy of the Martyr and heard the factions of the crowd agreeing with him, pronounced sentence that Julian, instructed in magical arts by the associates of the Christian sect, a scorner of the Gods, a rebel against the authority of the Emperor, the people crying out against him should be struck with the axe among the very ruins of the collapsed temple, in vengeance for the outrage inflicted upon it. When the glorious Martyr had been led there by the lictors, while they were readying their axes, he fell to his knees and thus prayed to God: "God of infinite clemency, I give you thanks that you have deigned to honor me, unworthy as I am, with this noble end of life. I beseech you that by this shedding of my blood you may wash and cleanse me, so that I may attain the blessedness of your kingdom. Receive, I beseech you, my spirit in peace; and of all who, in honor of your holy name, shall commemorate the memory of my martyrdom, he is called by a heavenly voice deign in your immense mercy to be mindful." When his prayer was finished, a voice descended from heaven, declaring that his prayer had been heard and inviting him to the rest prepared for him. Then his head was cut off by the lictor, and his soul flew free to heaven; but his body was buried with hymns and divine praises. He is slain. S. Julian completed his martyrdom on 27 January, during the reign of Antoninus Pius.