Julitta of Caesarea (d. about 305)
Julitta of Caesarea (d. about 305)
Saint . Died around 305; lived in Caesarea, Cappadocia. Her feast day is July 30.
From a homily of St. Basil, it is known that Julitta was a wealthy widow who lived in Caesarea, Cappadocia. Taken advantage of by a unscrupulous townsman who sought to rob her of her property, she brought suit against him. Just as it looked as if the judge would rule in her favor, the man made one last impassioned plea before the forum. "This woman," he proclaimed, "ought not to appear in court, for she is a Christian; and those who refuse to adore the gods of the emperors enjoy no civil right." Indeed, the imperial edict of 303 did place Christians outside the law, and the president of the tribunal had an altar and incense brought in and requested that Julitta sacrifice to the idols. "May my body perish rather than deny God, my Creator!," she cried. Further professing to be Christ's servant, she not only lost her property, but was condemned to the stake. Accepting her fate calmly, Julitta smiled to her friends in consolation and urged them to also suffer for Christ should it become necessary, then flung herself on the pyre. Reputedly, the fire choked her without destroying her body. It was also said that at the place of her torture, a spring arose which sometimes healed the sick.