Cyprian and Justina
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Saints Cyprian and Justina (
The historian of religion Gilles Quispel has argued that the story of Cyprian is a prototype of the Faust story.[2]
Origin
The story must have arisen as early as the 4th century, as it is mentioned by both
The outline of the legend or allegory is found with diffuse descriptions and dialogues in the unreliable Symeon Metaphrastes and was made the subject of a poem by Empress Aelia Eudocia.[1]
Legend
Cyprian, known by the title of "the Magician", to distinguish him from Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage, received a liberal education in his youth, and particularly applied himself to astrology; after which he traveled for improvement through Greece, Egypt, India, etc.[3] Cyprian was a magician in Antioch and dealt in sorcery.
Justina is known for converting Cyprian,
A would-be suitor – a pagan lawyer – sought the aid of Cyprian's magic to induce Justina into marrying him.[5] Cyprian sent a demon to torment Justina, hoping to arouse carnal passions within her. The charms and spells had no effect on Justina, who, in chastity and purity, spent her time in prayer and fasting. Cyprian again employed sorcery, sending "the chief of the demons" to Justina, who likewise was conquered by a certain "Sign of Christ".[5] Brought to despair, Cyprian made the Sign himself and in this way was freed from the toils of Satan. Cyprian summarily burned any books of spells and sorcery in his possession in front of a bishop of the Church, sealing his commitment to a new life as a Christian. He was baptized and received into the Church and was made preeminent by miraculous gifts. Cyprian then became, in succession, a deacon, priest, and finally, bishop after being named as the successor to Anthimus, bishop of Antioch, while Justina became abbess of a convent.[5][6]
During the
Justina is mentioned in Foxe's Book of Martyrs. It was under the 10th Persecution in 303 AD while Diocletian was Emperor of Rome. It says:
" In the course of time he [Cyprian] became acquainted with Justina, a young lady of Antioch, whose birth, beauty, and accomplishments, rendered her the admiration of all who knew her. A pagan gentleman applied to Cyprian, to promote his suit with the beautiful Justina; this he undertook, but soon himself converted, burnt his books of astrology and magic, received baptism, and felt animated with a powerful spirit of grace. The conversion of Cyprian had a great effect on the pagan gentleman who paid his addresses to Justina, and he in a short time embraced Christianity. During the persecutions of Diocletian, Cyprian and Justina were seized upon as Christians, the former was torn with pincers, and the latter chastised; and, after suffering other torments, both were beheaded."[citation needed]
Veneration and liturgical celebration
Their feast day appeared in the
In popular culture
The Spanish author, Pedro Calderón de la Barca, took the story as the basis of a drama: El mágico prodigioso. In 2005, American author Tono Rondone published a novel, The Martyrs, which is a continuation of this tradition. [8]
Cyprianus is a popular name for a grimoire in Scandinavian folklore.
See also
References
- ^ a b c Gabriel Meier (1908). "Sts. Cyprian and Justina". In Catholic Encyclopedia. 4. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
- ^ Gilles Quispel, "Faust: Symbol of Western Man", in G. Quispel, Gnostic Studies (Two volumes, Istanbul: Nederlands Historisch-Archaeologisch Institut, 1975), Vol. II p. 288-307. Originally published in 1967 as a monograph (Zurich: Rhein-Verlag).
- ^ "The Lives of Sts. Cyprian and Justina", The Orthodox Word, Vol. 12, No. 5 (70) (September-October, 1976), pp. 135-142, 167-176
- ^ Stracke, Richard. "Saints Cyprian and Justina: The Iconography", Christian Iconography, Augusta University, 2017
- ^ JSTOR 527805.
- ^ a b c "Virginmartyr Justina of Nicomedia". Retrieved 25 October 2016.
- ^ "Calendarium Romanum" (Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1969), p. 140
- ^ Rondone, Tono. The Martyrs
External links
- The martyrdom of Cyprian and Justa (1903). By Edgar J. Goodspeed. In Historical and linguistic studies in literature related to the New Testament,[1] First series, Volume I, part 2 (1903).
- The confession and martyrdom of Cyprian (2021). By Anthony Alcock.
- September 26: SS. Cyprian and Justina, Martyrs from Lives of the Saints
- Saints Justina ... and Cyprian at the Christian Iconography web site
- St. Justina, Caxton's translation of Golden Legend #142
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Sts. Cyprian and Justina". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
- ^ University of Chicago. Historical and linguistic studies in literature related to the New Testament. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.