St. Juliana

Juliana was martyred during the persecution of Diocletian, but few historical facts are known about her. It is known that she was born in Campania. A letter of St. Gregory the Great notes that she was venerated in Naples. Januaria, a wealthy woman built a church in the area and wished to a have relic touched to grave of St. Juliana to place in the church. Pope Gregory wrote the Bishop of Naples telling him to agree to Januaria’s request. According to a legend recorded by the Venerable Bede, Juliana was a native of Nicomedia engaged to the Senator Eleusius. Juliana was beheaded after dreadful tortures and a noblewoman, Sephonia took her body to Italy and buried it in Campania. It is thought that there may have been two martyrs named Juliana, one born in Campania and one born in Nicomedia. The Juliana born in Campania, who is a definite historical person, was honored in the Middle Ages as St. Juliana of Cumae. People in the Netherlands were especially devoted to her. Her feast was celebrated on February 16 in the Latin Church and December 21 in the Greek Church.