Juliana

How the holy Juliana, despising the wedlock of a heathen prefect, is sorely tortured by him and by her father.

*T* HE mercy of our Saviour, rejoicing in the * steadfastness of the mart3rrs, hath come to this, that it hath crowned the followers of faith and cast out their enemies even from the gates of Hell. And so it came to pass that in the days of the Emperor Maximian, a persecutor of the Christian religion, there was a certain senator of the city of Nicomedia, Eleusius by name, a friend of the Emperor. He had espoused a certain maiden sprung of noble family, Juliana by name. Her father was stu—| named Af ricanus, and he was also a persecutor of the Christians. And although his wife, ini the intent of her heart abhorred the sacrilegious worship of Mars, yet she consorted neither with the Christians nor the pagans. Moreover Juliana, being of a wise mind and an understanding heart, of worthy conversation and great virtue, pondered this, whether there be any. true God who created Heaven and earth; and from day to day, being at leisure for prayer, resorted unto the church of God that she might learn the divine writings. Now Eleusius, her bethrothed, was fain to accomplish the celebration of their marriage. But she said unto him, “Unless thou hold the dignity of a prefect, I am in no wise able to be joined to thee.** Hearing this Eleusius gave a gift unto the Emperor Maximian and succeeded the other prefect, who was then ruling, and sat in the seat of authority, administering the duties of the prefecture.