Απολυτίκιο των Αγ. Κηρύκου, Ιουλίττας – 15 ΙΟΥΛΙΟΥ 

TROPARUL ŞI VIAŢA SF. CHIRIC ŞI IULITA 

15 iulie

Pomenirea Sfintilor Mucenici Chiric si Iulita.

Aceasta mucenita a trait pe vremea Împaratului Diocletian, tragându-se cu neamul din Iconia. Din pricina prigonirii crestinilor, a luat pe Fericitul Chiric, în vârsta de trei ani, si a mers la Seleucia. Aflând însa si acolo aceeasi pornire împotriva crestinilor, a venit la Tarsul Ciliciei, unde chinuia pe crestini ighemonul Alexandru, om crud si salbatic la fire. Acesta, prinzând pe Mucenita Iulita, a batut-o, luând si copilul de la dânsa. Dar neputând ighemonul sa-l traga la sine cu maguliri si cu mângâieri, caci copilul se uita întins la maica sa, si abia putând vorbi, chema numele lui Hristos, ighemonul l-a lovit cu piciorul în pântece, si l-a aruncat de pe scari. Lovindu-se cu capul de zid, copilul si-a spart capul, si asa si-a dat sfârsitul. Iar fericitei Iulita, dupa multe chinuri, nevrând ea sa se lepede de Hristos, i s-a taiat capul si asa a luat cununa muceniciei.

Ἡ Ἁγία Ἰουλίτα, ἔζησε κατὰ τὴν ἐποχὴ τοῦ αὐτοκράτορα Διοκλητιανοῦ. Καταγόταν ἀπὸ τὸ Ἰκόνιο τῆς Μικρᾶς Ἀσίας.

Ἐπειδὴ ὅμως τότε κυριαρχοῦσε ὁ διωγμὸς κατὰ τῶν χριστιανῶν, πῆρε τὸν γιὸ της τὸν Κήρυκο καὶ πῆγε στὴν Σελεύκεια καὶ στὴν συνέχεια στὴν Ταρσό. Ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐκεῖ συνάντησε τὴν ἴδια κατάσταση. Στὴν Ταρσὸ συνελήφθη ἀπὸ τὸν ἡγεμόνα ,τὸν Ἀλέξανδρο, ὁ ὁποῖος τὴν ὑπέβαλε σὲ φρικτὰ βασανιστήρια μπροστὰ στὸ παιδί της.

Στὴν συνέχεια προσπάθησε νὰ φέρει μὲ τὸ μέρος του τὸν μικρό. Τὸ παιδάκι ὅμως δὲν δεχόταν καὶ μάλιστα ἀφοῦ ἐπικαλέστηκε τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ Χριστοῦ, ἔδωσε μία δυνατὴ κλωτσιὰ στὴν κοιλιὰ τοῦ ἡγεμόνα. Αὐτὸς ἐξοργίστηκε τόσο ποὺ τὸ πέταξε ἀπὸ τὰ σκαλιὰ σπάζοντας τὸ κρανίο τοῦ μικροῦ Κήρυκου.

Μ’ αὐτὸν τὸν τρόπο ἔλαβε τὸ στεφάνι τοῦ μαρτυρίου ὁ μικρὸς Κήρυκος.
Ἡ δὲ μητέρα του μετὰ ἀπὸ λίγο, ἀφοῦ ὑπεβλήθη σὲ πολλὰ καὶ φρικτὰ βασανιστήρια, παρέδωσε τὸ πνεῦμα της στὸν Χριστό.

Ἀπολυτίκιον. Ἦχος δ’. Ὁ ὑψωθεῖς ἐν τῷ Σταυρῷ.
Ἡ καλλιμάρτυς τοῦ Χριστοῦ Ἰουλίττα, σὺν τριετεῖ ἀμνῷ αὐτῆς τῷ Κηρύκῳ, δικαστικοῦ πρὸ βήματος παρέστησαν φαιδρῶς, εὔτολμοι κηρύττοντες, τὴν χριστώνυμον κλῆσιν, ἄμφω μὴ πτοούμενοι, ἀπειλὰς τῶν τυρράνων· καὶ στεφηφόροι νῦν ἐν οὐρανοῖς, ἀγαλλιῶνται, Χριστῷ παριστάμενοι.

Κοντάκιον. Ἦχος δ’. Ἐπεφάνης σήμερον.
Ἐν ἀγκάλαις φέρουσα ἡ Χριστομάρτυς, Ἰουλίττα Κήρυκον, ἐν τῷ σταδίῳ ἀνδρικῶς, ἀγαλλομένη ἐκραύγαζε· Χριστὸς ὑπάρχει Μαρτύρων τὸ καύχημα.

Μεγαλυνάριον.
Φέρουσα ὡς ἄμπελος νοητή, Κήρυκον τὸν θεῖον, Ἰουλίττα ἐν ταῖς χερσίν, οἶνον εὐφροσύνης, ληνοῖς τοῦ μαρτυρίου, βλυστάνετε τῷ κόσμῳ, ἐν θείῳ Πνεύματι.

The Holy Martyrs Cyricus and Julitta lived in the city of Iconium in the province of Lykaoneia in Asia Minor. St Julitta was descended from an illustrious family and was a Christian. Widowed early on, she raised her three-year old-son Cyricus (Quiricus). During the emperor Diocletian’s persecution of Christians, St Julitta departed the city with her son and two trustworthy servants, leaving behind her home, property, and servants.

Concealing her noble rank, she hid out first at Seleucia, and then at Tarsus. There around the year 305 she was recognized, arrested and brought to trial before the governor, Alexander. Strengthened by the Lord, she fearlessly answered the judge’s questions, and firmly confessed her faith in Christ.

The governor gave orders to beat the saint with rods. During her torments St Julitta kept repeating, „I am a Christian, and will not offer sacrifice to demons.”

The little boy Cyricus cried, seeing his mother being tortured, and wanted to go to her. The governor Alexander tried to sit him on his lap, but the boy broke free and shouted, „Let me go to my mother, I am a Christian.” The governor threw the boy down from the high tribunal and kicked him down the stone steps. The boy struck his head on the sharp edges and died.

St Julitta, seeing her lacerated son, gave thanks to God that He had permitted her child to be perfected before her, and to receive the unfading crown of martyrdom. After many cruel tortures St Julitta was beheaded with a sword.

The relics of Sts Cyricus and Julitta were uncovered during the reign of St Constantine the Great (May 21). A monastery was built near Constantinople in honor of these holy martyrs, and a church was built not far from Jerusalem.

We pray to Sts Cyricus and Julitta for family happiness, and the restoration of sick children to health.