mardi 16 juin 2015

Saint CYR (QUIRICE) et sainte JULITTE, martyrs



Saints Cyr et Julitte

Martyrisés à Tarse (+ 304)

C'est une belle légende qui désormais accompagne leur vie. Le juge Alexandre, qui vivait à Tarse, aimait à condamner les chrétiens. Saint Cyr avait à peine cinq ans lorsqu'il se faufila dans le tribunal en criant: "Moi aussi, je suis chrétien." Il courait dans les salles du tribunal et personne ne pouvait le rattraper. Il fallut plus d'une demi-heure pour que le juge mette la main dessus. Devant les exclamations de l'enfant, il lui fracassa la tête contre un mur. Sainte Julitte ou Julienne, la mère de saint Cyr, fut également martyrisée. Leur culte se répandit en Gaule, mais surtout près de Nevers et de Versailles: 42 localités portent le nom de cet enfant.

Saint Quilico, du latin Cyricus, le syrien, on est passé insensiblement à Quiricus qui a donné en italien Quirico et Ciro. En français on ne compte pas moins de 12 variantes qui vont de Cyr à Cirgues. Ce prénom très populaire en Corse se dit Quilicu (patronyme Quilici), selon les régions il fut orthographié phonétiquement Quilcu, Chilgu ou Chirgu... (d'après 'Eglise de Corse en prière').

Voir aussi saint Cyr ou saint Cirgues, patron de l'église de St Cirgues, du petit village du même nom, campé sur la rive gauche de l'Allier. Sur le mur nord figure une sorte de bande dessinée qui raconte l'histoire du martyr de St Cyr, ou Cirgues, patron de l'église.

"La légende de saint Cyr: 

 Au IVe siècle après Jésus Christ, en Asie Mineure, Kérikos (Cyr) et sa mère Julitte, tous deux chrétiens, sont fait prisonniers lors de la persécution de Dioclétien. Tentant plus d'une fois de torturer l'enfant, les soldats virent leur cruauté punie. En effet, tous les gestes néfastes visant à blesser Cyr se retournaient, grâce à l'aide de Dieu, contre les bourreaux qui se retrouvaient tantôt brûlés, tantôt ébouillantés ou encore flagellés... Le juge du palais, fou de rage, en vint à attraper l'enfant par les pieds, et avec violence lui brisa la tête contre les marches du tribunal. St Cyr est dés lors l'un des plus jeunes martyrs de la Chrétienté."

Le prêtre desservant saint Cirq Lapopie nous écrit: "saint Cyr est le patron du village de Saint Cirq Lapopie, dans le Lot, un des plus beaux villages de France. On y voit une statue et un vitrail du saint avec sa maman.

De plus, un livre des saints datant de 1742 précise qu'il fut martyrisé à Tarse en 305, effectivement tué par le gouverneur Alexandre en le projetant contre les marches du tribunal où il siégeait parce que Saint Cirq continuait à proclamer qu'il était chrétien alors qu'il contemplait sa mère subissant la torture. Il mourut donc juste avant elle."

Voir aussi l'Église Saint-Cyr - Sainte-Julitte d'Écuelles 71350 (document de la pastorale du Tourisme et des Loisirs Diocèse dAutun, Chalon et Mâcon)

Des internautes nous signalent:

- St Cyr et Ste Julitte sont les saints patrons de la cathédrale et du diocèse de Nevers depuis l'an 802, sous l'épiscopat de St Jérôme de Nevers et grâce aux libéralités de Charlemagne.

- Saint Cyr et Sainte Julitte sont les saints patrons de la paroisse de Molac en Morbihan, Sainte Julitte est aussi la sainte patronne de Ambon (56, près de Damgan) et il y a une chapelle en son honneur, au bord de l'axe Vannes-Nantes. Il y a aussi une chapelle Sainte Julitte à Tréffléan (56). Sainte Julitte est également donnée comme la mère de saint Patern, l'un des 7 saints fondateurs de la Bretagne. Des fontaines en leur honneur, dans ses paroisses, sont réputées pour aider les enfants à marcher.

- Saint Cyr et sainte Julitte sont également patrons de la petite église de Fontenay-sur-Conie, en Eure-et-Loir (reliquaire du XIIe siècle, dans le choeur).

- Saint Cyr et sainte Julitte sont aussi les saints patrons de l'église de Saint-Cyr en Retz (commune de Villeneuve en Retz) en Loire Atlantique. L'église comporte un tableau du martyr de saint Cyr et sainte Julitte.

- Il existe une église Saint-Cyr et Sainte-Julitte à Angres (paroisse Notre-Dame des Collines d'Artois) dans le Pas-de-Calais.

- une église à Jarzé (Maine-et-Loire) leur est dédiée.

- L'église de Villejuif, dans le Val-de-Marne, est dédiée à Saint Cyr et Sainte Julitte et possède, outre un tableau du martyre de Saint Cyr, des reliques des 2 saints (un os de la jambe de Saint Cyr, une partie de la mâchoire de Sainte Julitte) avec certificats d'authenticité dans une petite châsse.

- Il existe une église Saint-Cyr et Sainte-Julitte à Saint-Cyr-sur-Loire (Paroisse de Notre Dame de ChoisilleDoyenné de Tours-Nord, Diocèse de Tours) juste au Nord-Ouest de Tours (Indre-et-Loire)

- St Cyr et Ste Julitte sont les patrons de l'église de Volnay en Côte d'Or. Le grand vitrail du chœur représente le martyre de St Cyr.

Au martyrologe romain: dans la région d'Asie mineure, les saints Cyr et Julitte, martyrs.

Martyrologe romain

SOURCE : https://nominis.cef.fr/contenus/saint/1329/Saints-Cyr-et-Julitte.html


Frontal d'altar de Durro / Devant d'aute / Altar frontal from Durro l : Le martyre de saint Cyr et sainte Julitte, tempera sur bois xiie siècle, 98 x 129.3, Musée national d'art de Catalogne /Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, provient de l'ermitage Sant Quirc de Durro.

SAINT CYR ET SAINTE JULITTE, SA MÈRE *

Cyr, ou Quirice, quérant un arc; il vient aussi de chisil, courage, et cus, noir, ce qui équivaut à courageux par vertu et noir par humiliation. Quiris veut aussi dire hache; quiriles, siège; en effet Quirice fut un arc, c'est-à-dire courbé par humiliation, il fut fort dans les tourments qu'il endura; il fut noir par le mépris de lui-même; ce fut une hache dans son combat avec l’ennemi: il fut le siège de Dieu parce que Dieu habitait en lui : car la grâce suppléa en lui à ce que l’âge lui déniait. Julitte vient de juvans vita, parce qu'elle vécut d'une vie spirituelle, et qu'ainsi elle fut utile à beaucoup de monde.

Quirice était fils de Julitte, très illustre matrone d'Icone. La persécution qu'elle voulut éviter la força à venir à Tarse en Cilicie, avec son fils, Quirice, âgé de trois ans. Cependant on la fit comparaître portant son enfant dans ses bras, devant le président, Alexandre. Deux de ses femmes qui virent cela s'enfuirent aussitôt et l’abandonnèrent. Le président prit donc l’enfant dans ses bras, et fit cruellement frapper à coups de nerfs la mère qui ne voulut pas sacrifier aux idoles. Or, l’enfant, en voyant frapper sa mère, pleurait amèrement et poussait des cris lamentables. Mais le président prenait le jeune Quirice tantôt entre ses bras, tantôt sur ses genoux, le calmait par ses baisers et par ses caresses, et l’enfant, les yeux tournés sur sa mère; repoussait avec horreur les embrassements du juge, détournait la tête avec indignation et lui déchirait le visage avec ses petits ongles; il semblait parler et dire comme sa mère : « Et moi aussi, je suis chrétien. » Enfin après s'être débattu longtemps, il mordit le président à l’épaule. Celui-ci indigné et tourmenté par la douleur jeta du haut en bas l’enfant sur les degrés du tribunal qui fut couvert de sa petite cervelle ; alors Julitte, joyeuse de voir son fils la précéder dans le royaume du ciel, rendit des actions de grâces à Dieu. Elle fut ensuite condamnée à être écorchée, puis arrosée de poix bouillante et enfin à avoir la tête tranchée. On trouve cependant dans une légende que Quirice, ne se souciant pas des caresses ou des menaces du tyran, confessait qu'il était chrétien. A l’âge qu'il avait, ce petit enfant ne pouvait pas encore parler, mais c'était l’Esprit-Saint qui parlait en lui. Comme le président lui demandait qui l’avait instruit, il dit : « Président; j'admire ta sottise; tu vois combien je suis jeune, et tu demandes à un enfant de trois ans quel est celui qui lui a enseigné la sagesse divine? » Pendant qu'on le frappait, il criait : « Je suis chrétien » ; et à chaque cri, il recevait des forces pour supporter les tourments. Alors le président fit couper par morceaux la mère et l’enfant, et de peur que les chrétiens ne donnassent la sépulture à ces tronçons, il ordonna qu'on les jetât çà et là. Cependant un ange les recueillit et les chrétiens les ensevelirent pendant la nuit. Les corps de ces martyrs furent découverts, du temps de Constantin le Grand, par une des femmes de Julitte qui avait survécu à sa maîtresse ; et tout le peuple les a en grande vénération. Ils souffrirent vers l’an du Seigneur 230, sous l’empereur Alexandre.

* Philippe de Harvenq, abbé de Bonne-Espérance, a écrit la passion de ces deux saints martyrs.

SOURCE : http://www.abbaye-saint-benoit.ch/voragine/tome02/084.htm


Le martyre de sainte Julitte (anonyme, 2e moitié du xviie siècle, église Saint-Cyr-et-Sainte-Julitte de Villejuif).

Saint Cyriacus of Iconium

Also known as

Cyr

Cyricus

Quiriac

Quiricus

Memorial

16 June

15 July (Synaxarium of Constantinople)

Profile

Son of Saint Julitta. When Cyriacus was a small child, his mother was sentenced to death at Tarsus during the persecutions of Diocletian. Cyriacus made a childish attack on Alexander, the sentencing magistrate, and announced that he was a Christian like his mother. The angry magistrate threw the child to the ground, smashing his skull and killing him instantly.

Some scholars claim that the entire story is fiction, and there is no question that earlier writers hugely embellished this popular and frequently retold story.

Blessed Charlemagne dreamed he was saved from death by a wild boar during a hunt by the appearance of a child who promised to save if Charlemagne would clothe him. The bishop of Nevers explained that the child was Cyriacus, and that he wanted the emperor to repair the roof of Saint Cyr’s cathedral. This led to the Cyriacus’ representation as a naked child riding a wild boar.

Born

c.301

Died

c.304 at Tarsus by having his skull crushed

relics enshrined at Nevers, France, and in the monastery of Saint-Amand in Tournai, France

Canonized

Pre-Congregation

Patronage

against death of children

torture victims

Representation

child being thrown to the ground or down a set of steps by a judge

child thrown to the ground with a fountain springing from his blood

holding Saint Julitta by the hand

naked child sitting on a wild boar

Additional Information

Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate

Catholic Encyclopedia, by J P Kirsch

Golden Legend

Lives of the Saints, by Father Alban Butler

Martyrs of the First Ages, by Saint Alphonsus de Liguori

New Catholic Dictionary

Saints of the Day, by Katherine Rabenstein

books

Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints

other sites in english

Catholic Online

Christian Iconography

New Liturgical Movement

Orthodox Church in America

Regina Magazine

Religious Antique Shop

Wikipedia

video

YouTube PlayList

sitios en español

Martirologio Romano2001 edición

fonti in italiano

Martirologio Romano2005 edition

Santi e Beati

nettsteder i norsk

Den katolske kirke

Den katolske kirke

MLA Citation

“Saint Cyriacus of Iconium“. CatholicSaints.Info. 23 June 2020. Web. 26 June 2021. <https://catholicsaints.info/saint-cyriacus-of-iconium/>

SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/saint-cyriacus-of-iconium/

Martyre de saint Cyrice et de sainte Julitte. Cote : Français 185 , Fol. 233v. Vies de saints, France, Paris, XIVe siècle, Richard de Montbaston et collaborateurs.


Saint Julitta of Iconium

Also known as

Juliot

Memorial

16 June

15 July (Synaxarium of Constantinople)

Profile

Mother of Saint Cyriacus of IconiumWidow. Moved from Iconium to Isauria to avoid persecution as a ChristianTortured and martyred during the persecutions of Diocletian. Legend says that from the site of her burial there erupted a miraculous spring of water that cured the sick and improved the health of those who immersed in it.

Some scholars claim that the entire story is fiction, and there is no question that earlier writers hugely embellished this popular and frequently retold story.

Died

c.304

sources describe several methods, all horridly painful

Canonized

Pre-Congregation

Patronage

death of children

single laywomen

torture victims

widows

Representation

burned at the stake

holding a cross and palm

holding Saint Cyricus by the hand

martyred, with a fountain springing from her blood

standing near oxen

Additional Information

Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate

Catholic Encyclopedia, by J P Kirsch

Golden Legend

Lives of the Saints, by Father Alban Butler

Martyrs of the First Ages, by Saint Alphonsus de Liguori

New Catholic Dictionary

Saints of the Day, by Katherine Rabenstein

books

Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints

other sites in english

Catholic Online

Christian Iconography

New Liturgical Movement

Orthodox Church in America

Regina Magazine

Religious Antique Shop

Wikipedia

video

YouTube PlayList

sitios en español

Martirologio Romano2001 edición

fonti in italiano

Cathopedia

Martirologio Romano2005 edition

Santi e Beati

nettsteder i norsk

Den katolske kirke

Den katolske kirke

MLA Citation

“Saint Julitta of Iconium“. CatholicSaints.Info. 23 June 2020. Web. 26 June 2021. <https://catholicsaints.info/saint-julitta-of-iconium/>

SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/saint-julitta-of-iconium/

Three predella panels - story of Quiricus and Julietta (a. saints accused of embracing Christianity; b. Saint Quiricus slaps the judge; c. martyrdom of the saints), circa 1450


Martyrs of the First Ages – Saint Julitta, and Saint Quiricus, Her Son, by Saint Alphonsus de Liguori

Saint Julitta was a noble lady of the city of Iconium, in Lycaonia. During the reign of the Emperors Dioclesian and Maximian, a most cruel tyrant called Domitian was governor of the province. While the persecution was raging most violently, Saint Julitta took her infant son Cyr, only three years old, and accompanied by two female servants, fled for safety to Seleucia, in Isauria; where, however, she found Alexander, the Proconsul of Cilicia, who exercised a no less barbarous cruelty than Domitian against those Christians who refused to sacrifice to the gods. The saint passed from Seleucia to Tharsis, where Alexander arrived about the same time, Having been recognized, she was arrested and conducted before the judge with the infant Quiricus in her arms. Fire and incense were produced, in order that, renouncing Jesus Christ, she might sacrifice; but the saint answered: “I am a Christian, and therefore am prepared to lose not only my property, but even my life, rather than deny my God.” The judge frequently urged her to abjure her faith; but she who wished to compensate her temporal loss by the acquisition of eternal gains uniformly replied: “I am a Christian: I cannot deny Jesus Christ.”

Alexander, infuriated by her constancy, ordered that the child should be torn from her embrace, and that she should be cruelly scourged; but the holy lady under this torture fervently and continually repeated: “I am a Christian: I cannot sacrifice to your gods.” Quiricus, meanwhile, was beholding the agonies of his mother, and struggled to return to her embrace; but Alexander, to quiet him, placed him on his knee, and endeavored to kiss him. The child, however, kept his eyes fixed continually upon his parent, and by plunging and kicking, tried to free himself from the tyrant, crying out at the same time: “I also am a Christian.” The inhuman wretch dashed the child from him, and the agonizing mother, seeing the steps of the throne bespattered with the blood and brains of her infant, exclaimed: “I give Thee thanks, O my God! for having called my boy be fore me to Thyself.”

The brutal judge, still more infuriated by this excla mation, caused her sides to be torn with iron hooks, and boiling pitch. to be poured upon her feet. Meanwhile one of the bystanders said to her: “Julitta, have pity upon thyself; perish not as thy son has perished; sacrifice to the gods.” “I cannot,” she replied, “sacrifice to devils and to mute statues. I adore the Lord Jesus, and wish to meet my son in heaven;” upon which the judge decreed that she should be beheaded. This sentence filled the saint with joy. Arrived at the place of her last struggle, she cast herself upon her knees, as Father Massini relates in his beautiful work of the lives of the Saints, according to the acts of the martyrs by Ruinart. She then prayed after the following manner: “O God, who hast been pleased to admit my child to a participa tion of the glory of Thy saints, turn Thine eyes of mercy towards me also, and grant me a place among the souls destined to love Thee and adore Thee forever.” Having finished her prayer her head was at once cut off. It is thus that Julitta, with her heart all inflamed with holy love and full of joy, consummated her sacrifice in the year 304.

SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/martyrs-of-the-first-ages-saint-julitta-and-saint-quiricus-her-son-by-saint-alphonsus-de-liguori/

Gury Nikitin  (1620–1691), Saint Quiricus and Saint Juliet. Russian icon, circa 1680

Мчч. Кирик и Улита. Ярославль. Гурий Никитин. 80-е годы XVII века. Дерево, левкас, темпера. Размер - 107 х 90 см. Из церкви Илии Пророка в Ярославле. ЯМЗ, инв


Cyricus and Julitta (Giulietta) MM (RM)

(Cyricus also known as Cyr, Cyriacus, Quiriac, Quiricus)

Died 304. Although the legend of Julitta and Cyricus was proscribed by pseudo-Gelasius, it still persists in various forms. We are told that when persecution was raging against Christians under Diocletian, a wealthy and pious noblewoman named Julitta was widowed with a three-year-old son named Cyricus. As a Christian Julitta decided that life in her native Iconium in Lycaonia was too dangerous. Taking Cyricus and two maids, she fled to Seleucia and to her alarm found that the governor there, Alexander, was savagely persecuting Christians. The four fugitives journeyed on to Tarsus in Antioch. Unfortunately, Alexander was paying a visit to that city when the fugitives were recognized and arrested.

Julitta was put on trial. She brought her young son with her to the courtroom. She refused to answer any questions about herself, except to say that she was a Christian. The court pronounced its sentence: Julitta was to be stretched on the rack and then beaten.

The guards, about to lead Julitta away, separated Cyricus from his mother. The child was crying, and Alexander, in a vain attempt to pacify him, took Cyricus on his knee. Terrified and longing to run back to his mother, Cyricus kicked the governor and scratched his face. Alexander stood up in a rage and flung the toddler down the steps of the tribune, fracturing the boy's skull and killing him.

Cyricus's mother did not weep. Instead she thanked God and went cheerfully to torture and death. Her son had been granted the crown of martyrdom. This made the governor even angrier. He decreed that her sides should be ripped apart with hooks, and then she was beheaded. Both she and Cyricus were flung outside the city, on the heap of bodies belonging to criminals, but the two maids rescued the corpses of the mother and child and buried them in a nearby field.

There is some evidence for an otherwise unknown child-martyr named Cyricus at Antioch, and it may have been about him that this fictitious tale was evolved in several different versions. There are places named after Cyricus all over Europe and the Middle East, but without the name Julitta attached. As early as the sixth century the acta of Cyricus and Julitta were rejected in a list of apocryphal documents (the list was formerly attributed to Pope Saint Gelasius I).

Cyricus is the Saint-Cyr found in several French place names, where his cultus is strong because some relics were brought back from Antioch by the 4th-century Bishop Saint Amator of Auxerre. A Nivernaise story that is reproduced in the Golden Legend also fuels the flames of devotion. According to this tale, Blessed Charlemagne dreamed he was saved from death by a wild boar during a hunt by the appearance of a child, who promised to save him from death if he would give him clothes to cover his nakedness. The bishop of Nevers interpreted this to mean that he wanted the emperor to repair the roof of the cathedral dedicated to Saint Cyr. From this story comes the iconographic emblem of a naked child riding on a wild boar (Attwater, Benedictines, Bentley, Encyclopedia, Farmer, Husenbeth).

In art, Saint Julitta leads Cyricus by the hand. The pair may also be shown (1) as Cyricus is dashed to the ground by Alexander and a fountain springs from his blood; (2) as a fountain springs from Julitta's blood; (3) with Julitta burned at the stake; (4) with oxen near Julitta; (5) with Cyricus mounted on a wild boar; or (6) as Julitta holds a cross and palm (Roeder). The oldest known representations of Cyricus is a series of frescoes (8th century) at Santa Maria Antiqua in Rome. A 12-century antependium at the Museum of Barcelona depicts scenes from the legend, as do stained- glass windows at Issoudun (Farmer).


The life of Saint Quiricus and Saint Juliet. Russian icon., circa 1600


Sts. Quiricus and Julitta

Martyred under Diocletian. The names of these two martyrs, who in the early Church enjoyed a widespread veneration, are found in the "Martyrologium Hieronymianum" (ed. De Rossi-Duchesne, 79) and also in the calendars and menologies of the Greek and other Oriental Churches. According to the Acts of their martyrdom, which appeared later, and a letter of the sixth century, Julitta fled with her three-months-old child, Quiricus, from Lycaonia, when the Maximinian persecution broke out there, to Isauria and thence to Tarsus in Cilicia. She suffered martyrdom in the last-named city after her child had first been killed before her eyes. The veneration of the two martyrs was common in the West at an early date, as is proved by the chapel dedicated to them in the Church of Santa Maria Antiqua at Rome, as well as by testimony from Gaul. Their relics are said to have been brought to the monastery of Saint-Amand (Elnonense monasterium) in the Diocese of Tournai. The feast is observed on 16 June; in the Synaxarium of Constantinople it is set under the date of 15 July.

Kirsch, Johann Peter. "Sts. Quiricus and Julitta." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 12. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1911. 27 Jun. 2021 <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12614c.htm>.

Transcription. This article was transcribed for New Advent by Paul T. Crowley. In Memoriam, Mary Logan and child.

Ecclesiastical approbation. Nihil Obstat. June 1, 1911. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., Censor. Imprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York.

Copyright © 2020 by Kevin Knight. Dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

SOURCE : https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12614c.htm

Retaule de Sant Quirze i Santa Julita de Pere Garcia de Benavarri, Catalonia



SS. Quiricus or Cyr, and Julitta, Martyrs

From their authentic acts in Ruinart, p. 517. See also Papebroke, Junij, vol. 3, p. 17.

A.D. 304.

DOMITIAN, the governor of Lycaonia, executing with great cruelty the edicts of Dioclesian against the Christians, Julitta, a lady of Iconium in that country, withdrew to Seleucia with her little son Cyr or Quiricus, only three years old, and two maids. Alexander, the governor of Seleucia, was not less a persecutor than the prefect of Iconium. Wherefore Julitta went on to Tarsus in Cilicia. Alexander happened to enter that city about the same time with her, and she was immediately apprehended holding her infant in her arms, and conducted to the tribunal of this governor. She was of royal blood, the granddaughter of illustrious kings, and she possessed great estates and riches; out of all which she carried nothing with her but present necessaries. Her two maids, seeing her in the hands of the persecutors, fled and hid themselves. Alexander demanded her name, quality, and country; to all which questions she answered only—“I am a Christian.” The judge, enraged, ordered her child to be taken from her, and that she should be extended and cruelly whipt with thongs; which was accordingly executed. Nothing could be more amiable than the little Cyr, a certain air of dignity spoke his illustrious birth; and this, joined to the sweetness and innocence of his tender age and looks, moved all present exceedingly. It was a difficult thing to tear him from the arms of his mother; and he continued still continually to stretch his little hands towards her. The governor held the infant on his knees, and endeavoured to kiss him to pacify him. But the innocent babe having his eyes still fixed upon his mother, and striving to get back to her, scratched the face of the inhuman judge. And when the mother, under her torments, cried out that she was a Christian, he repeated as loud as he was able—“I am a Christian.” The governor being enraged, took him by the foot, and throwing him to the ground from off his tribunal, dashed out his brains against the edge of the steps, and all the place round about was sprinkled with blood. Julitta seeing him thus expire, rejoiced at his happy martyrdom, and gave thanks to God. Her joy increased the rage of the governor, who commanded her sides to be torn with hooks, and scalding pitch to be poured on her feet, while proclamation was made by a crier—“Julitta, take pity on thyself and sacrifice to the gods, lest thou come to the like unfortunate end with thy son.” She always answered “I do not sacrifice to devils or to dumb and deaf statues; but I worship Christ, the only begotten Son of God. by whom the Father hath made all things.” Whereupon the governor commanded her head to be struck off, and the body of the child to be carried out of the city, and thrown where the carcasses of malefactors were usually cast. Remorse and confusion at his own cruelty, and disappointed malice, in the murder of the innocent babe, made him appear more raging than the most furious wild beast. Julitta being led to the place of execution, prayed aloud, thanking God for having given her son a place in his kingdom, and begging the same mercy for herself. She concluded by adding Amen: at which word her head was severed from her body. She suffered in the year 304 or 305. The two maids came privately and buried the remains of both the martyrs in a field near the city. When Constantine had given peace to the church, one of these maids discovered the place, and “the faithful of the country strove every one to procure some portion of these sacred pledges for a protection and safeguard, glorified God, and devoutly visited their tombs,” says the author of these acts. They are named in the Roman Martyrology on the 16th of June; but they seem to have received their crowns on the 15th of July, on which day their festival is kept by the Greeks, Muscovites, 1 Armenians, 2 and Nestorians. 3 The Abyssinians celebrate it two days before, on the 19th of their month of Hamle, also on the 20th of January. 4 St. Cyr is patron of Nevers, and of many churches and monasteries in France, and formerly in England. The relics of St. Cyr having been brought from Antioch by St. Amator, bishop of Auxerre, were distributed in several places at Nevers, Toulouse, St. Amand’s in Flanders, &c.

This happy victim completed early his sacrifice. Men ought properly to be said to live only for that time which they devote to the end for which they receive their being, the service of their creator. How many will a long life condemn! How much of their precious time do many throw away in sloth, empty follies, and even in sin! How many go off the stage of this world without having done anything of all those great duties for which they were born! who have lived so as to have been mere blanks in the creation, if the divine justice would allow us to give that name to what he punishes with everlasting torments! We have a great work upon our hands to form our hearts upon that of our divine original, our Blessed Redeemer: to expel the subtle poison of pride, vanity, and all inordinate self-love out of our affections, and put on the perfect heavenly spirit of meekness, patience, humility, charity, holy zeal, and devotion. Without this we can never belong to Christ, or to the company of the saints.

Note 1. See on the Muscovites, Papebroke ante Maium, t. 1, p. 36, and Jos. Assemani, Calend. Univ. t. 6. [back]

Note 2. Jos. Assemani, Bibl. Orient, t. 3, pp. 647, 652. [back]

Note 3. Ibid. t. 4, p. 366. [back]

Note 4. See the Abyssinian Calendar in Ludolf; also that in the Journal of Bern, ad ann. 1761, t. 1, p. 146. [back]

Rev. Alban Butler (1711–73).  Volume VI: June. The Lives of the Saints.  1866.

SOURCE : http://www.bartleby.com/210/6/161.html

Saints Cyricus and Julitta Church, Galatista Fresco, 1830


Golden Legend – Lives of Saints Quirine and Juliet

Here follow the Lives of Saints Quirine and Juliet.

Quirine was son of a noble lady of Iconium, which lady would flee the persecution, and she went with her son Quirine, which then was but three years old, into the city of Tarsus in Cilicia. And she was there presented to Alexander the provost, and bare her child in her arms, which when her two chamberers saw that, anon they fled and left her alone. Then the provost took the child in his arms, and Juliet his mother refusing to do sacrifice, he made her to be scourged with raw sinews. And when the child saw his mother beaten he wept bitterly and made a lamentable noise, but the provost took it in his arms and danced it upon his knees, and would fain please the child with kissings and fair words. The child, alway beholding his mother, abhorred the kissings of the provost, and turned his head away from him with great indignation and scratched his face with his nails, and gave his cries consonant into his mother, as he should have said: And I am also christian. Then he bit the provost, and wrestling with him all to-scratched him. Then the provost, having indignation hereof and in a great anger, threw down the child off the steps whereas he sat in judgment, that the tender brain fell abroad out of his head upon the steps. Then Juliet seeing her son go to heaven tofore her, gave thankings unto God, and she was thereof right glad. Then it was commanded that Juliet should be flayed, and burning pitch cast on her, and at the last her head to be smitten off. And it is found in another legend that Quirine despised the tyrant as well when he glosed him as when he blamed him, and confessed him to be christian, howbeit that he was over-young to speak but the Holy Ghost spake in him. When then the provost demanded of him who had so taught him, he answered and said: O thou provost I marvel much thy folly which seest me so young of age, not being yet three years old, and demandest who hath taught me this divine wisdom; thou mayst clearly see that it cometh from God. When the child was beaten he cried: I am christian; and the more that he cried, the more strength among the torments he received. And the judge did do dismember the mother with the child, and all to-hew them in pieces, and because their members should not be buried of the christian people, he commanded that they should be cast and disperpled abroad. But not withstanding they were of an angel gathered together, and in the night buried by the christian people; whose bodies were showed in the time of Constantine the Great when peace was in the Church, by a maid which had been one of her chamberers, that then yet lived, and were had of all the people in great devotion. They suffered martyrdom about the year of our Lord three hundred and thirty under Alexander.

SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/golden-legend-lives-of-saints-quirine-and-juliet/


Intérieur de l'église Saint-Cyr de Saint-Cyr-sur-Menthon.


San Quirico Fanciullo, martire

16 giugno

† Asia Minore, 303

Durante la persecuzione di Diocleziano ad Iconio, città della Licaonia (oggi in Turchia) si trovava Giulitta, donna ricca e nobile, la quale era rimasta vedova con un figlio in tenera età, Quirico. Lasciata la sua città e i suoi averi, per sfuggire alla persecuzione, scese con le sue ancelle verso la Seleucia. Ritenne però prudente proseguire per Tarso, nella Cilicia, dove fu raggiunta e fatta arrestare col suo bambino dal governatore romano Alessandro, con l'accusa di essere cristiana. Sottoposta a lunghi interrogatori per farla abiurare, rifiutandosi di sacrificare agli dei, confessò la sua fede. Una leggenda narra che Alessandro teneva il fanciullo sulle sue ginocchia. Quirico, vista la madre sofferente e sentite le sue parole, si disse anch'egli cristiano e morì scaraventato a terra dal governatore. La madre, pur impietrita dal dolore, restò ferma nella fede. Poi, dopo strazianti torture, fu consegnata al boia per essere decapitata. un altro racconto, però, dice che i due furono arsi vivi ma che i loro corpi, miracolosamente si mantennero intatti. Il martirio del più giovane martire cristiano con la madre si colloca intorno al 304.

Patronato: Bambini

Etimologia: Quirico (variante di Ciriaco)

Emblema: Bambino su un cinghiale, Palma

Martirologio Romano: In Asia Minore, commemorazione dei santi Quirico e Giulitta, martiri.

S. Quirico è uno dei più giovani martiri della cristianità, preceduto dai SS. Innocenti, trucidati da Erode a Betlemme, Giulitta è sua madre.

Durante la persecuzione di Diocleziano ad Iconio, città della Licaonia (regione dell'attuale Turchia) si trovava Giulitta, donna ricchissima e d'alto lignaggio, la quale era rimasta vedova con un figlio in tenera età battezzato coi nome Quirico. lasciata la sua città e i suoi averi, per sfuggire alla feroce persecuzione, scese con le sue ancelle verso la Seleucia. Ritenne però prudente proseguire per Tarso, nella Cilicia, dove fu raggiunta e fatta arrestare coi suo bambino dai crudele governatore romano Alessandro, con l'accusa di essere cristiana. Sottoposta a lunghi interrogatori al fine di farla abiurare, rifiutandosi di sacrificare agli dei, confessò con fermezza: 'lo sono cristiana'. Intanto il governatore Alessandro, che aveva tolto il fanciullo alla madre, lo teneva, quale estremo strumento di persuasione sulle sue ginocchia. Come racconta la Leggenda aurea, il fanciullo vedendo battere sua madre cominciò a piangere e a gridare e, sentendola professarsi cristiana, con franchezza che ha dei soprannaturale, fece altrettanto. Il governatore imbestialito, preso il bambino per un piede, lo scagliò dall'alto dei suo seggio al suolo dinanzi alla madre, in modo che la piccola testa andò a battere contro i gradini dei tribunale, sui quali “schizzarono le tenere cervella”. La madre, pur impietrita dal dolore, restò ferma nella fede ed anzi rese grazie a Dio perché il figlio l'aveva preceduta nella gloria dei Paradiso. Poi anch'essa, dopo strazianti torture, fu consegnata al boia per essere decapitata.

I loro corpi, raccolti da una fedele ancella, furono tenuti nascosti fino a quando il clima di pace e di sicurezza dell'era costantiniana permise che fossero esposti in luogo pubblico.

La data più probabile del loro martirio è il 15 luglio dei 304 (o 305), anche se la loro festa nella Chiesa occidentale è prevalentemente celebrata il 16 giugno.

Il racconto della Passione dei piccolo Quirico e di sua madre Giulitta ebbe tanta fortuna da venire presto, non solo estesamente divulgata, ma arricchita di particolari fantastici, tanto da far dubitare della sua stessa storicità. Non molti anni dopo la loro morte il vescovo di lconio Teodoro, su richiesta dei vescovo Zosimo, avvalendosi di testimoni attendibili e documenti sicuri ricostruì fedelmente la drammatica storia di Quirico e Giulitta. l'estensione dei loro culto nel mondo cristiano è però una sicura garanzia dell'autenticità storica dei loro martirio.

In Occidente il loro culto si diffuse nel Medioevo soprattutto in Italia, Francia e Spagna. Il vescovo francese d'Auxerre S. Amatore (o Amanzio) tornando da una visita ai Luoghi Santi trasportò le reliquie da Antiochia a Marsiglia, dove furono deposte nell'Abbazia di S. Vittore. Amatore morì nel 418, e da quest'epoca comincia, forse, la diffusione in Occidente dei culto dei due SS. Martiri.

In Italia si contano una cinquantina di località che portano il nome di S. Quirico (o Chirico), ma ben più numerosi sono i luoghi di devozione (chiese parrocchiali e non, oratori, etc.). In Campania è individuato come unico luogo di culto la chiesa di Bolano (Salerno), dove la medievale devozione è attestata da un documento di vendita dell'801 (Codex Diplomaticus Cavensis 1,5 - Badia di Cava).

Il nome Quirico, precisano i linguisti, sarebbe la forma volgare di Ciriaco. Entrambi derivano da Kyrios (cioè Signore, in greco) ed equivalgono al latino Dominicus.

Autore: Comunità parrocchiale di Bolano (SA)

SOURCE : http://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/57400


Intérieur de l'église Saint-Cyr de Saint-Cyr-sur-Menthon.


Santa Giulitta Vedova, martire

16 giugno

† Asia Minore, 303

Durante la persecuzione di Diocleziano ad Iconio, città della Licaonia (oggi in Turchia) si trovava Giulitta, donna ricca e nobile, la quale era rimasta vedova con un figlio in tenera età, Quirico. Lasciata la sua città e i suoi averi, per sfuggire alla persecuzione, scese con le sue ancelle verso la Seleucia. Ritenne però prudente proseguire per Tarso, nella Cilicia, dove fu raggiunta e fatta arrestare col suo bambino dal governatore romano Alessandro, con l'accusa di essere cristiana. Sottoposta a lunghi interrogatori per farla abiurare, rifiutandosi di sacrificare agli dei, confessò la sua fede. Una leggenda narra che Alessandro teneva il fanciullo sulle sue ginocchia. Quirico, vista la madre sofferente e sentite le sue parole, si disse anch'egli cristiano e morì scaraventato a terra dal governatore. La madre, pur impietrita dal dolore, restò ferma nella fede. Poi, dopo strazianti torture, fu consegnata al boia per essere decapitata. un altro racconto, però, dice che i due furono arsi vivi ma che i loro corpi, miracolosamente si mantennero intatti. Il martirio del più giovane martire cristiano con la madre si colloca intorno al 304.

Etimologia: Giulitta = appartenente alla 'gens Julia', illustre famiglia romana, dal latino

Emblema: Palma

Martirologio Romano: In Asia Minore, commemorazione dei santi Quirico e Giulitta, martiri.

Giulitta, nativa di Cesarea e di Cappadocia, consumò in questi luoghi il martirio verso il 307.

Gli imperatori Diocleziano e Massimiano avevano pubblicato un editto con il quale si negava ai Cristiani qualunque tutela della legge. Un farabutto di Cesarea ne approfittava, usurpando a Giulitta gran parte del suo patrimonio. Questa istituì causa formale contro l’usurpatore; ma l’accorto uomo protestò che essa non poteva agire legalmente perché cristiana, e che la legge non permetteva alcuna azione legale a chiunque rifiutava l’adorazione degli dèi dell’impero.

Il giudice in conformità agli editti dichiarava naturalmente che Giulitta avrebbe usufruita la protezione della legge unicamente sacrificando agli dèi. Ma Giulitta, per rimanere fedele alla sua fede, si dichiarò disposta e decisa a rinunziare a tutto, anche all’onore e alla vita.

A questa forte professione di fede, il giudice le negò subito qualunque procedimento nella causa. Anzi, come cristiana, le fece le interrogazioni di uso ai martiri citati nei tribunali.

Giulitta, con calma e tranquillità, rispose di essere serva di Gesù Cristo Dio, al quale non avrebbe mai rinunciato. Fu allora condannata alla confisca di tutti i suoi beni e ad essere bruciata viva.

La grave sentenza non intimorì l’eroica Martire, ma si vide in quel momento trasparire dal suo volto tutta la felicità di cui era inondato il suo cuore. Giulitta mostrava a tutti che, con l’aiuto di Dio, una debole donna poteva divenire più forte di qualsiasi supplizio.

Intanto fuori della città era stato acceso un gran rogo dove la Martire doveva essere gettata, e Giulitta andò ad esso come una sposa al banchetto nuziale. La folla dei curiosi era là attorno alla catasta per godere del lugubre spettacolo, ma Dio la volle far testimone di un meraviglioso prodigio: appena Giulitta venne buttata sul fuoco, la sua anima volò a Gesù e il suo corpo, protetto da una arcata di fiamme, rimase illeso e intatto.

Fu seppellita nel vestibolo del tempio della città e vicino alla sua tomba sgorgò prodigiosamente una fontana d’acqua dolce e salutare per gli ammalati.

S. Basilio dice che la Martire ripetè la grazia che il profeta Eliseo fece a quelli di Gerico, mutando con la sua benedizione in acqua dolce e gradita quella che era inquinata.

Autore: Antonio Galuzzi

SOURCE : http://santiebeati.it/dettaglio/57450

Giovanni Piccina, Santa Quirico i Julitta fresco, 1823, Oratorio di San Quirico, Boccioleto, frazione di Palancato, Vercelli, Italy


De hellige Julitta og Quiricus av Tarsus (d. 304)

Minnedag: 16. juni

De hellige Julitta (Julietta, Ulita; gr: Ἰουλιττα; fr: Julitte, Julienne; it: Giulitta, Giuletta, Giulietta; sp: Julita, Yolita; etiop: Ijaluta) og hennes sønn Quiricus (Qyriacus, Cyricus, Cericus, Cerycus, Cirycus, Ciricus; gr: Kerykos, Κηρυκος; Quirinus, Kirik, Quiriac, Cerdre, Cergue; it: Quirico, Quilico, Chirico; sp: Quirce; fr: Cyr, Cirgues) skal ha lidd martyrdøden i Lilleasia i 304. Legendene om dem er bevart i flere versjoner, men den mest kjente stammer fra pseudo-Gelasius. Så tidlig som på 500-tallet ble nemlig Julitta og Quiricus’ akter inkludert i en liste på apokryfe (altså falske) dokumenter. Denne listen ble tidligere den hellige pave Gelasius I (492-96), derfor kalles den nå pseudo-Gelasius.

Legenden forteller at Julitta var en from og adelig kristen kvinne, muligens av keiserlig slekt, som levde i Ikonium (Iconium, gr: Ikónion) i provinsen Lykaonia i Frygia, i dag Konya i Anatolia i Tyrkia. I kristenforfølgelsene under keiser Diokletian (284-305) ble hun enke (hennes manns navn nevnes ikke), og fordi en brutal kristenfiende ved navn Domitian herjet i hjembyen, avgjorde hun at livet i hjembyen ble for farlig. Hun etterlot sin store formue og tok med seg sin treårige sønn Quiricus og to tjenestejenter og flyktet til Seleukia i Pamfylia (i dag Silifke) (en annen variant forteller at Julitta kom fra Lykaonia og flyktet til Isauria). Men hun fant til sin skrekk at guvernøren i Seleukia, Alexander, forfulgte kristne på det sterkeste, så de fire flyktningene fortsatte til Tarsus, hovedstaden i den romerske provinsen Kilikia (i dag Sørøst-Tyrkia) og den hellige apostelfyrsten Paulus’ fødested. Men der ble flyktningene gjenkjent, og ulykkeligvis var guvernør Alexander på besøk i byen akkurat da.

Da Julitta nektet å ofre til den romerske statens guder, ble hun arrestert og stilt for retten. Historien forteller at hun tok med seg den tre år gamle gutten til rettssalen. Hun nektet å svare på noen spørsmål om seg selv, bortsett fra å si at hun var kristen. Domstolen dømte henne til å bli strukket på pinebenken og bli pisket. Vokterne som skulle føre henne vekk, tok fra henne sønnen, som begynte å gråte. I et forsøk på å roe ham tok guvernør Alexander ham på kneet, men gutten var vettskremt og ville tilbake til moren, så han bet guvernøren i skulderen og kloret ham i ansiktet (en annen versjon sier at gutten så bort på sin lidende mor og ropte: «Jeg er også en kristen!»). Da reiste guvernøren seg i raseri, tok gutten etter føttene og kastet ham ned trappene så hodeskallen ble knust og han døde.

Selv om moren var forsteinet av sorg, sto hun fast i troen og gråt ikke, men takket Gud for at barnet hadde fått martyrkronen og kom til himmelen før henne. Dette gjorde guvernøren enda mer rasende, så han bestemte at hun skulle rives opp i sidene med jernkroker og at hun deretter skulle halshogges. Med glede lot hun seg torturere ved å bli flådd, bli rullet i flytende tjære og korsfestet før hun ble halshogd. Likene av både henne og Quiricus ble kastet utenfor murene sammen med haugen av lik av henrettede forbrytere, men de to tjenestejentene reddet følgende natt likene av mor og barn og gravla dem i en hule i nærheten av Tarsus. Da keiser Konstantin den store ga Kirken fred, viste en av tjenestejentene som fortsatt var i live, de troende hvor levningene av martyrene var gravlagt. De tok med seg relikviene hjem for å ære dem der.

Ifølge hymnografen Josef skjedde det mange mirakler ved deres grav. Et kloster ble bygd nær Konstantinopel til ære for disse martyrene, og en kirke ble bygd ikke langt fra Jerusalem. Senere synes relikviene å ha kommet til Antiokia, i alle fall heter det i historien om den hellige biskop Amator av Auxerre at han hadde funnet dem der på en reise og brakt dem til Auxerre. Også til Nevers og flere andre steder kom det relikvier av disse helgenene. Senere skal Quiricus’ levninger ha kommet til klosteret Elnon eller Saint-Amand (Amandopolis) i Tournai i Flandern. Også i Spania æres relikvier av en hellig Quiricus, vanligvis kalt San Quirce eller Quirse, men ifølge bollandistene er det usikkert om dette er den samme eller en annen helgen ved samme navn. I Portugal kalles han Querido.

Deres martyrium skjedde i år 304 eller 305, angivelig en 15. juni. Deres martyrium ble minnet i store deler av det romerske rike. Deres minnedag i de fleste martyrologier er 16. juni, uten at denne datoen forklares, mens de feires av de ortodokse på dødsdagen 15. juli og den 23. juli. Armenerne feirer dem 15. juli med liturgisk feiring som femte minnedag etter Epifani. Koptisk minnedag er 9. juli, mens de syrisk-ortodokse minnes dem den 15. juli. I Acta Sanctorum behandler bollandisten Papebroch Julitta og Quiricus utførlig under 16. juni. I Østkirken regnes Julitta og Quiricus med blant de såkalte «hellige leger». Deres navn står i Martyrologium Romanum.

I virkeligheten vet vi ingen ting om dem. Det er sannsynlig at Quiricus var en virkelig martyr i Antiokia, som Martyrologium Hieronymianum skriver, muligens en barnemartyr, og det er trolig rundt ham at legendene med tiden har oppstått i flere former. Den hellige Beda Venerabilis nevner ikke disse martyrene i sitt martyrologium, enten fordi han ikke fant deres akter eller fordi han holdt dem for å være apokryfe.

Quiricus opptrer i mange stedsnavn og kirkededikasjoner i land i Europa og den nære Østen uten sin mor. Quiricus (Cyricus) er den Saint-Cyr som finnes i hele 42 franske stedsnavn. Det franske militærakademiet Saint-Cyr har navn etter ham – stedet var opprinnelig et benediktinerkloster.

Hans tilknytning til Frankrike er sterk, delvis fordi noen av hans relikvier ble brakt fra Antiokia til klosteret Saint-Amand i bispedømmet Tournai av den hellige biskop Amator av Auxerre på 300-tallet. Populariteten skyldtes også delvis en legende som er gjengitt i Den gylne legende. Den forteller at den salige keiser Karl den Store (768-814; keiser fra 800) i en drøm ble reddet fra å bli drept av et villsvin på en jakt da et barn viste seg for ham og lovte å redde ham hvis han kunne få klær for å dekke seg til. Biskopen av Nevers tolket dette til å bety at gutten ville at keiseren skulle reparere taket på katedralen, som var viet til Saint-Cyr. Quiricus er skytshelgen for Nevers.

I Frankrike ga hans navn opphav til en mangfold av former. Den mest utbredte er Cyr, mens andre varianter i stedsnavn er Cire, Cirycus, Cyricus, Quirique, Quiricus, Quiritius, Sire, Cerdre, Cergue, Cergues (Cher), Cierge, Ciergue, Ciers, Cirgues, Cirice, Cirq, Cric, Cricq, Cy, Cyriac, Cyrgues, Cyrice; Geyrac, Griède, Quiric, Serdre, Ceyrac, Ciergues, Cirgue, Circq, Cricq, Cyrice, Quirc. Andre former er Quiricus og Cyrus i Tyskland og England, samt Qìrqos i Etiopia.

Relikvier av både Julitta og Quiricus finner man i ulike kirker i Roma. I Italia er det mer enn 200 kirker, klostre og steder som har tegn på en kult for en eller begge av dem. Kommuner oppkalt etter dem inkluderer landsbyen San Quirico d’Orcia i området Val d’Orcia i provinsen Siena i Toscana, Corvino San Quirico i provinsen Pavia, San Chirico Nuovo og San Chirico Raparo i provinsen Potenza, Serra San Quirico i provinsen Ancona og Santa Giuletta i provinsen Pavia. Blant kommunene de er skytshelgener for, er Borgo San Martino i provinsen Alessandria, Cavaria i Cavaria con Premezzo i provinsen Varese, Cisternino i provinsen Brindisi, Collesalvetti i provinsen Livorno og Trofarello i provinsen Torino.

De eldste kjente avbildningene av Quiricus er en serie fresker i Santa Maria Antiqua i Roma fra 700-tallet, mens et antependium fra 1100-tallet i museet i Barcelona viser scener fra hans legende. Det samme gjør en serie glassmalerier fra 1400-tallet i Issoudun. Hans ikonografiske emblem er ofte et nakent barn som rir på et villsvin, på grunn av Karl den Stores drøm.

Cyriacus er et navn som bæres av mange hellige, og i tillegg finnes det i flere former som Kyriakos og Quiriacus, sistnevnte kalles av lingvister en «vulgær» (folkelig) form. Sjeldnere møtes staveformene Kyriacus og Kiriacus. Noen ganger erstattet det greske navnet av den latinske formen Dominikus (lat: Dominicus; it: Domenico; fr: Dominique). Navnene betyr «tilhører Herren» – Herre på henholdsvis latin og gresk er Dominus / Kyrios.

SOURCE : http://www.katolsk.no/biografier/historisk/qjulitta