Friday, January 3, 2025 Jesus the True Shepard (John 10:1-9) and The Holy Martyress Juliania

Beloved, today is Friday, January 3, 2025 and is the 28th week after Pentecost.  

• Nativity Fast (St. Philip's Fast): 
  • Food with Oil.  Consume only bread, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and/or shellfish.  Olive oil and wine are permitted.
  • Avoid meat, dairy, poultry, and fish with backbone.
    
    
• Scripture Reading in Tone 2
  
  • John 10:1-9
    

    Jesus the True Shepherd

    10 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. ² But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. ³ To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. ⁴ And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. ⁵ Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” ⁶ Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them.

    Jesus the Good Shepherd

    ⁷ Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. ⁸ All who ever came ^[a]before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. ⁹ I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.

• The Holy Martyress Juliania
  
  Commemorated on December 21
  
        The Holy Martyress Juliania, daughter of an illustrious pagan named Africanus, was born in the city of Nicomedia. In her adolescent years she was betrothed to a certain Eleusios. Saint Juliania was endowed with a profound intellect and an inclination to goodness of soul, and she saw through the delusion and deception of the pagan faith. She secretly accepted holy Baptism. When the time of the wedding approached, Juliania resolutely refused to be married. Her father began to urge her not to break the long engagement but, not getting his wish, he began to beat her viciously. Then Africanus handed his daughter over to the magistrate of the city, – which was that very Eleusios, the former fiancee of Juliania. Eleusios heatedly asked Juliania to marry him, promising not to require of her a change of faith. Saint Juliania refused and preferred the torture. They beat the saint both long and harshly, but after each beating she received from God healing and new strength. Her beating was done before a large number of people. Of these, 500 men and 150 women came to confess Christ – having witnessed the steadfastness and courage of the holy virgin miraculously healed from her wounds. They were beheaded, having been baptised in their own blood. Convinced finally of his own hopeless attempt to tear the holy virgin away from her Heavenly Bridegroom, Eleusios sentenced Juliania to death. She accepted the sentence with joy and glorified the Lord for permitting her to receive a martyr's crown. The execution of the holy Martyress Juliania was done in the year 304.
  
  
  

  The story of The Holy Martyress Juliania aligns beautifully with the themes of John 10:1–9, emphasizing the role of Christ as the Good Shepherd and the Door through which the faithful enter salvation. Here’s how they connect:

  1. Hearing the Shepherd’s Voice

  In John 10:3–4, Jesus describes how His sheep hear His voice and follow Him because they know Him. Juliania exemplifies this principle through her unwavering recognition of Christ as her true Shepherd. Despite societal pressure and familial ties, she discerned the "voice" of truth in the teachings of Christ and rejected the "voice of strangers" represented by the pagan faith and her betrothed Eleusios.

  Juliania’s profound intellect and spiritual insight enabled her to see through the deception of paganism. Like the sheep who do not follow a stranger, she refused to be swayed by Eleusios’ promises or her father’s demands.

  2. The Door of Salvation

  In John 10:7–9, Jesus declares that He is the Door, and anyone who enters through Him will be saved. Juliania entered through this Door when she accepted baptism and steadfastly followed Christ, even at great personal cost. Her choice to embrace martyrdom rather than renounce her faith demonstrates her understanding that salvation comes only through Christ.

  By refusing to marry Eleusios and rejecting pagan practices, she chose the "pasture" of eternal life that Christ promises to those who enter through Him. Her martyrdom reflects the ultimate act of entering the Door of salvation, as she accepted death with joy to be united with her Heavenly Bridegroom.

  3. Steadfastness Against Thieves and Robbers

  Jesus warns in John 10:1 about those who try to enter the sheepfold by another way, calling them thieves and robbers. Eleusios and her father, Africanus, can be seen as symbolic of these "thieves," attempting to lead Juliania away from the true faith. Eleusios offered compromises, promising not to force her to change her faith if she married him, yet his intentions were ultimately self-serving, not aligned with the truth of Christ.

  Juliania’s courage to withstand physical torture and emotional manipulation illustrates her resistance to the "stranger's voice." Her steadfastness inspired hundreds of onlookers to recognize the Good Shepherd, leading them to confess Christ, even unto death.

  4. Sacrifice and Martyrdom as Following the Shepherd

  In John 10:9, Jesus promises that those who enter through Him will "go in and out and find pasture." Juliania’s life and death reflect this promise. By willingly giving her life for Christ, she embraced the "pasture" of eternal life. Her martyrdom mirrors the ultimate sacrifice of Christ, the Good Shepherd, who lays down His life for His sheep (as mentioned later in John 10:11).

  Juliania’s willingness to endure suffering and death was a testament to her faith in the Shepherd who goes before His sheep. Her martyrdom glorified God and brought others to salvation, much like the redemptive sacrifice of Christ.

  Conclusion

  The story of The Holy Martyress Juliania is a living illustration of the truths in John 10:1–9. She recognized Christ as the Good Shepherd, resisted the "voice of strangers," entered through the Door of salvation, and found eternal life. Her life and death echo the Gospel message, inspiring others to follow the Shepherd and embrace the path to salvation, no matter the cost. Through her steadfast faith, she became an icon of what it means to belong to Christ’s flock.