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| Cyprian and Justina |
The ecclesiastical historian Sozomen writes as follows:
"At the time when the Arians, whose leader was Demophilus, had still possession of the Churches [at Constantinople], whilst Gregory of Nazianzum presided over those who acknowledged the Consubstantial Trinity. Now he was accustomed to hold the ecclesiastical services in a poor little house which had been formed into a house of prayer by men of the same Faith, both for himself and for those who worshipped with him. In course of time this church became renowned above the other churches of the Capital not only because of the beauty and size of its structure, but also on account of graces of evidently divine apparitions which were there granted to the Faithful. For a divine power which was there manifested, both in waking visions and dreams, came to the relief, over and over again, of many who were suffering from various diseases and accidents. It was believed that this was the Holy Virgin Mother of God. For thus is she wont to appear."
St. Gregory Nazianzum in his own writings records no instance of any vision of our Lady, but in a sermon preached in this church of which we have just read, he told the story of Justina, the Virgin Martyr. Justina, when previously assailed by the sinful passion of a certain Cyprian, " supplicated Mary the Virgin to succour her, who was also a virgin, in her danger." Our Lady heard the prayer in a wonderful manner. Cyprian was converted to the Faith, and martyred on September 26 in the year 304, together with Justina. The Church honours these two holy martyrs together each year on the anniversary of their glorious martyrdom.
