Saint Cyprian surnamed the Magician was a native of Antioch. His pagan parents devoted him to the devil and he was brought up in the impious mysteries of idolatry. His skill was employed in tempting the modesty of virgins but he found Christian women proof against his assaults and spells. There lived at Antioch a young lady called Justina whose birth and beauty drew all eyes upon her. A pagan nobleman fell deeply in love with her and finding her modesty inaccessible, he applied to Cyprian for the assistance of his art. Justina studied to arm herself by prayer, watchfulness and mortification against all of Cyprian’s artifices and the power of his spells. Cyprian, finding himself worsted by superior power, began to consider the weakness of the infernal spirits and resolved to quit their service. God inspired him to address himself to a holy priest named Eusebius whom had formerly been his school-fellow. By the advice of this priest he was wonderfully comforted and encouraged in his conversion. Cyprian burned all his magical books, gave his whole sustenance to the poor and entered himself among the catechumens. The persecution of Diocletian breaking out, Cyprian was apprehended and carried before the governor of Phoenicia who resided at Tyre. About the same time, Justina had fallen into the hands of the persecutors in Damascus, her native country. They both were brought before Diocletian and received the sentence of beheading. Today their relics are in the Lateran basilica.