Ss. Julian and Basilissa
January 8, 2026
According to their acts, and the ancient Martyrologies, though engaged in a married state, they by mutual consent lived in perpetual chastity, sanctified themselves by the most perfect exercises of an ascetic life, and employed their revenues in relieving the poor and the sick; for this purpose they converted their house into a kind of hospital, in which they sometimes entertained a thousand indigent person: Basillissa attended those of her sex, in separate lodgings from the men, of whom Julian took care, who from his charity is surnamed the Hospitalarian. Egypt, where they live, had then begun to abound with examples of person, who, either in cities or in deserts, devoted themselves to the most perfect exercises of charity, penance and contemplation. Basilissa, after having stood severe persecutions, died in peace; Julian survived her many years, and received the crown of glorious martyrdom, together with Celsus a youth, Antony a priest, Anastatius and Marcianilla, the mother of Celsus. They seem to have suffered in the reign of Maximin II in 313 on the 6th of January.
