E01164: The Greek text known as the Conversion of *Kyprianos and Ioustina (martyrs of Antioch, S01704), of the late 4th or early 5th c., recounts the story of a pious girl who converted to Christianity, and of the magician who, failing to seduce her by magic, became a Christian himself.

Conversion/Acts of Kyprianos and Ioustina (BHG 452)

Summary:

(1-2.) Iousta/Ioustina is the daughter of Aidesios and Kledonia from Antioch in Syria. Having heard from her window the preaching of the Christian deacon Praulios, she decides to convert to Christianity. She reveals her intention to her mother who, dismayed by her daughter’s decision, discusses it with her husband. They fall asleep and have a dream vision of a heavenly host bearing torches, and Christ in a fortress promising to grant them the Kingdom of Heaven. They wake up, and together with their daughter go to the church and ask from Praulios and bishop Optatos to become Christians. Aidesios confesses his dream and cuts his own hair, denouncing his pagan priesthood. He becomes a presbyter and dies a year and a half later.

(3-9) Ioustina constantly goes to church, and one day a noble young student, Aglaidas, sees her and falls in love. He sends men and women to ask of her to marry him, but she dismisses them abusively, saying that she is a bride of Christ. Aglaidas with a group of companions attempts to abduct Ioustina, while she is going to church, but fails. He embraces her, but she repels him with the sign of the cross, she hits and kicks him and tears his clothes, following the example of Thekla. Enraged, Aglaidas requests the help of the sorcerer Kyprianos, who sends three demons against her, but she repels them by the power of prayer and the sign of the cross. The demons return to Kyprianos, admitting defeat. The third demon reveals to Kyprianos that he was defeated by the cross of Christ. Kyprianos declares that he wishes to become a Christian, and the demon flies away.

(10-12) Kyprianos takes his books of magic to the church, where he meets Anthimos, the bishop, and asks to be admitted to the faith. The bishop initially rejects him, but, as Kyprianos persists, Anthimos burns the books and encourages Kyprianos. The latter returns home, destroys all his idols, and prays. Next day, the Sabbath, Kyprianos goes to church where he listens to the Psalms, readings (from Isaiah and Galatians) and a homily. At the point when the catechumens are requested to leave the church, Kyprianos refuses to. The deacon Asterios reports it to the bishop Anthimos who discusses privately with Kyprianos, and decides to baptise him. Kyprianos reads the Scriptures for eight days. Twenty-five days later, he becomes a gate keeper of the church, and another twenty five later, he is ordained deacon. He excels in exorcising demons, and one year later he becomes priest. Sixteen years later, Anthimos on his deathbed appoints Kyprianos as his successor. The bishop Kyprianos ordains the pious girl as a deaconess, changing her name from Iousta to Ioustina the ‘blameless’, and appoints her as head of a house of monastic virgins.

Text: Zahn 1882.
Summary: Efthymios Rizos.