Julitta (in the Catholic tradition of Julitta) and her son Kirik died for their faith around 305 AD. during the persecution of Christianity under the Roman emperor Diocletian. The Orthodox Church honors their memory on July 28, the Catholic Church - on July 15.
Being an adherent of the Christian religion, a young widow of noble birth, Ulita, fearing persecution for her faith, left her home and property and fled with her three-year-old son, accompanied by two slaves. The events took place in the territory of modern Turkey. From Iconium (Tur. Konya) Julitta moved to Tarsus (now Tarsus), where she began to live as a wandering beggar. But one day she was recognized and brought to trial before the ruler of the city, Alexander. At the trial, she confirmed her devotion to the Christian faith. Then they took her son away from her and began to scourge. Kirik could not bear the suffering of his mother. At first he cried, and then he began to rush to Julitta, declaring that he was also a Christian. In anger, Alexander threw the child from the stone platform, and he crashed to death.
Julitta was subjected to terrible tortures. Her body was scraped with iron teeth, and her wounds were poured with boiling resin. Then her head was cut off. The bodies of Kirik and Julitta, thrown out of the city, were secretly buried by slaves.
There are two versions regarding the acquisition of the relics of the martyrs. According to one of them, the slave who buried Kirik and Julitta pointed to Emperor Constantine I the Great, who proclaimed freedom of religion, to the place of their burial. He ordered to transfer the remains to Constantinople, which he made the capital of the empire. A monastery was founded there in honor of the martyrs. According to another version, the Oser bishop Amator, having acquired relics in Antioch, transferred them to Auxerre.
In Russian folk tradition, the day of Kirik and Ulita is considered the middle of summer. Women honor "Mother Ulita" as their intercessor and on this day they are supposed to have a proper rest. It is better not to go to Kirik and Ulita in the field, because evil spirits are walking there on this day, and there may be a bad omen.
Time, however, needs to be spent usefully, paying attention to children, whom it is time to accustom to work. Kirik and Ulita are especially revered by the Old Believers, who know very well what persecution for the faith is.
