Julitta (in the Catholic tradition of Julitta) and her son Kirik perished for their faith around 305 A.D. during the persecution of Christianity under the Roman emperor Diocletian. The Orthodox Church honors their memory on July 28, the Catholic on July 15.
Being a follower of the Christian religion, a young widow of noble origin, Ulita, fearing persecution for her faith, left her home, property and, together with her three-year-old son, escaped, accompanied by two slaves. Events took place on the territory of modern Turkey. From Iconium (tour. Konya) Ulita moved to Tarsus (now Tarsus), where she began to live as a wandering beggar. But once she was recognized and brought to court to the ruler of the city, Alexander. At trial, she reaffirmed her devotion to the Christian faith. Then her son was taken away and scourged. 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 off the stone platform, and he crashed to death.
The elite was subjected to terrible torment. 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 Ulith, thrown out of the city, secretly buried the slaves.
There are two versions regarding the acquisition of the relics of martyrs. According to one of them, the slave who buried Kirik and Ulitu pointed to Emperor Constantine I the Great, who proclaimed freedom of religion, at the place of their burial. He ordered the remains to be transferred to Constantinople, which he made the capital of the empire. There, in honor of the martyrs, a monastery was founded. According to another version, the Bishop of Amur, in Osur, 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 good rest. It’s better not to go to Kirik and Ulita in the field, since there is unclean power walking on that day, and there may be a bad omen.
Time, however, must be spent with benefit, paying attention to the children, whom it is time to accustom to work. Kirik and Ulita are especially revered by the Old Believers, who are well aware of what persecution for faith is.
