From the Prologue of Ochrid
This holy woman was of noble lineage. She was widowed early and left with a newborn infant, Cyricus. She lived in Iconium, a city of Lycaonia, and was wholly devoted to the Faith of Christ. She baptized her little son immediately after birth, and when he was three years old, she taught him the faith and prayer as much as a child of that age could receive. When Diocletian ordered the persecution of Christians, much innocent blood was shed in the city of Iconium. Julitta took her son and fled from the wrath of the pagans to the city of Seleucia. But it was no better there either. Julitta was seized and, as a Christian, brought before the judge. When Julitta courageously confessed her faith in the Lord Jesus, the judge, wishing to sadden and shake her, took the child into his arms and began to caress him. But Cyricus cried out at the top of his voice: "I am a Christian, let me go to my mother!" and began scratching the judge with his little hands, turning his face away from him. The judge flew into a rage, dashed the child against the ground and kicked him, and the child tumbled down the stone steps and surrendered his holy and innocent soul to God. Seeing how Cyricus suffered before her, Saint Julitta was joyful and gave thanks to God that He had deemed her son worthy of the martyr's crown. After many tortures Julitta too was beheaded by the sword, in the year 304. The relics of Saints Cyricus and Julitta remain wonder-working to this day. A portion of the relics of these saints is found in Ohrid, in the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos of the Hospital.
