When ‘Boy-Meets-Girl’ Encounters the Grace of God

Even earthly romance is fundamentally changed by God’s grace.  Would that we had more of it!  Here now is the beautiful story of Sts Justina and Cyprian:

"Saint Justina, who was from Damascus, lived in virginity for the sake of Christ. Saint Cyprian, who was from Antioch, began as an initiate of magic and worshipper of the demons. A certain foolish young man who had been smitten with Justina's beauty hired Cyprian to draw her to love him; when Cyprian had used every demonic device he knew, and had failed, being repulsed by the power of Christ Whom Justina invoked, he understood the weakness of the demons and came to know the truth. Delivered from demonic delusion, he came to Christ and burned all his books of magic, was baptized, and later ascended the episcopal throne in his country. Later, he and Justina were arrested by the Count of Damascus, and having endured many torments at his hands, they were sent finally to Diocletian in Nicomedia, where they were beheaded in the year 304." (Great Horologion)

Found at http://www.abbamoses.com/months/october.html for the day of 2 October.

For a much fuller account of their lives, the reader may visit this site:

http://orthodoxinfo.com/death/cyprian_justina.aspx

Let the single man or woman understand that a life lived entirely for Christ, forsaking even marriage for Him if that is what He has called him or her to do, is a very blessed life indeed and ought to be pursued with all fervor, no matter the disdainful attitude of modern society toward those who choose to remain single, and more importantly, virgins.