Julian of Emesa (Greek: Ἰουλιανός ὁ ἐν Ἐμέσῃ;[2] Latin: Julianus Emesenus) or Elian al-Homsi (Arabic: إليان الحمصي), also spelt Elyan or Ilyan, was a third-century Christian from Emesa (modern Homs, in Syria) who reputedly practiced as a physician or healer. He was martyred, either in 284 or 312,[1] for his refusal to renounce Christianity.

Ilyan of Homs
Mural in the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Annunciation, Jerusalem, depicting Ilyan (Julian) of Homs as a physician (right), next to Saint George
BornHoms, Syria
Died284 or 312 AD
Homs, Syria
Honored in
Major shrineHoms, Antioch
Feast
PatronageHoms, Syria; Brownsville, Pennsylvania; physicians, the sick, sons, and children

Venerated as a saint, his feast day is 6 February in the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions, and 7 February in the Anglican, Oriental Orthodox and the Ancient Church of the East traditions.

The Church of Saint Elian was founded in 432 on the claimed spot of Julian's death, with his remains placed in a sarcophagus in a small chapel to the right of the church's main crypt.[3][4][5]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Lives of the Saints: Martyr Julian of Emesa". Orthodox Church in America.
  2. ^ Léontos Diakónou Historía Λέοντος Διακόνου Ιστορία. 1864. p. 297.
  3. ^ Syriac Catholic Church in Sydney (2023). "Syriac Monasteries: Monastery of Saint Elian". Syriac Church.

    "An old archaeological monastery, the Monastery of Saint Elian is in the town of Al-Qaryatayn, in the southern countryside of Homs. The monastery contains within it the remains of Saint Elian of Homs, who was martyred during the Roman persecutions of the third century. A Byzantine-style church was built in the monastery and decorated with columns of marble. During the reign of ISIS, the terrorist Islamist regime, the monastery was attacked on the 6th of August, 2015. ISIS used bulldozers and bombs to destroy this great monument of faith under the pretext that the monastery was not worshipping Allah. Recently the Syriac Catholic Eparchy of Homs has started to rebuild the church. The Feast Day of Saint Elian is on the 6th of February."

  4. ^ Beattie & Pepper 2001, p. 55.
  5. ^ Mannheim 2001, p. 209.

Bibliography edit