Saint Julius and Saint Julian
Brothers from Greece, Julius the priest and Julian the deacon were sent by the Pope to evangelize Northern Italy during the reign of Theodosius. They are famous for building one hundred churches and performing miracles on the Italian lakes, notably at Orta. They are invoked against wolves and snakes.
Contemporaries
Figures and markers around the normalized period for this entry.
Guided reading
2 reading sections
SAINT JULES ET SAINT JULIEN,
Imperial context and departure on mission
Under the reign of Emperor Theodosius, the brothers Julius and Julian left Greece to evangelize the remote regions of Northern Italy after receiving the Pope's blessing.
Juliu s an d Juli an were brothers: Julius was a priest and Julian a deac on. Emperor Theodos ius definitively closed the temples of the idols, permitted them to be torn down or transformed into churches, and called upon men of good will to go and evangelize the remote lands of his empire, which had become the last refuge of paganism. The islands with which the lakes of Upper Italy are sown were in this situation.
The two brothers Julius and Julian, natives of Greece, devoted themselves to this type of apostolate: they came to ask for their mission fr om the Pontiff of Rome, and headed towards the north of Italy.
Miracles, constructions, and patronage
Credited with the construction of one hundred churches, the two saints performed miracles on Lake Orta, notably crossing on their cloaks and expelling serpents.
The representations given of these two Saints recall their most striking actions: thus they have been painted supporting sacred edifices with their hands, for they are reputed to have raised a hundred churches; — they cross Lake Orta on their cloaks, to show the power of faith to the boatmen who refused them passage; — Saint Julius drives away with a sign of the cross s erpents that abandon the island where he was going to build his last church, and plunge into the waters of a lake. The two Saints are invoked against wolves, of which they are also reputed to have rid the regions they evangelized. Saint Julius is the special patron of Orta, in the Novara region.
Iconography
Signs and attributes
Entities
Narrative network
The names, places, and concepts most present in the entry, weighted by centrality in the text.
The supernatural in their life
The miracles of Saint Julius and Saint Julian
Frequently asked questions about Saint Julius and Saint Julian
Who was Saint Julius and Saint Julian?
Brothers from Greece, Julius the priest and Julian the deacon were sent by the Pope to evangelize Northern Italy during the reign of Theodosius. They are famous for building one hundred churches and performing miracles on the Italian lakes, notably at Orta. They are invoked against wolves and snakes.
What is Saint Julius and Saint Julian the patron saint of?
Patronage of Saint Julius and Saint Julian: Orta and Novara.
What is Saint Julius and Saint Julian invoked for?
Saint Julius and Saint Julian is invoked for: protection against wolves.
How is Saint Julius and Saint Julian depicted in Christian art?
In iconography, Saint Julius and Saint Julian is recognizable by: sacred buildings held in hand, cloak on the water, snakes and sign of the cross.
What miracles are attributed to Saint Julius and Saint Julian?
3 miracles are attributed to this saint, notably: Mastery of the elements, Protection / deliverance and Sign / wonder.
Which saints were contemporaries of Saint Julius and Saint Julian?
Contemporaries include: Saint Augustine of Hippo, Saint Honoratus of Arles, Saint James of Tarentaise and Saint Jerome of Stridon.
When did Saint Julius and Saint Julian die?
Saint Julius and Saint Julian died around 500.
What are the other names of Saint Julius and Saint Julian?
Other forms of the name: Julien.
Who are the relatives of Saint Julius and Saint Julian?
Relatives of Saint Julius and Saint Julian: Julien (brother) and Jules (brother).
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Call from Emperor Theodosius to evangelize remote regions
- Departure from Greece for Italy
- Mission received from the Pontiff of Rome
- Evangelization of Upper Italy and the lake islands
- Construction of about a hundred churches
- Miraculous crossing of Lake Orta on their cloaks
- Expulsion of the snakes from the island of the last church