Julia of Corsica
Julia of Corsica (Italian: Giulia da Corsica; French: Julie; Corsican: Ghjulia; Latin: Iulia), also known as Julia of Carthage, and more rarely Julia of Nonza, was a virgin and martyr who is venerated as a saint. The date of her death is most probably on or after AD 439. She and Devota are the patron saints of Corsica in the Catholic Church. Julia was declared a patroness of Corsica by the church on 5 August 1809; Devota, on 14 March 1820. Both were martyred in pre-Christian Corsica under Roman rule. Julia's feast day is 23 May in the Western liturgical calendar and 16 July in the East.
Saint Julia | |
|---|---|
Sancta Julia from a stained glass window in Meaux Cathedral. She holds the palm of martyrdom, a small crucifix and stands before a larger crucifix, the symbol of her crucifixion. | |
| Virgin martyr | |
| Born | 25 July Carthage, Roman Africa |
| Died | 5th century Corsica, Vandal Kingdom |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church Eastern Orthodox Church |
| Major shrine | Basilica di Santa Giulia |
| Feast | 23 May (Catholicism) 16 July (Eastern Orthodoxy) |
| Attributes | Palm of martyrdom, crucifix |
| Patronage | Corsica; Livorno; torture victims; pathologies of the hands and the feet |
Julia is included in most summary lives of the saints. The details of those lives vary, but a few basic accounts emerge, portraying biographical data and events that are not reconcilable. Various theories accounting for the differences have been proposed. The quintessential icon of Saint Julia derives from the testimony of Victor Vitensis, contemporaneous Bishop of Africa. It is supported by physical evidence: the relics, a small collection of human bone fragments, are where historical events subsequent to the story say they ought to be, at the former Church of Santa Giulia in Brescia, Italy, now part of the city museum.