ST. BASILISSA 103 I am Basilissa, his wife. Best with ns, azkd all that we have is yonrs." Then she waited upon them dutifnlly, gaye them supper, and put them to sleep in her own bed. Next morning, before daylight, she went to chnrch, to give thanks for the arrival of her husband's parents. During her absence Julian returned, and went straightway to Basi- lissa's room. In the twilight he saw two persons asleep there. Without a moment's consideration, he drew his sword and killed them both. As he rushed madly from the house, he met Basilissa returning from church, radiant with happiness, and eager to tell him of the arrival of his father and mother. Then Julian knew what he had done, and understood that the fate from which he had fled had overtaken him. He told Basilissa he must leave her, for he could not stay in his home nor rest in peace until he had done penance and obtained pardon for this dreadful crime. Basilissa said she would go with him. They left their castle, and wandered on foot until they came to the bank of a river where persons were often drowned in attempting to cross the water. There Julian built a cell for himself, and a hospital for the poor. He ferried travellers across the stream by day or night, in summer or winter, while Basilissa tended the poor and the sick in the hospital. One night in winter, when the river was swollen with rain and torrents from the mountains, and was raging past his door, he hoard a voice calling him from the opposite bonk. He went across, and found a young leper, who appeared to be d3ring of cold and fatigue. He brought him over the ferry, placed him in his own bed, and watched by him with Basilissa until morning. At daybreak the leper arose; his face shone like that of an angel, and saying to Julian, Thy penance is accepted, and thy rest is near," he vanished out of their sight. Shortly afterwards they both died. There are thirty-six Saints Julian in the Banian Martyrology ; seven of them are commemorated in January. There are also many Saints Basilissa, and some who are called indifferently Basililissa, Ba- siLA, Bassilla, Bassa, etc. ; hence there is some confusion, and it is not always easy to disentangle them. St. Julian and his wife are believed to have lived at Antinoe, in Egypt. They spent their lives and substance in charity, and made their house a hospital, serving Jesus Christ in His poor and sick, sometimes entertaining as many as a thousand. Julian attended to the men in one part of the house, while Basilissa took care of the women in another. On account of the trials she endured for the love of God, and because she sustained the courage of so many who were persecuted under Diocletian, Basilissa has a place among the martyrs, although she died a natural death. Julian survived her about a year, and was put to death in the same persecution. On his way to martyrdom, as he passed a school, the boys came out into the street to see the martyr go by. Celsus, the son of the governor, was one of them. He called out that he saw the angels accompanying Julian, and giving him a crown; then, throwing away his books and exclaiming, " I believe in the God of the Christians," he fell at the feet of Julian. The governor ordered the boy to be kept all night in a horrible dungeon with Julian. During the night Antony, a priest who had the care of seven little orphan boys, summoned by an angel, went with his boys to the prison, and baptized Celsus and some of the guards, who were converted. The governor, supposing his little son must have had quite enough of Christianity in one night in prison, sent him now to his mother. He told her all that had happened, and she also believed, and was baptized by Antony. They were all put to death, tho seven boys by fire. AA.SS. Mrs. Jameson, Sacred and Legendary Arty ii. Martyrum Acta, Butler. Mar- tin. Baillet says they are commemorated on several different days in different places, which partly accounts for the great number of Basillas and Basi- LISSAS. St. Basilissa (7), or Basilica (2), M. c. 400 or 408. Sister of St. Ori- CULA. St. Basilissa (8), or Basilica (3), Dec. 5, May 20. f '^^- ^-^.B. Disciple
