The Church commemorates Martyr Justin the Philosopher and Martyrs Justus, Chariton, Charita.
St. Justin, born in Naples, Palestine in AD 100, was raised by Greek pagan parents who emphasized his theological and philosophical education. However, despite his rich education, Justin’s soul was still searching for answers.
God answered his search miraculously when Justin met an old man by the sea who revealed the truth of the Holy Scriptures and the Christian teaching to him, leading Justin to become a great author.
During the reign of Antoninus Pius, Justin traveled to Rome and presented an apology to the emperor, outlining the basic teachings of Christianity and refuting idolatry using arguments from both the Old and New Testament.
Due to this courageous act, Justin was known as the Apologist of the Orthodox Faith. His actions angered the pagans, especially his use of evidence from the word of God and ancient Greek texts.
As a result, Justin was arrested, tortured, and ultimately beheaded in AD 165, solidifying his legacy as not only an Apologist for the Orthodox faith but also as a Martyr of the Church.