Saint Juliana of Nicomedia is said to have suffered Christian martyrdom during the Diocletianic persecution in 304. She was popular in the Middle Ages, especially in the Netherlands, as the patron saint of sickness. Historical background Both the Latin and Greek Churches mention a holy martyr Juliana in their lists of saints. The oldest historical notice of her is found in the Martyrologium Hieronymianum for 16 February, her place of birth being given as Cumae in Campania (In Campania Cumbas, natale Julianae). It is true that the reference is contained only in the single chief manuscript of the above-named martyrology (the Codex Epternacensis). It is nevertheless clear that the notice is certainly authentic, from a letter of Saint Gregory the Great, which testifies to the special veneration of Saint Juliana in the neighbourhood of Naples. A pious matron named Januaria built a church on one of her estates, for the consecration of which she desired relics (sanctuaria, that is to say, objects which had been brought into contact with the graves) of Saints Severin and Juliana. Gregory wrote to Fortunatus II, Bishop of Naples, telling him to accede to the wishes of Januaria. Her life is listed in the Bibliotheca Hagiographica Graeca (BHG) 963 and Bibliotheca Hagiographica Latina (BHL) 4522–4527. The legend The details of her biography are unclear. The Acts of Saint Juliana used by Bede in his "Martyrologium" may be legendary. According to this account, Saint Juliana, daughter of an illustrious pagan named Africanus, was born in Nicomedia; and as a child was betrothed to the Senator Eleusius, one of the emperor's advisors. Her father was hostile to the Christians. Juliana secretly accepted holy baptism. When the time of her wedding approached, Juliana refused to be married. Her father urged her not to break her engagement, but when she refused to obey him, he handed her over to the Governor, her former fiancé. Elusius again asked Juliana to marry him, but she again refused. Juliana was beheaded after suffering torture in 304, during the persecution of Maximian. It is said that part of her torture was being partially burned in flames, plunged into a boiling pot of oil, and finally beheaded. Another Christian named Saint Barbara suffered the death of a martyr along with Juliana and was likewise sainted. Soon after a noble lady named Sephonia came through Nicomedia and took the saint's body with her to Italy,