The Ante-Nicene Church · AD 180–313
Juliana
fl. c. AD 215 (death unrecorded) · Laywoman of Caesarea · Keeper of Symmachus’ books · Caesarea in Cappadocia → Caesarea Maritima
The Ante-Nicene Church
Who Juliana was
A woman who inherited the books of Symmachus the translator and handed them on to Origen — a named link in the transmission chain of one of the great versions of the Old Testament. Palladius tells the story again two centuries later with more detail, saying she sheltered Origen in her house during a persecution, which makes her a rare figure attested independently by two sources.
Also listed in women and roman emperors.
Common questions
When was Juliana active?
Juliana is dated fl. c. AD 215 (death unrecorded) in the archive, which places Juliana in the Ante-Nicene Church (AD 180–313). The dating is traditional and approximate; the archive marks it as uncertain rather than fixing a year the sources do not give.
Which early sources mention Juliana?
Juliana is named in 2 primary-source passages catalogued here, drawn from Eusebius of Caesarea and Palladius of Galatia. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Juliana from?
The archive associates Juliana with Caesarea in Cappadocia, Caesarea Maritima. The sources record more than one location, so the places are listed in the order the record moves through them.
Who were Juliana’s contemporaries?
The archive links Juliana to 2 other figures, including Origen of Alexandria and Symmachus the Translator. Each connection is drawn from a source that places them together, not from inference.
Primary-source mentions (2)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Ecclesiastical History VI.17
c. AD 325[Origen says he received the books of Symmachus from Juliana, who had inherited them from Symmachus himself.]Eusebius of Caesarea · Ecclesiastical History VI.17 · source text
The Lausiac History 64 (Juliana shelters Origen at Caesarea)
c. AD 420[Palladius reports having found a note in an old book in Juliana’s hand, recording that she hid Origen in her house for two years.]Palladius of Galatia · Lausiac History 64 · source text
Connected in the archive
People
Events in this lifetime
- AD 156 · The New Prophecy erupts, AD 156
- AD 177 · Persecution at Lyon and Vienne, AD 177
- AD 180 · The Scillitan martyrs, AD 180
- AD 190 · The Quartodeciman controversy, AD 190
- AD 202 · Perpetua and Felicity martyred, AD 202
Place
Places served
The 2 places the sources put Juliana, in the order the record moves through them. This is what the sources attest, not a reconstructed route.