Juliana was the wife of the Prince of Vyazma, Simeon Mstislavich. After the conquest of Smolensk by Lithuania, they shared exile from their homeland along with the Smolensk prince Yuri Svyatoslavich. Grand Prince Vasily of Moscow granted them the city of Torzhok as a fief. Here, Prince Yuri, enticed by Juliana's beauty, attempted to seduce her into adultery, but all his efforts were in vain. During a feast, Yuri killed Juliana's husband, hoping to forcibly possess her. Juliana, defending herself, struck him with a knife. Enraged, Yuri chased her with a sword, severing her hands and feet, and ordered her body to be thrown into the Tvertsa River. This occurred in 1406.
Yuri, tormented by guilt, came to the Venev Uspensky Monastery, where he spent the rest of his life in repentance. He died in 1408 and became a locally venerated saint.
In the spring of 1407, a sick peasant saw the body of the murdered princess floating down the Tvertsa River and heard a voice commanding him to gather the clergy for the burial of the body. At the moment of the burial, many sick people were miraculously healed. Since then, people have come to the princess's grave in faith for blessed help.
In 1598, a deacon, after forty days of prayer, decided to secretly open her grave, but fire burst from the tomb and burned his face. A voice said to him: “It is not right to see my body until it is God's will!” Two months later, the deacon was healed of his burn after praying at the martyr's tomb.
In 1815, while dismantling the old Transfiguration Cathedral, part of the tomb became visible. The sick who touched it received healings. On June 2, 1819, a chapel in honor of the holy princess was established in the cathedral. The precious reliquary with her relics remained in the new Transfiguration Cathedral. In 1918, the cathedral was closed, and the fate of the relics remains unknown.
Saint Juliana is the guardian and protector of chastity. She helps all who live a monastic life in the world. Preserving the sanctity of marriage is one of the greatest feats of man, and dark forces seek to destroy every marriage in which the spouses strive to restore unity.
