Julian of Cuenca
Encyclopedia
Saint Julian of Cuenca (1127 – January 28, 1208) was the second bishop of Cuenca, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...

, and was also a professor, hermit, priest, and preacher.

Biography

Born in Burgos
Burgos
Burgos is a city of northern Spain, historic capital of Castile. It is situated at the edge of the central plateau, with about 178,966 inhabitants in the city proper and another 20,000 in its suburbs. It is the capital of the province of Burgos, in the autonomous community of Castile and León...

, he studied at the cathedral school there and then studied at the university at Palencia
University of Palencia
The University of Palencia was founded by Alfonso VIII at the request of Bishop Tello Téllez de Meneses and was the first university of Spain. It was the model upon which was patterned the University of Salamanca....

, earning his doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...

 there. He was appointed professor of philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...

 and theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...

 there in 1153.

During his time in Palencia
Palencia
Palencia is a city south of Tierra de Campos, in north-northwest Spain, the capital of the province of Palencia in the autonomous community of Castile-Leon...

, Julian worked as a basket-maker and maker of other trade goods in order to earn extra money for the poor of the city, as well to support himself.

In 1163, at the age of 35, he left Palencia to live a life of solitude in a modest house outside of Burgos, located on the banks of the Arlanzón
Arlanzón
Arlanzón is a municipality located in the province of Burgos, Castile and León, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 411 inhabitants....

. He was ordained
Ordination
In general religious use, ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart as clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. The process and ceremonies of ordination itself varies by religion and denomination. One who is in preparation for, or who is...

 (in 1166) and received minor orders
Minor orders
The minor orders are the lowest ranks in the Christian clergy. The most recognized minor orders are porter, lector, exorcist, and acolyte. In the Latin rite Catholic Church, the minor orders were in most cases replaced by "instituted" ministries of lector and acolyte, though communities that use...

, and together with a young companion, Lesmes, lived a life of mortification
Mortification
Mortification can refer to:*Mortification , theological doctrine*Mortification of the flesh, religious practice of corporal mortification...

 and contemplation
Contemplation
The word contemplation comes from the Latin word contemplatio. Its root is also that of the Latin word templum, a piece of ground consecrated for the taking of auspices, or a building for worship, derived either from Proto-Indo-European base *tem- "to cut", and so a "place reserved or cut out" or...

.

Subsequently, he and Lesmes took to the road as itinerant preachers, reaching Córdoba
Córdoba, Spain
-History:The first trace of human presence in the area are remains of a Neanderthal Man, dating to c. 32,000 BC. In the 8th century BC, during the ancient Tartessos period, a pre-urban settlement existed. The population gradually learned copper and silver metallurgy...

 and Toledo
Toledo, Spain
Toledo's Alcázar became renowned in the 19th and 20th centuries as a military academy. At the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936 its garrison was famously besieged by Republican forces.-Economy:...

 (in 1191). The archbishop of Toledo, Martín II López de Pisuerga, appointed Julian as archdeacon
Archdeacon
An archdeacon is a senior clergy position in Anglicanism, Syrian Malabar Nasrani, Chaldean Catholic, and some other Christian denominations, above that of most clergy and below a bishop. In the High Middle Ages it was the most senior diocesan position below a bishop in the Roman Catholic Church...

 at Toledo. Along with his administrative duties, Julian continued preaching as well as making baskets in order to raise money for the poor. Julian served for 5 years as archdeacon at Toledo.

Juan Yáñez, the first bishop of Cuenca
Cuenca, Spain
-History:When the Iberian peninsula was part of the Roman Empire there were several important settlements in the province, such as Segóbriga, Ercávica and Gran Valeria...

, died on December 14, 1195; Julian was chosen by Alfonso VIII of Castile
Alfonso VIII of Castile
Alfonso VIII , called the Noble or el de las Navas, was the King of Castile from 1158 to his death and King of Toledo. He is most remembered for his part in the Reconquista and the downfall of the Almohad Caliphate...

 to succeed Yáñez in June 1196. The diocese of Cuenca had been established in 1183 after the city of Cuenca had been conquered from the Moors by Alfonso VIII on September 21, 1177.

As bishop, Julian continued his preaching, reformed the practices of the local clergy, and did charity work for the Christians, Jews
Jews
The Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation...

, and Muslims of his city. On a yearly basis, he would retire to the country to live a life of solitude and contemplation, and continued his habit of making baskets.

A legend associated with Julian is that Jesus Christ appeared to him in the guise of a beggar in order to thank him.

Julian died on January 28, 1208.

Veneration

He is co-patron of the Cathedral of Cuenca along with the Virgin Mary. Julian was canonized by Pope Clement VIII
Pope Clement VIII
Pope Clement VIII , born Ippolito Aldobrandini, was Pope from 30 January 1592 to 3 March 1605.-Cardinal:...

 on October 18, 1594. Julian’s relics were placed in a casket underneath the altar dedicated to him in the cathedral of Cuenca. The relics were authenticated by Bishop Inocencio Rodríguez Díez, who was bishop from 1943 to 1973.

External links

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