Skip to main content
Icon "Saint Reverend Theodore and Saint Martyr Tatiana"

Icon "Saint Reverend Theodore and Saint Martyr Tatiana"

Inv. #
Ж-1312
Category
Icons
Dimensions
22 × 17 × 2 cm
Materials
Techniques

Description

The icon shows full-length, frontal images of Saint Theodore (left) and Saint Martyr Tatiana (right), turned very slightly toward one another. Saint Theodore wears a dark-brown riassa and an epitrachelion, his left hand pressed to his chest, a cross in his right. Around his head is a round halo of radiance, above which is the Church Slavonic inscription: "Saint Theodore."

Saint Martyr Tatiana wears a light-brown tunic and a red himation, her hands crossed and pressed to her chest. In her left hand she holds a palm branch. Around her head is a round halo, above which is the Church Slavonic inscription: "Saint Martyr Tatiana."

Theodore and Tatiana stand on a hill, with a monastery and a town depicted behind them. On the reverse, the panel is reinforced with two inset horizontal battens.

Legend: Saint Martyr Tatiana was born in Rome in the 3rd century, into the family of a consul who secretly professed Christianity. She renounced secular life, became a deaconess, and helped the sick and suffering. During the persecution of Christians she was seized and made to bow before pagan gods. Tatiana's prayers caused pagan shrines to crumble, but she herself was tortured, suffering no harm from it. The saint was beheaded by the sword.

Saint Tatiana is traditionally regarded as the patroness of students and young people. The faithful turn to her in prayer for success in their studies, wisdom, and help during examinations.