Description

Commemorated on February 1

The Martyr Tryphon was born in the village of Lampsacus in Phrygia, Asia Minor. From a young age, he was granted the divine power to perform miracles, including healing illnesses, casting out evil spirits, and saving his hometown from famine by turning back a plague of locusts. He gained widespread fame throughout the empire after expelling a demon from the daughter of Emperor Gordian. Throughout his early life and ministry, Tryphon selflessly aided anyone in distress, asking for nothing in return except that those he helped put their faith in Jesus Christ.

During the reign of Emperor Decius, who initiated a fierce persecution against Christians, Tryphon was reported to the authorities for boldly preaching the Gospel and bringing many to Baptism. Arrested and brought before the commander Aquilinus, he fearlessly confessed his faith. He endured horrific tortures—including beatings, iron hooks, fire, and having iron nails driven into his feet—without complaint. Condemned to beheading in Nicea around the year 250, Tryphon offered a final prayer thanking God and requesting blessings for future believers who would invoke his name. He gave up his soul moments before the sword struck. Though local Christians intended to bury him in Nicea, a vision from Tryphon directed them to return his body to Lampsacus; his relics were later translated to Constantinople and Rome.

In the Russian Orthodox tradition, Saint Tryphon is revered as a heavenly protector of Moscow and the patron saint of birds. This veneration stems from a miracle during the reign of Tsar Ivan the Terrible, when a falconer named Tryphon Patrikeiev faced execution after losing the Tsar’s favorite falcon. After three days of searching, the exhausted falconer prayed to Saint Tryphon and fell asleep, receiving a dream of a youth on a white horse holding the missing bird. Upon waking, Patrikeiev found the falcon nearby, returned it to the Tsar, and built a chapel and church on the site of the apparition. To this day, Russian icons frequently depict Saint Tryphon holding a falcon on his arm.

About Our Icons (Print and Mounted):

Theophany Works Icons are handcrafted Orthodox Christian icon reproductions made in the United States with prayer and a desire for excellence. Each of our icons are printed on museum-quality matte canvas, providing a rich print with saturated coloration that lends to a beautiful handwritten-icon appearance.

All Theophany Works Icons are mounted on beveled wooden boards and finished with a high-quality UV protection sealant. This offers a subtle authentic-feeling texture while also enhancing durability, allowing for cleaning with a damp cloth. Additionally, each icon is given a maple-shelled keyhole slot on its back for easy and balanced hanging.

Our beautiful icon reproductions are lovingly made in our Lancaster, Pennsylvania studio. We pray they are a blessing to all who receive them, and we believe they will be a beloved addition to any home or parish—each at a fraction of the cost of a hand-painted icon.

***Our Beloved Brothers & Sisters in Christ: Please allow 3 weeks for production as each icon is made to order. If an icon is needed sooner for a baptism, chrismation, wedding, or name day, please contact us—we will always do our very best to accommodate your request.

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