Description

Feast Day/Commemorated: July 18

The life of Saint Elizabeth Feodorovna began in the highest echelons of Russian nobility as the sister of Tsarina Alexandra and wife of Grand Duke Sergius. After converting to Orthodoxy by her own choice, she rejected the passive role of a socialite and instead mobilized women from all social classes to support soldiers and the infirm. Her profound spiritual strength was first tested in 1905 when her husband was assassinated; in an extraordinary display of Christian forgiveness, she visited his killer in prison to plead for his repentance.

Following her husband's death, Elizabeth withdrew from the imperial court to establish the Convent of Saints Martha and Mary. This community was unique in its dual focus on rigorous liturgical worship and active social service to the poor. Moving from a palace to a modest building on Ordinka, she attracted women from both the nobility and the common peasantry to join her mission. As a nurse, she served directly on the front lines and in hospitals, embodying a life of asceticism and radical charity.

The Bolshevik Revolution brought an abrupt and violent end to her ministry. On Pascha in 1918, she was arrested by Communist forces and exiled toward the Ural Mountains, accompanied by her faithful companion, Sister Barbara. Although she was initially kept near the Tsar’s family in Ekaterinburg, she was eventually moved to a schoolhouse in Alopaevsk along with other members of the Romanov family. Despite being under constant guard, she maintained her devotion, spending her final days in prayer and tending to a small garden.

On the night of July 5, 1918, Saint Elizabeth and her fellow captives were taken to a remote mineshaft and executed. While some were shot, Elizabeth and others were thrown alive into the pit, followed by grenades. Witnesses reported hearing the Saint singing hymns from the depths of the shaft for hours before she finally succumbed to her injuries. In 1920, the remains of Saint Elizabeth and Sister Barbara were recovered and transported to Jerusalem, where they were interred in the Church of Saint Mary Magdalene.

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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