Description

Feast Day/Commemorated: January 12

Born into a prominent Roman family whose father served three times as consul, Saint Tatiana was secretly raised in the Christian faith. Upon reaching adulthood, she chose to forego earthly riches, betrothed herself to Christ as a virgin, and served as a deaconess dedicated to prayer, fasting, and aiding the sick. Her quiet life of service ended when the regent Ulpian launched a ruthless persecution of Christians under the reign of the young Emperor Alexander Severus, leading to Tatiana's arrest and forced dynamic to offer sacrifice at the temple of Apollo.

Instead of submitting, Tatiana prayed, triggering a severe earthquake that shattered the pagan idol, collapsed part of the temple onto the priests, and drove out the occupying demon. In retaliation, her captors tore out her eyes with hooks, yet she prayed for their enlightenment. God answered by sending four angels to shield her and strike down her torturers; witnessing this divine intervention, eight executioners repented, embraced Christ, and were martyred on the spot.

The following day, Tatiana miraculously appeared before the court completely healed, prompting the judge to order her body slashed with razors and beaten repeatedly. Once again, angels deflected the blows onto the guards, killing nine of them. When brought to the temple of Diana the next morning under the guise of offering sacrifice, Tatiana made the Sign of the Cross, summoning a bolt of lightning that destroyed the idol, the sacrifices, and the pagan priests.

Despite subsequent brutal torture—including being scraped with iron claws, thrown to a hungry lion that meekly licked her feet, and cast into a fire—she remained uninjured. The pagans then shaved her head believing her power stemmed from sorcery and locked her in the temple of Zeus, only to find the idol destroyed three days later. Convinced she would not yield, the judge ultimately condemned Tatiana to be beheaded, executing her alongside her father who had raised her in the faith.

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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