The icon of Saint (St) Luke
The Holy great Martyr Tatiana lived in Rome about 200 BC her Father was a distinguished nobleman and a secret Christian. He often attended secret Church services and took my daughter with me, thus from the very infancy in instilling the love for Christ. A young maiden listened to these secrets and were willing to give themselves to the service of God. Secretly she prayed, asking the Lord to make it Holy. Christ heard her prayers. The Tatiana has devoted a Deaconess (Church of San women) and her duty was to turn to the faith of the lost women, help the sick, widows, orphans.
Rome, in those days, was a pagan Empire. The city was filled with pagan temples and laws, calling for any reason to bring an offering to the gods. True Christians were forced to hide, hide their faith in order not to die. At the same time, in Rome there is a new wave of persecution of Christians. Look for them around town, put in prison, forced to sacrifice to the gods. Among the captives of the Christians turns out to be Tatiana.
Roman soldiers were required to sacrifice to the God Apollo, but she refused and instead began to pray fervently to God. And at this point, the statue of the God fell with a squeal and broke into small pieces. True Christians have seen in these laments-the evil, lying spirits, some saw the fleeing shadow in the water. After that, the torturers led Tatian to another place, where began to torment her with iron rods with hooks. Holy not prayed for help, for pardon, she listened to God, asking for pardon of her tormentors that they have seen the true Lord. Prayer of the Martyr was heard. The torturers lit up with heavenly light in front of them stood four angels, which were protecting the Holy from the cruel blows. The torturers immediately prostrated themselves in front of Tatiana, asking for her forgiveness, and began to openly confess Christ. For this they were put to death with the sword, thus having accepted Holy Baptism with the blood of martyrs.
The next day the Emperor decided to try the Tatiana. When she was ordered to bring from the dungeon, everyone around was amazed. It was not a single trace of yesterday's torture, her face shone with great beauty and she still praised the Lord. After another refusal to sacrifice to the gods, the Roman Governor ordered the virgin Stripping and cutting her body with sharp razors. But God did not forsake the Holy, her nakedness was covered with long hair, and instead of blood from the wounds flowed the milk. Then the Martyr stretched on the ground and began to beat them with rods. But the Martyr only glorified Christ. The torturers changed for each other. The Lord smote them. The body of the virgin was making a wondrous fragrance, and nine of the torturers said that someone hit them with sticks-with each blow to the body of the Saint and died. Night Tatina was locked up in prison, where they prayed passionately to God.
The next morning, she was brought to the Emperor. On the body of the Martyr was not a single wound. Then the Governor ordered to take Tatiana to the arena with the lion. But the animal would dare to touch the Holy body, but only gently licked her feet. The audience demanded another lion and one of his subordinates rushed to drive the animal back in the cage, but a lion devoured it. Then the Martyr was subjected to torture in the fire, but the fire never touched her.
The Emperor decided that all the magic is in the hair of a virgin, and told me to shave it and lock in the temple of Zeus.
The following day, the torturers saw the broken statue of Zeus and the beautiful Tatiana, praising God. Then the Emperor gave orders to behead the Martyr. Unable to bear the suffering daughter Tatiana could not more secretly to hide their religion, and was killed along with her.
The Holy great Martyr is the patroness of all women and girls, bearing her name. 12 January (25 December on the new calendar)
According to the Decree of Empress Elizabeth in 1755 from this day became the Day of Foundation of Moscow University. Since then the Martyr Tatiana is considered the patroness of students.
