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The Orthodox icon of St. Tatiana the Great Martyr has been considered miraculous since ancient times. It depicts a young girl. In her right hand she holds a cross, from which you can guess that the girl was a martyr. As you know, the girl became the first woman who could participate in worship. Before her, only male priests could be ordained deaconesses. And since this rank offers spiritual enlightenment, Orthodox people consider the saint the patroness of education and science.
Life and feat of Saint Tatiana
Tatiana came from a noble Roman family, where they revered Christ and raised the girl in fidelity to Christ's faith and piety.
Tatiana decided to devote her entire life to Christ and took a vow of chastity. Her kindness knew no bounds: she helped the orphaned and needy with food, clothing and prayer, treated the sick, and during her righteous life she became the first deaconess in the history of Christianity (before that, only men could be deacons). During the time of Emperor Alexander Severus (ruled from 222 to 235), new persecution of Christians began. Tatiana never hid her faith, she was widely known, so it is not surprising that she was one of the first to be captured and tried to force her to bow before the statue of Apollo in his temple. However, the prayer offered by Tatiana to the True Lord caused an earthquake, during which part of the temple collapsed, and the statue itself was overthrown and broken.
Then Tatiana was doomed to torture, during which she continued to pray and remained steadfast. When, during the torture, four angels flew to her and a voice was heard from heaven encouraging Tatiana, her executioners were shocked by the miracles shown and immediately believed in Christ, for which they themselves were executed.
The life of Saint Tatiana describes many episodes of her martyrdom. So, when she was thrown to be devoured by a lion, the saint pacified him!
The judges decided that this happened thanks to sorcery using hair, cut off Tatiana's beautiful long hair and, bringing her to the temple of Zeus, locked her there. When three days later the priests came to the temple for sacrifice, the statue of Zeus was broken, but Tatiana was unharmed.
Seeing that the torture led nowhere, the judges sentenced the saint and her father to death, and on January 12, 226, their heads were cut off.
Tatyana's Day. “Tell me: which Tatyana?..”
Tatiana, Tanya, Tanyusha
We consider the name Tatyana to be ours, originally Russian. They say it came to us from Greece or Rome and there are two versions of its interpretation. According to one of them, Greek, Tatyana means “organizer”, “founder”, and this is more likely. According to the Roman version, Tatiana means “belonging to Tatius.” Tatius Titus, according to legend, was the king of the people living on the territory of Rome. Science history knows little about this king, except for individual pages from the writings of Plutarch. In any case, the name Tatyana sounds so Russian, is so deeply embedded in Russian history and culture, that its distant Mediterranean origin seems to be a coincidence.
They also say that all Tatianas are characterized by a strong spirit, strong-willed character, and vital activity. They are not afraid of difficulties and resolutely overcome failures...
There is hardly any need to look for the hidden meaning of a name - by name we cannot say anything in advance about a person, we cannot guess his character and inclinations, and we cannot determine the future. The name will not allow you to discover your own destiny and control the destiny of your child. The life of a Christian is in God's hands, and no other entities control us. However, people named Tatyana have a common heavenly patron. And the patron remains with them in constant prayerful communication. Remembrance Day of the heavenly patron is the name day of those who are named in his honor. A more accurate designation for name day is Angel Day. For most Tatianas, it falls on January 25, the day of remembrance of Saint Tatiana of Rome (unless, of course, the name is given in honor of the Russian new martyrs Tatiana[2]).
And about those who are under the patronage of one of the greatest Christian saints - the martyr Tatiana of Rome - we can confidently say that they are protected from manifestations of prolonged melancholy, lack of will and helplessness thanks to her constant angelic protection.
The meaning of the icon “St. Tatiana”
The icon of St. Tatiana is especially revered in Russia, and this is no coincidence: Tatiana’s Day, which falls on January 25 according to the new style, is celebrated in our country as Students’ Day, since it was on this day that Empress Elizabeth signed a decree establishing Moscow University. Thus, the icon of St. Tatiana is of particular importance for MSU students.
Each newborn named by this name should receive a personal icon of Tatyana, which will protect and preserve her, and later, when the girl grows up, her parents will definitely need to tell her the story of the saint.
Tatyana - patroness of youth
And even if you are not Tatyana three times, But on this day, pour and drink: And for the students, and for the mother, And for the colleagues, and for the friends! And even if you were Capitolina, still celebrate Tatiana’s day! Students - even at 90, who have shed their senile laziness! Petro Melnik[1]
We are all used to making wishes on New Year's Eve and hoping for a miracle. But we can’t imagine who can give us a miracle of fulfillment of desires: life, fate, a happy coincidence...
But there is one more day in January when our wishes will definitely be heard in heaven. And for their fulfillment there are only two conditions: to believe in Saint Tatiana, the patroness of the young, and never grow old in soul!
January 25 is St. Tatiana's Day, Tatiana's Day. We know little about this holiday: winter, girlfriends’ name day, flowers, candy, students, vacations... It’s fun, chaotic, but if you think about it, it’s not entirely clear why this particular day has long been celebrated by students in Russia. This is not New Year, not Valentine's Day, or even September 1st!
And the whole point is that the founding day of the Imperial Moscow University was precisely Tatiana’s day. The students celebrated St. Tatiana's name day as if it were their own - widely, cheerfully, wildly. They composed hymns for their Tatyana, they prayed only to her before exams, and they took their faith in her patronage out of the university walls along with their diploma. Nothing happens by chance in the Christian world! The saint, who was destined to become the patroness of youth, fell in love with her noisy and restless people. And hears the prayers of everyone who managed to love her!
Courageous, beautiful and very young, Saint Tatiana became the patroness of ebullient youth and strength, love and happy hope, daring and noble aspirations! If you forget Tatyana, you will be disappointed. If you remain faithful to your Tatiana, you will begin to pray to her on weekdays, no matter where you are - good luck will be with you. And on Tatiana’s day the saint herself will call all the initiates under her wing! This day has always begun with prayer for many generations of Russian students: young people turn - Saint Tatiana hears!
O holy martyr Tatiano, now accept us who pray and fall before your holy icon. Pray for us, servants of God (names), that we may be delivered from all sorrows and illnesses of the soul and body, and may live piously in this present life, and in the next century grant us, with all the saints, to worship in the Trinity the glorious God, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and ever. Amen.
The tradition of celebrating Tatiana's Day could not be abolished even after the revolution - they wanted to forget about Saint Tatiana, but January 25th came, and something in our hearts told us: today seems to be a big holiday? But doubts are already a thing of the past!
Flip through the pages of this book, and you will see in how many cities university churches in honor of St. Tatiana are now open and are still being built. And this means that January 25th becomes a conciliar day, uniting everyone who is young and does not intend to grow old!
Tatyana's Day
You are energetic, ambitious, you have an abyss of ideas and plans - Tatiana’s day is for you!
You are a romantic who dreams of love and coral islands - this is your saint's day!
You are a resilient adventurer, always ready for risks, adventures, long journeys, searches and discoveries, fantastic plans and dizzying victories - the path to your success begins on Tatiana’s day! We just need to celebrate it together - with friends, like-minded people, loyal subjects of Saint Tatiana.
It doesn’t matter how old you are - twenty or thirty... If you believe your saint, the world is at your feet! And if you just want it, everything will turn out better than in a fairy tale: in a fairy tale there is always a happy ending, but in life and in fate nothing ever ends.
But how to celebrate Tatiana’s day - we need to learn this from students.
There is no more cheerful, reckless, democratic and at the same time active people than students.
And it's not just about physical youth. If you turn out to be a mature and sedate husband for one single day in the classroom on a student bench, he will turn into a real student - the walls will help!
The walls have been absorbing the student spirit for decades and returning it to every convert - a school student, an academician, a person on the rise of his career, or the gray-moustached grandfather of a current student. And to become young and energetic on Tatiana’s day, you don’t even need walls.
The spirit of joy and carelessness pours out of the air, as if there were no years gone by and just yesterday they had fun, argued, got excited, made peace, sang the student “Tatyana” in chorus and partied until the morning with their classmates...
The tradition of celebrating young freedom remains unchanged: there are no former students on this holiday! And the more joyful the evening (and night!) of Tatyana’s day, the more successful the new academic semester and the whole year of life will be.
You can forget previous failures, failures, any unfavorable circumstances - Tatyana will fix everything. But if Tatyana’s day is gone, take an academic leave! And this truth must be remembered.
The name Tatiana means “organizer.” The name determined the purpose of the holy virgin. With her ardent participation, every destiny was miraculously arranged: for the sick there was a doctor and the necessary medicine, for the homeless - shelter, for the hungry and beggar - clothes and food.
Nothing has changed since the holy virgin’s earthly life: believe in her help and turn to her - everyday needs will be sorted out, school will be more fun, work will go well, and your undertakings, serious projects or the most daring and semi-fantastic plans will receive support.
The main thing is that these plans are good, pure, and sublime.
So that enthusiasm and youthful energy can bring a spring thaw on Tatyana’s day in January!
What do they pray to the holy martyr Tatiana?
When we need to show strength of spirit, a strong will, but human weakness gets in the way, the holy martyr strengthens us on the path of life.
When the success of a business depends not only on our diligence, but also on luck, on a happy coincidence of circumstances, Saint Tatiana takes us under her protection.
When there is a desire to learn, but learning is difficult, Saint Tatiana shows the way and instills confidence in one’s own abilities.
How does the icon of St. help? Tatiana
St. Tatiana was engaged not only in charitable deeds, but also in spiritual enlightenment, which is why she is revered as the patroness of education, sciences and all those who comprehend them. Prayer in front of the holy icon helps in studying and successfully passing exams, but only for those who believe in God and are not lazy to study.
At Moscow State University. Lomonosov there is a church of St. Tatiana, where it is always crowded during the session. She helps not only students, but also schoolchildren, especially applicants.
Holiday January 25th.
Every morning everyone was amazed that Tatyana was completely safe and sound after the torture
The saint was again thrown into prison, where at night she prayed to God. The next day, they brought her back again and everyone was amazed that she was again wearing nothing. On this day, the saint destroyed the temple of one of the pagan goddesses, and again suffered terrible torment.
The next morning, the martyr was taken to the circus and thrown among the lions. People were often released into the arena for the amusement of the ruler and spectators. Everyone was looking forward to the show. This time the daughter of one of the noblest Romans was thrown onto the stage, this further aroused the desire and curiosity of those present.
But to the surprise of everyone, the lion did not touch the saint, but began to lick her feet. People from the crowd began to shout that this lion was somehow kind, that most likely he was tame. One man from the crowd climbed into the arena, and immediately the lion pounced on him and tore him to pieces.
One day the martyr Tatiana was brought to the circus and thrown to the lions, but to the surprise of everyone, the lions did not touch the saint, but began to lick her feet
Then the angry ruler ordered the girl’s body to be thrown into the fire, but he, too, could not harm the saint. The fire did not even touch the beautiful hair that covered the girl’s nakedness.
The angry ruler ordered Tatiana's body to be thrown into the fire, but he was unable to harm the saint.
Then everyone began to come to the conclusion that all of Tatyana’s strength was only in her hair. Then they brought the girl to the temple of Zeus and cut off her hair. When the next day people came to the temple, they saw that the idol of Zeus had shattered into small pieces, and the girl was praying. Then the ruler ordered her head to be cut off.
The holy martyr Tatiana was beheaded along with her father, who also declared himself a Christian. Seeing how his daughter was being tortured, he decided to accept the suffering with her. This is how Tatyana’s earthly life ended in 225, as Dmitry Rostovsky tells about her life.
Prayer
Oh, holy martyr Tatiano, bride of Your Sweetest Bridegroom Christ! To the Lamb of the Divine Lamb! The dove of chastity, the fragrant body of suffering, like a royal garment, covered with the face of heaven, now rejoicing in eternal glory, from the days of her youth a servant of the Church of God, observing chastity and loving the Lord above all the blessings! We pray to you and we ask you: heed the petitions of our hearts and do not reject our prayers, grant purity of body and soul, inhale love for Divine truths, lead us onto a virtuous path, ask God for angelic protection for us, heal our wounds and ulcers, youth protect us, grant us a painless and comfortable old age, help us in the hour of death, remember our sorrows and grant us joy, visit us who are in the prison of sin, instruct us in repentance quickly, kindle the flame of prayer, do not leave us orphans, let your suffering be glorifying, we send praise to the Lord, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
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How to pray when sick?
Prayer to the Great Martyr Tatiana often brings relief and helps to recover even for those who suffer from the most severe diseases, considered incurable.
You should ask for the gift of recovery with deep faith in your heart and without resentment, anger or other negative emotions hidden in your soul.
Example text:
“Tatiana, the bright martyr of Christ, delivered by the Lord from bodily suffering! I fall to you with sincere prayer and hope in my heart. Help me endure terrible torment, grant healing, do not let me fall into despair and fall into sin. Deliver my body from illness, fill my heart with joy and my soul with peace. Strengthen my faith and grant me strength, both physical and mental. Amen"
The prayer to the Great Martyr Tatiana can be offered on any day; there are no restrictions or special requirements.
