Lucia of Syracuse: Saint Lucia, Lucia, Lucia

Lucia of Syracuse is revered by all Christian denominations

The saint lived in the 3rd–4th centuries and knew nothing about Catholics, Orthodox and Protestants.

The era of Christ was already as far from it as A.S. is from us. Pushkin, and a new wave of persecution of Christians began around the year of the death of Lucia of Syracuse.

It is wrong to idealize these times. All Christians in all ages have had shortcomings, even the apostles denied Jesus. So the Church of that time also had problems, disagreements, and fierce disputes.

Saint Lucia in a 15th-century painting holds the eyes that she tore out to stop being attractive to men.

But still the Church was formally united.

Like most saints of those years, Lucia of Syracuse began to be revered in both Catholicism and Orthodoxy.

Only with us she is Saint Lucia (options: Saint Lucia, Lucia of Syracuse, etc.), and with them she is Saint Lucia (Santa Lucia).

Saint Lucia's feast day is December 13th.


	The Suffering of the Holy Martyr Lucia

When the glory of the holy martyr Agathia 1 spread throughout Sicily 2 and the inhabitants of Syracuse 3 flocked to Catana 4 to venerate the holy tomb of the martyr, it happened to one maiden, named Lucia, of noble birth and respected by all Syracusans, to go to the holiday together with others and with by her mother Eutychia, who had been suffering from bleeding for four years and could not be healed by any medical remedy. During the church service at the tomb of the martyr, the Gospel was read, in which a bleeding woman is remembered who was healed by touching the hem of Christ’s robe). While reading the Gospel, Lukia said to her mother:

- If you believe, mother, what is being read: then believe also that Saint Agathia, who suffered for the name of Christ, was worthy to stand before Him for whose Name she suffered. So, touch her tomb with faith, and you will be healed.

When, at the end of the church service, the people dispersed, the mother and daughter fell before the tomb of the holy martyr and with tears began to beg her for help. They prayed for a long time, and finally Lukia fell asleep and in a dream saw the holy martyr Agathia among the Angels, decorated with precious stones. She said to Lucia:

- My sister Lucia, virgin of the Lord! Why are you asking from me what you can give yourself right now? Your faith brings help to your mother and she is already well. And just as the city of Catana is famous for me, so Syracuse will glory in you, for in your virginity you prepared a pleasing home for Christ.

Lukia immediately woke up, stood up in trepidation and said to her mother:

- Mother, mother! You are healed! I beg you in the name of that saint who healed you with her prayers: never again remind me of the groom (she was already engaged) and do not wish to see the mortal fruit from my sinful body; but everything that you have appointed to give me for marrying a mortal man, give me to go to the Immortal Bridegroom Christ the Lord, the Guardian of my virginity.

The mother answered her:

“By carefully guarding everything that was left of your father for nine years, I rather increased than decreased your inheritance; and what you have acquired yourself and can still acquire, all this is also at your disposal. But bury me first, and then do with all your property as you please.

“Listen, mother, to my advice,” Lukia told her: “Whoever gives Him what he cannot take with him or use for his own benefit is not particularly pleasing to God.” But if you want to do something that is truly pleasing to God, then give Him what you can use for yourself. When you die, you will no longer need anything earthly, and what you have to give then, you will no longer be able to take with you: therefore, while you are alive and well, give Christ your property and everything that you wanted to give me, start giving it to Him now.

So Lukia repeated to her mother every day, until the distribution of property and its daily use for the needs of poor people finally began. Lucia’s groom found out about the sale of estates, precious utensils and stones and, saddened by this, began to ask his bride’s nurse:

“What does it mean,” he asked, that I hear about the sudden sale of estates and jewelry?

The nurse, a sensible woman, answered:

“Your fiancee found out that one hereditary estate is for sale, at a price of up to 1000 gold coins or more, which she wants to buy for you, and therefore she is selling some things to raise so much money.

The groom believed her words and, thinking that it was a matter of a material purchase, did not object to anything and even himself persuaded the bride and her mother to sell the property. But as soon as he learned that everything had been distributed to the poor and wretched, widows and orphans, and spent on strangers and servants of God, he immediately went and reported to the mayor Paschasius about his bride that she was a Christian and, therefore, an opponent of the royal commands 5.

Paschasius summoned Lucia and first verbally convinced her to sacrifice to idols.

Blessed Lucia answered him:

- Living sacrifice and pure and undefiled piety before God and the Father mean looking after orphans and widows in their sorrows. Over the past three years, I have done nothing but make a sacrifice to the Living God. Now I have nothing to bring to Him and I offer Him myself, and let Him do with His sacrifice whatever pleases Him.

“You can tell these words,” Paschasius noted, to Christians like you, but to me, who oversees the execution of the royal laws, you are in vain talking about this.

“You follow the royal laws,” answered Lukia, “and I obey the laws of God; You are afraid of kings, but I am afraid of God; You don’t want to anger kings, but I am carefully guarded against angering God; You are trying to please kings, but I want to please the One Christ. So do what seems most useful to you, but I will do what I know will benefit me.

“You lived out your inheritance and squandered it together with your cohabitants,” said Paschasius, “and therefore you yourself speak like a harlot.”

“I placed my inheritance in a good place,” Lukia answered him, “and I never allowed myself to accept corrupters of soul and body.”

Paskhazy asked:

—Who do you call the molesters of soul and body?

Lukia replied:

- You are the corrupters of the soul, about whom the Apostle says: “bad associations corrupt good morals” (1 Cor. 15:33): you inspire adultery in the souls of people 6, so that they, leaving the Heavenly Bridegroom, that is, their Creator, follow the devil through serving powerless and soulless idols. And the corrupters of the body are those who prefer temporary pleasures to eternal bliss and place transitory pleasures above endless joys.

Paskhazy said:

“Your ranting will cease and fall silent when it comes to torture and wounds.”

Lukia replied:

- The words of God will never be silent.

- Are you really God? - Paskhazy objected.

“I am a servant of God,” said Luke, and therefore I spoke God’s words, just as He Himself said: “For it is not you who will speak, but the Spirit of your Father who will speak in you” (Matthew 10:20).

Paskhazy said:

“So is it really the Holy Spirit in you, and isn’t He speaking through you?”

Lukia replied:

- The Apostle says that those who lead a pure life are temples of God and the Spirit of God lives in them (1 Cor. 3:16).

Paskhazy said:

“So I will order you to be taken to an indecent house, so that the Spirit of God will depart from you when you are defiled.”

“Without the will of the Spirit, the body can never be desecrated,” answered Lukia: “even if you put incense on my hand and forcibly throw it with your hand onto the idol’s altar, then God will only laugh at you at the sight of this, for He condemns us for thoughts and arbitrary thoughts.” actions, and not for actions that others force us to do by force; and He only allows forcible deprivation of virginity, just as He allows temptation, robbery, and paganism. Therefore, if you order to abuse me, then this will only increase the reward for my purity.

“I will order you to be dishonored to death,” said Paschasius, “if you do not obey the royal command.”

Lukia replied:

“I have already told you that you will never bend my will to consent to sin; everything that you can do with my body - all this despises the servant of Christ.

Then Paschasius, that depraved and unrighteous judge, called to himself the owners of obscene houses and gave them the saint, saying:

- Call the people together and let them mock her until she dies.

When the saint was dragged to reproach, God gave her such weight that it was impossible to move her. Many people, by order of the tormentor, dragged her and tried to move her from her place; but all those who tried were exhausted and covered with sweat, but the Virgin of the Lord stood unshakable. They brought ropes and, entangling her with them on her arms and legs, again tried with all their might to pull her, but she remained motionless, like a mountain. Paskhazy was confused and did not know what to do. He called fortune-tellers, sorcerers and all the idol priests and ordered them to perform sorcery around Lucia in order to move her, but they achieved nothing: she stood as if nailed to the ground, and it was impossible to move her even one step. Many pairs of oxen were brought in to move her and drag her, but she still remained motionless.

Finally, Paskhazy asked her:

-What kind of magic are you doing?

“This is not my magic,” she said, “but the power of God’s grace.”

- What is the reason that you, a weak girl, cannot be moved by a thousand people?

“If you bring at least ten thousand people, then they too will feel that the Holy Spirit is telling me: “A thousand will fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand; but he will not come near you” (Ps. 91:6).

The pitiful judge was greatly tormented in his wicked soul. Confusion came over him.

“Why are you tormented,” the holy virgin asked him, “and why are you embarrassed?” After all, you have already experienced that I really am the temple of the Living God, and so believe in it. If you are not yet convinced, then continue.

Paschasius became even more indignant and embarrassed, seeing how the saint laughed at his tricks. He ordered to build a huge fire around her and pour tar, sulfur and boiling oil on her. But she, defending herself with the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, remained motionless and unharmed and said to the tormentor:

“I prayed to our Lord Jesus Christ so that this fire would not have power over me and so that those who hope in Christ would laugh at you; I asked for the continuation of my torment, so that believers could be saved from the fear of torment, and unbelievers could be deprived of the opportunity to mock Christianity.”

Then some of Paschasius’s close associates, wanting to get him out of his difficult and bewildered situation, ordered the saint to be struck in the larynx with a sword and then, together with Paschasius, retired home. However, the saint, no matter how severely wounded she was, did not lose strength and talked with the people, saying:

“I bring you good news that peace has been granted to the Church of God, for Diocletian renounced the kingdom, and Maximian has now died. And just as the city of Katana has as its intercessor before God my sister in God, Saint Agathia, so know about this city that I have been given to it by God for protection, if only you, fulfilling His will, will believe this.

When Lucia, with her throat pierced by a sword, spoke these words, suddenly Paschasius was shown before her eyes, chained in iron bonds. The fact is that the Sicilians, secretly from their ruler, sent a denunciation to Rome about how Paschasius mercilessly ravaged the country, robbing the inhabitants of their property through all kinds of violence. And now an order came from Rome for Paschasius to be brought there in chains for his trial: there, after interrogation, he was condemned to death and executed by beheading. When he was led past the saint in chains, she was still alive and, mortally wounded, stood, however, without being touched, and life did not leave her until the priests came and she received communion of the Most Pure and Life-Giving Mysteries of Christ - and only when everyone, at the end of communion, said: “Amen,” the holy martyr gave up her pure soul into the hands of the Lord 7. She was buried with honor at the place of torment and a church was erected over her relics in her name and for the glory of God, the One in the Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, to Him be glory forever. Amen.

1 The Holy Martyr Agathia died during the persecution of Decius in 251. In subsequent times, many miracles were performed from her relics. Her memory is celebrated by the Church on February 5.

2 Sicily is one of the large islands of the Mediterranean Sea off the southern coast of the Apennine Peninsula (Italy).

3 Syracuse is one of the first Greek colonies on the eastern shore of the island. Sicily, later the largest and richest city of the island.

4 Catana is an ancient city on the eastern coast of the island of Sicily; currently thriving with education and trade, a populous city with a population of more than 100 thousand.

5 That is, the decrees of the Roman emperors that all Roman citizens make sacrifices to the pagan gods.

6 By adultery in church language we mean not only the lawless union of a husband with another man’s wife, shameful actions contrary to the seventh commandment, evil thoughts, but sometimes (as here mainly) also ungodliness and idolatry.

7 The Holy Martyr Lucia suffered martyrdom in 304. Her relics from Syracuse were first transferred to Italy, then to Metz (formerly a significant French city in Lorraine; now a first-class fortress in German Lorraine); part of the relics that were in Constantinople was transferred to Venice.

Reprinted from www.ispovednik.ru

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Lucia visited the relics of Saint Agatha for the sake of her mother’s recovery and decided to serve the Church

Saint and martyr Lucia is a historical figure. The Church knows examples when some legendary characters were canonized, but in our case we can definitely say that a woman named Lucia really lived. The records show this.

She was born around 283 in Syracuse. The family lived in prosperity, the mother professed Christianity, but the father died early.

283

possibly the year of birth of Saint Lucia of Syracuse

In the future, the girl was expecting marriage - there was already a contender for her hand, a rich and handsome young man, a patrician.

But due to the serious illness of Lucia’s mother, there was no time for a wedding. It was much more important to help my mother. And she advised us to go to the relics of St. Agatha in Catania to pray there.

Saint Agatha, who appeared to Lucia and called her to the Christian path. Photo: divinum.ru

Saint Agatha herself had died several decades earlier, and had endured humiliating imprisonment in a brothel, prison, and the amputation of her breasts.

She appeared in Lucia’s dream and said that her mother would recover, and that the girl herself would become a saint.

So Lucia entered the path of faith and took a vow of celibacy.

1700th anniversary of the blessed death of the holy martyr Lucia of Syracuse

Holy Martyr Lucia of Syracuse

Saint Lucia was born around 286 in the city of Syracuse in Sicily.
It is not known whether her family was Christian, but, according to legend, while still a child, Lukia took a vow of chastity, but did not tell anyone about her decision. In her virgin purity, Lucia intended to devote her entire life to serving the Savior. After the death of her father (Lukia was already a young girl by that time), her mother decided to marry her to a handsome and noble young man, but from a pagan family. Lukia tried in every possible way to upset her mother’s plans, trying to delay the wedding. Moreover, she had a deep aversion to idolatry. She prayed to God to help her maintain her virginity. Meanwhile, Lukia’s mother became seriously ill: she developed severe bleeding that no doctor could stop. The illness dragged on for four long years. At this time, of course, there could be no talk of a wedding: the daughter’s presence in the house was simply necessary.

At this time, the city started talking about miraculous healings from the relics of the holy martyr Agathia, and Lucia persuaded her mother to make a pilgrimage to the city of Catania, located not far from Syracuse, to pray for healing. Soon mother and daughter arrived in Catania. During the solemn service, which was attended by pilgrims, a Gospel passage was read about the healing of a bleeding wife who suffered from the same illness as Lucia’s mother. The girl was deeply touched by this story. Shedding tears, Lucia prayed for a long time to Saint Agathia for the healing of her mother and finally fell asleep.

And then the holy martyr Agathia herself appeared to her in a dream, surrounded by angels. "My sister! – she turned to Lukia. “Why are you asking me for what you have?” Look, your faith healed your mother; she is healthy. And know also that with your virginity you built a magnificent temple for the Lord.” When Lukia woke up, she discovered that her mother was indeed healthy. And in this moment of joy and gratitude, Lucia revealed to her mother her intention to preserve her virginity as a sign of service to the Lord, adding that Saint Agathia also called her to this. Eutychia (that was the name of Lukia’s mother), thanking heaven for the healing, blessed her daughter for this feat. Returning to Syracuse, Lucia distributed her dowry to the poor.

The rector of the Russian Orthodox parish in Venice, priest Alexy Yastrebov, gives His Holiness Patriarch Alexy a piece of the robe of the holy martyr Lucia of Syracuse. August 14, 2003

The groom, however, upon learning of Lukia’s decision to remain a virgin, became terribly angry and hated the girl.
He turned to the city judge Paschasius, also a pagan, accusing Saint Luke of infidelity, wastefulness (he could not accept the fact that she gave away her wealth to the poor) and that she was a Christian. The last accusation during the reign of Emperor Diocletian, who brutally persecuted Christians, was especially dangerous. Paschasius immediately summoned Lucia to court and demanded that she renounce Christianity and make a sacrifice to the pagan gods. To which the saint replied: “I don’t know any other god except the Creator of heaven and earth. The proper sacrifice is made to him. I gave all my property to the poor, and now that I have nothing left, I offer myself as a sacrifice to the Lord.” Paschasius announced to Lucia that he was acting in accordance with the orders of the emperor. She replied: “You, being a city judge, carry out the orders of the emperor; I, being a Christian, keep God's law. You fear the emperor, I fear God. You seek the mercy of the emperor, but I seek the mercy of God. So act as you please; I will do what is good for me.”

These words infuriated Paschasius. He ordered that Saint Lucia be taken to the harlots. However, a miracle happened: the guards could not move the girl from her place. They even tried to drag her with the help of oxen, but all efforts were in vain. Unable to cope with the fragile girl, the pagans gnashed their teeth with rage and shame. And then Paschasius ordered to light a fire around Lukia and pour boiling oil on it. The flame, however, enveloped Lukia like a blanket, without causing her any harm. Standing in the middle of the fire, Lucia exclaimed: “Glory to our Lord, Jesus Christ!” Then the enraged Paschasius, having ordered Lucia's throat to be cut with a dagger, left, shocked by the miracle performed by the Christian God. Lukia, having received a fatal blow, remained alive until the priest gave her communion. Before her death, the saint consoled Christians, foreshadowing the imminent end of persecution by the pagans. Calling Christians to a virtuous life, to faith in Divine Providence, she plunged into prayer and soon departed to the Lord. This happened, according to legend, in 304.

The relics of the holy martyr rested in Constantinople, and in 1204, during the IV Crusade, they were transported to Venice, where they remain to this day in the Church of the Holy Prophet Jeremiah.

This year the Christian world celebrates 1700 years since the blessed death of the holy martyr Lucia of Syracuse. Celebrations in the Catholic Church were timed to coincide with this event. After the feast day of St. Luke, which falls on January 13 for Catholics. Art. The relics remained for ten days in Syracuse, the site of the feat of the holy martyr, where at that time believers from all over Sicily flocked.

Orthodox believers also resort to the intercession of the holy martyr and on the day of her memory they perform prayer services at her relics in the Church of St. Jeremiah, and also come to her relics for private prayer. This year, on the year of the 1700th anniversary of her martyrdom, the rector of the Venetian parish of the Holy Myrrh-Bearing Women of the Moscow Patriarchate, priest Alexy Yastrebov, performed a prayer service: Orthodox believers, at the end of the Divine Liturgy in the Church of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist, proceeded to the Church of St. Jeremiah, located nearby.

At the end of the prayer service, Father Alexy addressed the parishioners with a word in which he spoke about the life of the holy martyr, and emphasized that a firm confession of faith and selfless love for one’s neighbor is a guarantee, a necessary condition for the right path that leads us to salvation. The saint, according to Father Alexy, showed us an example of such fiery faith and such forgiveness. This must be remembered especially abroad, where Orthodox believers find themselves in a different environment, sometimes become objects of proselytism, and sometimes experience the hostile attitude of local residents. Confession is not a feat of the distant past; there is a place for it today, in our days. Not to be ashamed of our faith, to openly testify “to our hope,” and at the same time not to give up internal work on ourselves and community prayer - this is the path that an Orthodox Christian should follow today, and this is precisely what our small imitation of the holy martyr Luke will consist of.

The holy martyr has the special grace of healing from diseases of vision, helping to protect believers from physical and spiritual blindness.

Due to the fact that voting on the presidential elections in Ukraine took place on this day, Father Alexy read to the believers a message from His Beatitude Metropolitan of Kiev and All Ukraine Vladimir and the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to the people of Ukraine, after which the believers offered a prayer for fair elections, as well as about peace and tranquility in Ukraine.

Lucia called off the wedding, but the vengeful groom drove her to death

Why God Allows Suffering

It is unlikely that Lucia was particularly eager to get married. And now, especially, she had no intention of getting married.

Having received a refusal, the groom was offended and tried to cause a lot of torment to his would-be wife. And every time some miracles happened.

They tried to send Lucia to a brothel. She had to share the fate of Saint Agatha, but they could not move the girl from her place even when the efforts of oxen were used.
They tried to set Lucia on fire. She was accused of witchcraft, doused with oil and set on fire. But the fire did not cause any harm to the girl.
Her eyes were torn out. But this is already a separate legend, complementing the horrors of previous stories.

The saint's life ended around 304, when her throat was cut. According to one version, this was done by a vengeful groom.

Lucia of Syracuse in a 16th-century painting. Its two attributes are torn out eyes and a palm branch. Photo: upload.wikimedia.org

LUKIA

The manual for icon painters of 1910 noted that the saint should be depicted young, “Roman type,” in rich clothes - 2 tunics, long and short, with a belt. On the scroll in your hand should be placed the saying: “If you want to create something favorable to God, give Him something that you can use yourself, since when you die, you can use nothing” - or: “The sacrifice is alive, just as faith is pure and undefiled before God and the Father.” , this is the hedgehog to visit the orphans and widows in their sorrows” (Fartusov. Guide to the writing of icons. P. 103).

Lukia, mts. Syracuse. Mosaic c. Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna. 60s VI century Lukia, mts. Syracuse. Mosaic c. Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna. 60s VI century

In the most ancient images, L. is shown in rich clothes: a white dress, a gold-embroidered tunic, a crown on her collected hair, the edges are held in place by a white scarf descending onto her shoulders. Sitting on the mosaic walls of the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo in Ravenna (60s of the 6th century), she walks along with other martyrs following the Magi and carries the crowns of martyrdom, like gifts to Christ and the Mother of God. At the top, her image is signed: “SCA LUCIA.” According to K. Squarr, the figure of L. is placed on the fresco in the apse of Rome. c. San Sebastiano al Palatino (formerly dedicated to the church of Santa Maria in Pallara, 999), however, the images of the martyrs, in appearance and clothing reminiscent of the figures in the Ravenna mosaics, do not have signatures. To the Early Byzantine. samples go back to the image of L. on the fresco in the apse c. Sant'Elia in Castel Sant'Elia near Nepi (11th century): she, in an embroidered dress, with a white scarf on her head, offers a golden crown to the archbishop standing in the center. Mikhail. On the fresco in the crypt c. San Marciano (12th century, Syracuse) young L. is dressed in a dark dress and a white headdress, in her left hand is a cross.

To Byzantium. The image of a saint is rarely found in monuments. The scene of L.'s martyrdom was included in the Minology, written and decorated with miniatures for the emperor. Basil II in the K-field (1st quarter of the 11th century; Vat. gr. 1613. Fol. 242): the saint is depicted in the 1st plan in a scarlet dress, blood pours from the severed head and neck; the executioner stands between the rocks above her falling body, to his right is a tree and a city wall with an arch in the background, to his left is a fire. L. has short wavy hair and his eyes are closed; streams of blood, flowers on a bush, the color of L.’s dress and flames are combined in the blood-red color of the miniature.

Lukia, mts. Syracuse before the judge. Altar painting. 1523–1532 Artist L. Lotto (National State Gallery in Jesi)

Probably due to the absence of the relics of L. on the territory of Byzantium and the Orthodox Church. Of the East, her veneration in this part of Christ. world is less developed than in the West. Her name is missing from Erminia Hierom. Dionysius Furnoagrafiot (c. 1730-1733).

Images of L. and compositions of her hagiographic cycle were common in the Middle Ages. Western art Europe. L. is mentioned in minology (calendar signatures) of the 12th century. on the vaults in the chapel of St. Sylvester, Pope of Rome, in Rome. c. Santi Cuatro Coronati. The inscriptions were divided into 4 columns: in the 1st - the name of the month, in the 2nd - the week (from A to G), in the 3rd - the Roman date. calendar, in the 4th - names; the surviving caption to the image of L.: “XII D IDUS sce Lucie, virg. et. mart". The image of L., dating back to the most ancient mosaics of Ravenna, is preserved on the mosaic of the outer wall of the apse of Rome. Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, commissioned by Card. J. Columns in the 2nd half. XIII century The saint is in a row of martyred virgins, each holding a lit lamp, which brings their images closer to the images of the righteous (reasonable) virgins from the Gospel parable. The image of L., signed abbreviated as “SCA”, is similar to early Byzantine examples: the same rich clothes and crown. Byzantium is close. typology and style of images of the saint and a cycle of 12 scenes from the Life on the eastern wall in the cave church. (crypt) Santa Lucia in Melfi (1292). L. is depicted next to the Mother of God and Child, dressed in a green dress, brown maforium with embroidered borders, her right hand is raised in front of her chest in blessing, and in her left there is a cross. L. is often present on folding altars or altar paintings along with the Madonna and other saints, painted by the best Italians. masters: S. Martini, A. Vivarini, F. Lippi, L. Lotto, P. Veronese, G. B. Tiepolo.

In Western art, L. was depicted in clothes characteristic of the Middle Ages, with various attributes: with a palm branch - on the altar image with a portrait of a lady ktitor by J. del Casentino (1st half of the 14th century); with a palm branch and a crown - on the altar image by J. Sagittano in c. Santa Lucia in Gaeta (now in the diocesan museum, 1456); with a book - on a 15th century fresco. in c. Santa Maria ad Criptas in Fossa; with a dagger pierced through the neck - on a fragment of a wooden predella from the former chapel in the name of St. Sebastian (1490, artist D. Begert, in the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Kalkar, North Rhine-Westphalia). In the art of the late Middle Ages and the Renaissance, as well as modern times, the most common attributes of L. were the lamp and the instruments of her torment: a sword or dagger piercing the neck, as in the altar image of Lippi (c. 1485, Museum of the History of the Cathedral, Prato; on the lower field of the frame in a small stamp there is a miracle of L. with bulls), as well as eyes, sometimes skillfully played out in the form of buds on a green shoot, as on the altar image by the master of the Ferrara school F. del Cossa (1473, National Gallery, Washington). Attributes of L. were used in portraits, for example. J. A. Boltraffio (c. 1500, Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, Madrid).

The oldest scenes of L.'s martyrdom are found in manuscripts; according to tradition, they precede the text of the Life. The torturers are trying to move the saint with the help of pack animals, which are driven by the driver with a spear, the crowd watches as the warrior pulls the rope tightening the saint’s hands, while L. looks into the sky. Inscribed in a large initial letter is a scene in which the executioner pierces L.’s neck with a sword, her hands are raised in front of her chest in an oranta gesture (Stuttgart passional, now in the library of the state of Württemberg in Stuttgart; Stuttg. Cod. bibl. Fol. 57 . Fol. 6. ca. 1120-1125). The martyr is dressed in a long dress with wide sleeves, a cape on her head, and her clothes are not colored. Life cycles of L. were popular in painting and applied art; they were embodied in different techniques by different masters: the miniature Breviary of Hertz. Bedford in the National Library of France (1424-1435; Paris. lat. 17294. Fol. 387v), fresco cycle of 4 scenes in the oratorio San Giorgio in Padua by Altichiero da Zevio (1379-1384), on a majolica vase from Urbino (1580-1590, GE). Cycles of L.'s martyrdom of 3 or more scenes were reproduced on altars or altar paintings - on the altar from the Jacobskirche in Bruges (1480, “master of the Life of Lucia”); in a painting by an unknown master (between 1505 and 1510, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, attributed to G. tot Sint Jans). The veneration of L. at the site of her martyrdom influenced the works of modern masters: the canvas with the scene of L.’s burial by M. Caravaggio was designed as a tragic scene, in which only the body of the martyr is highlighted with light (1608, written for the Church of Santa Lucia- Fuori le Muri, now in the collection of the National Museum of Medieval and Modern Art in Palazzo Bellomo, Syracuse, exhibited in the Church of Santa Lucia alla Badia).

Later images of the saint are associated with a particle of relics or patronal themes. The life of L. became the theme of the decoration of the parekklision dedicated to her (1935) - the house church of A. Zaimis in Rio near Patras. The author of the painting, made in the style of Athonite frescoes, is the artist. F. Kondoglu. The cycle includes 4 scenes illustrating the main episodes of the Life: L. before the ruler; the oxen are trying to move L. from his place; L. in the fire; beheading of L. In the first scenes, L. is presented in rich clothes: in a purple dress with short sleeves, in a white head cape, with a light green scarf thrown over her left hand. In the 1st scene of L. in front of the ruler, the martyr points with her right hand at him, confirming her confession. In the scenes of trials and execution, she appears without expensive vestments; the master depicted her with a long braid, her hands raised in prayer. In the scene of the beheading, the saint looks back at the executioner.

The Intercession-Tervenichsky Women's Monastery houses 2 icons, both modern works in the academic style of painting from the 19th - early 19th century. XX century On the icon in the Intercession Cathedral of the monastery (in the icon case on the northern pillar) L. is depicted together with St. virgin Ursula of Cologne; the icon of L. with a particle of her relics was donated to the monastery in 2008. On both icons L. is depicted according to the Western model - with a palm branch. The saint's head is uncovered, she is in a white dress, in a pink cloak with a yellow lining (perhaps the color of L.'s outer clothing was influenced by the clothes on her reliquaries in the Venetian church of the prophet Jeremiah).

Lit.: Wilpert. Mosaiken. 1916. Bd. 2. S. 511, 1008; BiblSS. Vol. 8. Col. 241-255; Mijoviě. Menologist. P. 173; LCI. Bd. 7. Sp. 415-420; Ζίας N. Θώτης Κόντογλου ζωγράφος. Αθήνα, 1991. Σ. 70.

M. A. Makhanko

Another legend says that Lucia herself tore out her eyes to give to her groom.

The legends about Lucius tell different versions of the same events. If in the previous version she was blinded by her enemies, then in this one she did it herself of her own free will.

And the reason is that the romantic patrician did not want to stop courtship. He said that Lucia's eyes were so charming that he could not live without them.

To get rid of her boyfriend, Lucia tore out her eyes and sent them to him on a platter.

The groom did not appreciate such a gesture and organized persecution of his beloved. She was tortured and eventually killed.

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Saint Lucia was born around 286 in the city of Syracuse in Sicily. It is not known whether her family was Christian, but, according to legend, while still a child, Lukia took a vow of chastity, but did not tell anyone about her decision. In her virgin purity, Lucia intended to devote her entire life to serving the Savior. After the death of her father (Lukia was already a young girl by that time), her mother decided to marry her to a handsome and noble young man, but from a pagan family. Lukia tried in every possible way to upset her mother’s plans, trying to delay the wedding. Moreover, she had a deep aversion to idolatry. She prayed to God to help her maintain her virginity.

Meanwhile, Lukia’s mother became seriously ill: she developed severe bleeding that no doctor could stop. The illness dragged on for four long years. At this time, of course, there could be no talk of a wedding: the daughter’s presence in the house was simply necessary.

Hole in the wall (Church of Santa Lucia Fuori le Mura in Syracuse - the gap through which George Maniac stole the body of Saint Lucia

And then the holy martyr Agathia herself appeared to her in a dream, surrounded by angels. "My sister! – she turned to Lukia. “Why are you asking me for what you have?” Look, your faith healed your mother; she is healthy. And know also that with your virginity you built a magnificent temple for the Lord.” When Lukia woke up, she discovered that her mother was indeed healthy. And in this moment of joy and gratitude, Lucia revealed to her mother her intention to preserve her virginity as a sign of service to the Lord, adding that Saint Agathia also called her to this. Eutychia (that was the name of Lukia’s mother), thanking Heaven for the healing, blessed her daughter for this feat. Returning to Syracuse, Lucia distributed her dowry to the poor.

Burial of Saint Lucia (Caravaggio) - altar image in the Syracuse church of Santa Lucia fuori le Mura

The inscription on the tomb, dated 400 in the catacombs of San Giovanni in Syracuse, and the mention of Saint Lucia in all Christian documents allow us to assume with complete confidence that she actually lived. Around 600, there was a monastery of St. Lucia in Syracuse and Rome.

The first descriptions of her martyrdom date back to the 5th-6th centuries; they are embellished with descriptions of numerous miracles and are similar to the biography of Saint Agatha.

Paschasius immediately summoned Lucia to court and demanded that she renounce Christianity and make a sacrifice to the pagan gods. To which the saint replied: “I don’t know any other god except the Creator of heaven and earth. The proper sacrifice is made to him. I gave all my property to the poor, and now that I have nothing left, I offer myself as a sacrifice to the Lord.” Paschasius announced to Lucia that he was acting in accordance with the orders of the emperor. She replied: “You, being a city judge, carry out the orders of the emperor; I, being a Christian, keep God's law. You fear the emperor, I fear God. You seek the mercy of the emperor, but I seek the mercy of God. So act as you please; I will do what is good for me.”

The relics of the holy martyr rested in Constantinople, and in 1204, during the IV Crusade, they were transported to Venice, where they remain to this day in the Church of the Holy Prophet Jeremiah.

A particle of the relics of the holy martyr Lucia is located in the Intercession-Tervenichesky convent.

Another legend says that Lucia was a wife who faithfully waited for her fisherman husband

This legend is late, it originated in the Middle Ages and clearly tells of another woman with the same name. Her husband, a Swedish fisherman, went to sea.

A strong storm began. Lucia ran out onto a rocky hill and shone a lantern so that her beloved would find the way home and not crash on the rocks.

The rampant evil spirits tried to drive away Lucia, but she steadfastly waited for her beloved. For this disobedience, the evil spirits cut off the girl’s head.

But the unfortunate woman, even after death, having become a soul, continued to shine from the rock for her husband.

Here we see the same motif with the cutting off of the head. Also an interesting point: the name Lucius comes from the word “light”.

Saint Lucia is a multi-faceted image, she is associated with Demeter and holidays are held in her honor

It can be seen that Saint Lucia has many parallel stories about her life. It is clear that her image contains more than one legendary character, although it is still probably based on a real woman.

Folklore researchers associate Saint Lucia with Demeter, the goddess of light and fertility.

According to legend, after her death Saint Lucia saved the city of Palermo from famine.

Celebrations are held in honor of Lucia: they light bonfires and torches, prepare special cookies, make gifts for children, because for them Lucia is close to the image of Santa Claus. There is also a special post related to the fact that on May 13, 1646, the ship saved the city of Paleromo from starvation.

This is considered Lucia's miracle. Traditionally, the color white is associated with Lucius, so this is what people dress up in for the saint’s feast day.

This ancient goddess Demeter passed on many of her features to the Christian image of Lucia. Photo: upload.wikimedia.org

In general, the holiday is different in every country: somewhere “Lucia” is elected and crowned, and somewhere passers-by are sprinkled with flour for good luck.

As you can see, the image goes back to many sources, but still remains unique in its own way.

in this century the life of St. Lucia of Syracuse was written down

On the icons, Saint Lucia is depicted with eyes on a tray, a palm branch, a sword and a lantern

Lucia has a lot of attributes that can be depicted on icons. So artists have plenty to choose from.

Sword. They killed the saint with it, this is her guide to the Kingdom of Heaven.
Palm branch. Symbol of martyrdom.
Lamp. Lucia sanctifies the right path.
Eyes on a tray. The very ones she lost during her lifetime. The eye sockets can be left empty, or another eye can be depicted in them.

In the Russian Orthodox Church, Saint Lucia is not depicted. But you can find Greek Orthodox icons like this one. There are no attributes of a saint on it, so you can only recognize it by its signature. Photo: cdn.shopify.com

Saint Demetrius of Rostov - Lives of the Saints

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The Suffering of the Holy Martyr Lucia

Memory 13 December

When the glory of the holy martyr Agathia spread throughout Sicily and the inhabitants of Syracuse flocked to Catana to venerate the holy tomb of the martyr, it happened to one maiden, named Lucia, of noble birth and respected by all Syracusans, to go to the holiday with others and with her mother Eutychea , who had been bleeding for four years and could not be cured by any medical remedy. During the church service at the tomb of the martyr, the Gospel was read, in which a bleeding woman is remembered who was healed by touching the hem of Christ’s robe). While reading the Gospel, Lukia said to her mother:

Lukia immediately woke up, stood up in trepidation and said to her mother:

The mother answered her:

“What does it mean,” he asked, that I hear about the sudden sale of estates and jewelry?

The nurse, a sensible woman, answered:

The groom believed her words and, thinking that it was a matter of a material purchase, did not object to anything and even himself persuaded the bride and her mother to sell the property. But as soon as he learned that everything had been distributed to the poor and wretched, widows and orphans, and spent on strangers and servants of God, he immediately went and reported to the mayor Paskhazia about his bride that she was a Christian and, therefore, an opponent of the royal commands.

Paschasius summoned Lucia and first verbally convinced her to sacrifice to idols.

Blessed Lucia answered him:

“You can tell these words,” Paschasius noted, to Christians like you, but to me, who oversees the execution of the royal laws, you are in vain talking about this.

“You lived out your inheritance and squandered it together with your cohabitants,” said Paschasius, “and therefore you yourself speak like a harlot.”

“I placed my inheritance in a good place,” Lukia answered him, “and I never allowed myself to accept corrupters of soul and body.”

Paskhazy asked:

—Who do you call the molesters of soul and body?

Lukia replied:

- You are the corrupters of the soul, about whom the Apostle says: “ bad associations corrupt good morals ” (1 Cor. 15:33): you inspire adultery in the souls of people, so that they, leaving the Heavenly Bridegroom, that is, their Creator, follow the devil through serving powerless and soulless idols. And the corrupters of the body are those who prefer temporary pleasures to eternal bliss and place transitory pleasures above endless joys.

Paskhazy said:

“Your ranting will cease and fall silent when it comes to torture and wounds.”

Lukia replied:

- The words of God will never be silent.

- Are you really God? - Paskhazy objected.

“I am a servant of God,” said Luke, and therefore I spoke God’s words, just as He Himself said: “ For it is not you who will speak, but the Spirit of your Father who will speak in you ” (Matthew 10:20).

Paskhazy said:

“So is it really the Holy Spirit in you, and isn’t He speaking through you?”

Lukia replied:

- The Apostle says that those who lead a pure life are temples of God and the Spirit of God lives in them (1 Cor. 3:16).

Paskhazy said:

“So I will order you to be taken to an indecent house, so that the Spirit of God will depart from you when you are defiled.”

“I will order you to be dishonored to death,” said Paschasius, “if you do not obey the royal command.”

Lukia replied:

“I have already told you that you will never bend my will to consent to sin; everything that you can do with my body - all this despises the servant of Christ.

Then Paschasius, that depraved and unrighteous judge, called to himself the owners of obscene houses and gave them the saint, saying:

- Call the people together and let them mock her until she dies.

Finally, Paskhazy asked her:

-What kind of magic are you doing?

“This is not my magic,” she said, “but the power of God’s grace.”

- What is the reason that you, a weak girl, cannot be moved by a thousand people?

“If you bring at least ten thousand people, then they too will feel that the Holy Spirit is telling me: “ A thousand will fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand; but he will not come near you ” (Ps. 91:6).

The pitiful judge was greatly tormented in his wicked soul. Confusion came over him.

When Lucia, with her throat pierced by a sword, spoke these words, suddenly Paschasius was shown before her eyes, chained in iron bonds. The fact is that the Sicilians, secretly from their ruler, sent a denunciation to Rome about how Paschasius mercilessly ravaged the country, robbing the inhabitants of their property through all kinds of violence. And now an order came from Rome for Paschasius to be brought there in chains for his trial: there, after interrogation, he was condemned to death and executed by beheading. When he was led past the saint in chains, she was still alive and, mortally wounded, stood, however, without being touched, and life did not leave her until the priests came and she received communion of the Most Pure and Life-Giving Mysteries of Christ - and Only when everyone, at the end of communion, said: “Amen,” did the holy martyr surrender her pure soul into the hands of the Lord. She was buried with honor at the place of torment and a church was erected over her relics in her name and for the glory of God, One in the Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, to Him be glory forever. Amen.

Notes:

The holy martyr Agathia died during the persecution of Decius in 251. In subsequent times, many miracles were performed from her relics. Her memory is celebrated by the Church on February 5.

Sicily is one of the large islands of the Mediterranean Sea off the southern coast of the Apennine Peninsula (Italy).

Syracuse is one of the first Greek colonies on the eastern shore of the island. Sicily, later the largest and richest city of the island.

Catana is an ancient city on the eastern coast of the island of Sicily; currently thriving with education and trade, a populous city with a population of more than 100 thousand.

That is, the decrees of the Roman emperors that all Roman citizens make sacrifices to the pagan gods.

In church language, adultery means not only the lawless union of a husband with another man’s wife, shameful actions contrary to the seventh commandment, bad thoughts, but sometimes (as here mainly) also wickedness and idolatry.

The Holy Martyr Lucia suffered a martyr's death in 304. Her relics from Syracuse were first transferred to Italy, then to Metz (formerly a significant French city in Lorraine; now a first-class fortress in German Lorraine); part of the relics that were in Constantinople was transferred to Venice.

Saint Lucia helps with eye diseases

Lucia of Syracuse is considered the patroness of the blind. You can turn to her in prayer asking for the healing of your eyes.

She is also associated with light, so electricians and lighting technicians may consider Lucia a saint who helps members of their professions.

She is also the patroness of Sicily and a number of other cities, but this is no longer particularly useful to our compatriots

There are almost no Russian Orthodox prayers to the saint

In the tradition of the Russian Orthodox Church there are almost no prayers to Lucia of Syracuse. Here are the ones that exist:

Troparion, tone 4:

Thy Lamb, Jesus, Luke, calls with a great voice: I love Thee, my Bridegroom, and seeking Thee, I suffer, and I am crucified, and I am buried in Thy baptism, and I suffer for Thy sake, for I reign in Thee, and I die for Thee, and I live with You: but, as an immaculate sacrifice, accept me with love, sacrificed to You. Through prayers, as the Merciful, save our souls.

Relics of Saint Lucia in the Church of Jeremiah. The face is covered with a silver mask. Photo: farm1.staticflickr.com

Glory to the martyrs, voice 4:

Thy martyrs, Lord,

in their suffering they received incorruptible crowns from You, our God:

for I have Your strength,

the tormentors of the overthrower,

crushing the demons of weak insolence.

Those prayers

save our souls.

As you can see, for the Russian Orthodox Church this saint is far from having the same level of veneration as she has in European countries.

Notes

↑ 1 2 German National Library, Berlin State Library, Bavarian State Library, Austrian National Library
Record #118819623 // General regulatory control (GND) - 2012-2016.
Calendarium Romanum (Latin): Ex decreto Sacrosancti Œcumenici Concilii Vaticani II instauratum auctoritate Pauli PP. VI promulgatum. Editio typica - Civitas Vaticana: 1969. - P. 32.
Le langage secret de la Renaissance: le symbolisme caché de l'art italien / Richard Stemp. - National geographic France, 2012. - P. 108. - 224 p. — ISBN 9782822900003.
Holy Virgin Martyrs Lucia (unspecified)
(inaccessible link). Access date: February 23, 2015. Archived February 23, 2015.
7 Secrets of Dante's Inferno

Seashells are named after the eyes of Saint Lucia

Folk legends tell another version of the blinding of Saint Lucia. This option is imbued with the spirit of antiquity and is very reminiscent of the story when Aphrodite was born from the blood and seed of castrated Uranus.

According to this version, Lucia was looking for a way to heal her terminally ill mother. To do this, she prayed to the Virgin Mary. And she got what she asked for.

In gratitude, Saint Lucia dug out her eyes and threw them into the sea, and she herself began to serve the Church devotedly.

Shells "Eye of Saint Lucia". Photo: cs1.livemaster.ru

The Virgin Mary did not leave the girl in such a difficult situation and returned her eyes - more beautiful than they were.

Rumor claims that it was after this incident that the Turbo Rugueux shells, which are also called the “Eye of St. Lucia,” appeared.

They look like eyes and are used as a talisman against the evil eye. You can find them on the coast after a storm.

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Memorial Day

Main article: Saint Lucia's Day

In Christian churches, the day of remembrance of Saint Lucia is December 13 (December 26 according to the Julian calendar[4]). Celebrated as a holiday in Catholic and Protestant countries.

St. Lucia is prayed for eye diseases, bleeding, neck pain and dysentery. She is the patroness of the poor, the blind, repentant harlots, sick children and the patroness of the cities of Syracuse and Venice. Oculists, lawyers, peasants, electricians, glaziers, coachmen, cutlers, seamstresses, messengers, furniture makers, saddlers, tailors, clerks and weavers also consider her their intercessor.