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.
Serving the Lord
The rich young city woman attracted suitors, but Tatiana invariably refused the suitors. The girl wanted to devote her life to serving God. Her father agreed with her request and allowed her to refuse marriage.
At this time, Emperor Severus became the ruler of Rome. Christians greeted the new ruler with hope. The emperor's mother professed the Christian faith; in the traditional pantheon of the gods of Rome, an image of Jesus was present in the house of the North. Christians stopped hiding, created a community, and Tatiana was its active member. A virtuous life given to God, piety, and tireless prayers were highly appreciated by Christians. Tatiana was appointed deaconess, she prepared women for the sacrament of baptism, and participated in the performance of Christian rituals.
The girl spent all her days working and worrying. Tatiana visited the sick, helped the poor and needy. A kind word and gentle hands eased suffering and brought comfort and peace to the heart. The girl distributed clothes and food, and those she cared for quickly recovered. Glory to the kindness and mercy of St. Tatiana's popularity spread throughout Rome, she was recognized in the city. The caring Christian woman became known outside the community.
What does Saint Tatiana help with?
Martyr Tatiana, of course, protects, helps and patronizes all girls and women who bear her name. Does not leave in trouble those who find themselves imprisoned, who are overcome by illness, who are left without a roof over their heads. If you need to make a difficult choice in the current situation, turn to the icon of the Great Martyr Tatiana in prayer.
Everyone who enters an educational institution, takes exams, prepares for classes, the Saint will be the first assistant and support in their studies.
More prayers for students:
Prayer to Sergius of Radonezh about studyingPrayer before the start of the school yearPrayer to Matrona of Moscow before the exam
Icon of Saint Tatiana
The icon of the Orthodox holy martyr Tatiana is considered miraculous in Rus'. A sign of her torment is the cross that she holds in her hand, a symbol of martyrdom. The scroll in the saint's other hand testifies to her education.
Since Tatiana was the first woman to be ordained deaconess and had the right to participate in divine services, before her only men enjoyed this privilege, the scroll is a symbol of patronage in education and sciences.
Iconography
The image of the holy martyr Tatiana is revered in both Orthodoxy and the Catholic faith. Masters of icon painting depict her with a laurel branch in many icons. The laurel and a wreath made from it are the main attribute of Apollo. Symbolically, the image of laurel leaves in Tatiana’s hand recalls that martyrdom spiritually defeated the pagan gods.
A red cloak is draped over her shoulders. Red is the color of blood, symbolizing martyrdom and the suffering of a saint. The head is covered with a white cape, leaving only the neck and face visible. White color implies the purity and purity of a girl. In her right hand the martyr Tatiana has a cross, which speaks of many things.
First of all, the cross symbolizes service to the Lord Jesus Christ, the desire to follow in the footsteps of His teachings and bear one’s cross, that is, to be able to persevere with all the difficulties, sorrows and adversities encountered in earthly life. Another meaning is the accepted suffering and death for faith. But the most significant and jubilant symbol is considered to be victory over death, over evil.
Sometimes Saint Tatiana is depicted in the arena of the Colosseum with a lion. This is a picture from her earthly life.
Who is Tatyana? And why are our prayers addressed to her?
Saint Tatiana
The Life of Saint Tatiana of Rome was written in the 17th century by Dmitry of Rostov
The life of the saint was written in the 17th century by Dmitry of Rostov. Dmitry Rostovsky wrote that Tatiana lived in the 3rd century. Saint Tatiana was born in Rome into a rich and wealthy family. Her father was consul three times, and this meant a lot in those days. The girl's parents were Christians and raised their daughter in piety and purity. But they had to hide their faith in order to stay alive.
Dmitry Rostovsky wrote a life about the holy martyr Tatiana in the 17th century
When the girl was still little, she said that she really wanted to be a saint. She asked God to teach her to be pleasing to him in everything. “...I want to be a saint. Teach me, Lord, not to love anything or anyone as deeply as You! Teach me, Lord, to do only what You please; make me Your servant..." It happened just as she wanted.
When the girl grew up, she decided that she would not get married. At that time, terrible persecution of Christians began. One day, all citizens of Rome were ordered to make sacrifices to the gods. If people refused, they were subject to torment and suffering.
Tatyana was also captured, they brought her to the temple of Apollo and tried to force her to bow to the statue of this god. But Tatiana began to pray to Jesus Christ, and an earthquake began, which destroyed half of the temple and killed a large number of people.
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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Holy Martyr Tatiana - what a miracle she performed
Students of Moscow State University. Lomonosov constantly come to the Holy Church before an exam or when they have problems mastering the material or course. Students often turn to her and ask for help before God. The icon of the holy martyr Tatiana really favors schoolchildren and students.
Many argue that Tatyana always helps with exams, but only in those cases if the student believes in God and is at least a little ready for the subject. She will help you during the exam or overcome anxiety, so that you don’t forget everything in fear. But he will never patronize lazy people.
After Tatyana refused to worship the gods, she was taken to the place of torture
Tatyana was captured and taken to the place of torture. They beat her in the face and tormented her with iron hooks, but the girl endured all the suffering. She prayed not only for herself, but also for her tormentors, for they did not know what they were doing.
Tatyana prayed that the Lord would open the eyes of these people and teach them the truth, guide them on the right path of salvation. Tatiana’s prayers were heard, heavenly light illuminated everyone, and they saw four angels who began to surround the saint. Tatiana's tormentors immediately fell at her feet and began to ask forgiveness for tormenting her. Seeing this, they were ordered to be executed, but the martyrs loudly praised God, after which all eight people were beheaded.
Every morning Tatyana was brought to the ruler, and everyone saw that she did not have a single scratch.
The next day Tatyana was brought to the ruler. Everyone was surprised that there was not a single scratch on the saint after yesterday’s torment. The girl's face was calm and joyful. Then the ruler ordered to expose the girl’s body and cut her body with razors.
But instead of the blood on Tatiana’s body, milk began to flow from the wounds, and it filled the air with its fragrance. It was a fragrance like holy myrrh, because Tatiana herself was filled with the Holy Spirit.
Then they stretched her out and began to beat her with rods. The torturers quickly got tired, one replaced the other. Angels stood invisibly around the girl, deflecting all blows from her, the girl remained unshakable. Many executioners fell dead, while others simply lay motionless, without strength.
The martyr Tatiana was taken to the place of torture by order of the ruler of Rome. They beat her in the face and tormented her with iron hooks, but the girl endured all the suffering. She prayed not only for herself, but also for her tormentors, for they did not know what they were doing.
Temples where the icon is located
You can see the icon with the image of St. Tatiana in the following churches:
Novospassky Church in Moscow; Church of All Saints in Moscow; Church of the Martyr Tatiana in Moscow; Monastery of the Martyr Tatiana in St. Petersburg; Church of St. John of Kronstadt in Moscow; Monastery of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Moscow; Temple “In Honor of the Holy Martyr Tatiana” in Smolensk; New Jerusalem Monastery in Istra; Church of the Holy Martyr Tatiana in Chelyabinsk. Important: The relics (right hand) of the holy martyr Tatiana are kept in the Holy Dormition Pskov-Pechersky Monastery.
Church of St. Tatiana in Moscow
At the Moscow Humanitarian Institute, at the junction of two streets, Mokhovaya and Bolshaya Nikitskaya, there is a temple of the Holy Great Martyr Tatiana.
Initially, the temple was located in a completely different place. In 1784, during the construction of the main building of the university, the issue of establishing a church of St. Martyr Tatiana, which was illuminated, upon completion of construction, in 1791 by Metropolitan Platon.
During the war with Napoleon, in 1812, Moscow University burned down along with the temple.
In the 30s of the 19th century, gradual restoration of the university building and the Church of St. Tatiana began. At the beginning of the 20th century, the university temple was completely restored, and in 13, a cross was installed on it.
In the post-revolutionary period, when the Soviets seized power, a decree was issued on the separation of schools from churches, and churches from the state. And in 1919, the Church of St. Tatiana was closed, with the removal of the central icon and inscription on the building.
Until 1995, the temple premises housed first a museum, then a reading room, a club, and then a theater. But since 1991, there has been a struggle between the academic council and the church, over the decision to return the Church of St. Tatiana to its former form, as an architectural and spiritual monument. And in 95 the temple was returned to the Church.
