The miraculous icon of Photinia in neo pori. Holy Saints Martinian (†422), Zoe and Photinia (†428)

Before the icon of the saint pray

Hear us, Saint Photinia, who shone with spiritual beauty and unceasingly and incessantly, in prison and in cities, teaching faith in Christ. Listen to us, looking at us sinners, and by the grace of Christ heal those who are ill with a fever, may the rain of sin not sprinkle them, but in the health of their souls and bodies they will unremittingly spend their lives in good deeds and glorify the Lord of all, the Father of bounties, God the Merciful, in all ages. Amen.

Prayers

Kontakion of Photinia of Palestine

In you, mother, it is known that you have saved yourself in the image: having accepted the cross, you followed Christ, and you taught you to despise the flesh: it passes away, lie down about the soul, things are immortal. The same and with the Angels will rejoice, reverend mother Svetlana, your spirit.

Prayer of Photinia of Palestine

One day the Savior was passing through the land of Samaria preaching the gospel. To rest and recuperate, He stopped near the town of Sychar. At the same time, a Samaritan woman came to the well for water. Her name was Photinia.

Christ asked her for water, to which Photinia, amazed, asked how He, being a Jew, asks for water from a Samaritan woman, because Jews and Samaritans did not communicate in those days. The Savior answered her: “If you knew the gift of God and who says to you: give Me a drink, then you yourself would ask Him, and He would give you living water.” Photinia did not immediately understand Him, but Christ said to her: “Everyone who drinks this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks the water that I will give him will never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into eternal life.”

In his words, the Lord meant Himself and His teachings by “living water”, but Photinia decided that it was about fresh running water. At the same time, Jesus Christ told her about her life filled with sin, and the woman recognized in Him the Great Prophet and Teacher. She began to ask Him: who worships God correctly: the Samaritans or the Jews? To which Jesus replied: “The time will come and has already come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for such worshipers the Father seeks for Himself. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth. The woman says to Him: I know that the Messiah, that is, Christ, will come; when He comes, He will announce everything to us. Jesus says to her, It is I who am talking to you. After this conversation, Saint Photinia rushed to the city, where she told many about her meeting with Christ. Along with her, many more Samaritans believed in Him.

Thus Saint Photinia became one of the devoted disciples of Christ, who preached the Gospel in many parts of the world.

Miraculous words: the martyr Photinia prayer in full description from all the sources we found.

Oh, holy martyr Photina! Immeasurably inspired by love for Christ, courage, patience and great strength with the sisters, sons and those enlightened by you are with you. She boldly preached the gospel of Christ, and appearing to you and to everyone who was with you, Christ, and strengthened and comforted everyone for the coming torment. Having come to Rome and fearlessly confessing Christ, the former was imprisoned, and having endured many torments, she was thrown into the well, and she gave her soul to the Lord.

Hear us, Saint Photinia, who shone with spiritual beauty and unceasingly and incessantly, in prison and in cities, teaching faith in Christ. Listen to us, looking at us sinners, and by the grace of Christ heal those who are ill with a fever, may the rain of sin not sprinkle them, but in the health of their souls and bodies they will unremittingly spend their lives in good deeds and glorify the Lord of all, the Father of bounties, God the Merciful, in all ages. Amen.

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Prayer of St. Photinia of Palestine

Saint Photinia of Palestine patronizes women named Svetlana. They turn to her in all sorts of everyday needs: illnesses, family troubles, adverse material circumstances, when there is no livelihood at all, before a trip - the saint helps to avoid problems along the way. Travelers who go to rest on the sea order a Photinia prayer service so that trouble does not happen on the water.

The nominal icon of Saint Svetlana is always an appropriate gift for women who bear this airy name. Especially the image made of beads. In the fire of a candle or in the play of sunlight, the image on the icon becomes especially charming.

Prayer of St. Photinia

Oh, Holy Martyr Fotino. Immensely inspired by love for Christ, you showed courage, patience and great strength with your sisters, sons and those who were enlightened by you.

She boldly preached the gospel of Christ, and appearing to you and to everyone who was with you, Christ, and strengthened and comforted everyone for the coming torment.

Having come to Rome and fearlessly confessing Christ, she was imprisoned in prison, and having endured many torments, she was thrown into a well, she gave her soul to the Lord.

Hear us Saint Fotino, who shone with spiritual beauty and unceasingly and incessantly, in prison and in cities, teaching faith in Christ.

Listen to us, looking at us sinners and by the grace of Christ heal those who are ill with a fever, may the rain of sin not sprinkle them, but in the health of their souls and bodies they will not weakly spend their lives in good deeds and glorify the Lord of all, the Father of bounties, God the Merciful, in all ages. Amen.

Venerable Photinia of Palestine

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Prayer to the icon of the search for the dead

Holy Martyr Photinia

The Holy Martyr Photinia (Svetlana) was the same Samaritan woman with whom the Savior spoke at the well of Jacob. During the time of the emperor Nero in Rome, in the year 65, who showed extreme cruelty in the fight against Christianity, Saint Photina lived with her children in Carthage and fearlessly preached the Gospel there. In 2004, with the blessing of Bishop Philip of Poltava, a particle of the relics of this holy martyr was transferred to our church.

Prayer to the Holy Martyr Photinia

 Oh, Holy Martyr Fotino. Immensely inspired by love for Christ, you showed courage, patience and great strength with your sisters, sons and those who were enlightened by you. She boldly preached the gospel of Christ, and appearing to you and to everyone who was with you, Christ, and strengthened and comforted everyone for the coming torment. Having come to Rome and fearlessly confessing Christ, she was imprisoned in prison, and having endured many torments, she was thrown into a well, she gave her soul to the Lord. Hear us Saint Fotino, who shone with spiritual beauty and unceasingly and incessantly, in prison and in cities, teaching faith in Christ. Listen to us, looking at us sinners and by the grace of Christ heal those who are ill with a fever, may the rain of sin not sprinkle them, but in the health of their souls and bodies they will not weakly spend their lives in good deeds and glorify the Lord of all, the Father of bounties, God the Merciful, in all ages. Amen.

Troparion to the martyr, tone 4

Your Lamb, Jesus, Photinia, calls with a great voice: I love you, my bridegroom, and I seek you, I suffer, and I am crucified, and I am buried by Your baptism, and I suffer for Your sake, as if I reign in You, and I die for You, yes and I live with Thee: but, as an immaculate sacrifice, accept me, with love sacrificed to Thee. Toya, with prayers, as if merciful, save our souls.

Kontakion to the martyr, tone 2

Your temple is all honest, as if you have found spiritual healing, all faithfully loudly cry out to you: the virgin martyr Photinia, great-named, pray unceasingly to Christ God for all of us.

Magnification of the martyr

We magnify you, the passion-bearer of Christ Photinia, and we honor your honest suffering, if you suffered for Christ.

Saint Photinia: icon, prayer, angel's day

The history of the Orthodox religion knows many examples of people who suffered severe hardships and torments for the sake of spirituality and the affirmation of faith. One of these is Photinia, a saint who preached Christianity at the dawn of his path, during times of severe persecution. The famous ascetic repeatedly showed the miracles of prayer and converted thousands of people to faith. Believers still turn to her image with requests for help and healing from serious illnesses.

Parable of living water

In the Gospel of John there is a chapter that tells about the meeting of Christ with the Samaritan woman. In those distant times, Jews and Samaritans (immigrants from Mesopotamia) lived in cold enmity. Evangelizing the gospel, Jesus made his way through the Samaritan lands. Stopping near the city of Sychar, he wanted to drink water from the well of Jacob. Just at that moment, a young woman approached. That was Photinia (angel's day - April 2, according to a new style). Christ asked her for help, which surprised the woman very much, because he was a Jew. Jesus answered her that if she knew who she was talking to, she herself would ask Him for living water, which would become the source of eternal life. Christ spoke of the Christian faith. He also told the details of her life, pointed out her sins, and Photinia immediately recognized Him as a prophet. She returned to the city of Samaria and told everyone about the coming of the Savior, after which many Samaritans believed in the Messiah and converted to the Christian faith.

Emperor Nero

After this significant meeting, Photinia (Svetlana) went to Carthage (North Africa) to preach Christianity there. Despite the persecution of the pagans, she did it openly, fearlessly and selflessly. When the apostles Paul and Peter were killed, Jesus appeared to her in a dream and ordered her to go to Rome, to the emperor Nero, in order to continue the spiritual path of her predecessors. Together with five sisters, the ascetic set about fulfilling her mission. At that time, there were severe persecutions of Christians in Rome. Arriving at the palace, Photinia and her sisters were captured by the pagans. Nero ordered the women's hands to be cut off. But no matter how hard the guards tried, they could not do this, they themselves fell to the ground, writhing in pain. And those wounds that they managed to inflict on them immediately disappeared.

Temptation of Photinia

Then the cunning and arrogant Nero, not wanting to believe in Christ, decided to tempt Photinia and her companions. He settled her in the palace, regaled her with delicious, delicious dishes, surrounded by a hundred slaves for service. The emperor's daughter, Domina, was also there. Forty days later, he visited Photinia and was very surprised when he learned that all the slaves around her, including his daughter, had converted to Christianity.

Enraged, Nero ordered that Photinia be skinned and then thrown into a dry well. The same fate befell the sisters of the martyr. A few days later, Photinia was taken out of the well, she was still alive and did not give up her faith. Then she was locked up in a dungeon for another 20 days. And again, Nero summoned her to his palace, but even then he did not get her to bow down and accept paganism. Photinia just laughed and spat in his face. Then they threw her back into the well.

This is how the martyr Photinia ended her earthly life. The saint did not renounce Christ before her death, striking the pagans with miracles of prayer. She was numbered among the holy great martyrs, who still patronize the needy and those who doubt their faith.

The gospel story about the meeting of the Savior and Photinia has been reflected in the visual arts more than once. Examples are a fresco in the church house of Dura Europos, made around the 3rd century (only the figure of a Samaritan woman has survived to this day), and a mosaic in the Ravenna church of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo (approximately the 6th century).

The memory of Saint Svetlana lives on in icon painting. The most ancient icons depicting a martyr date back to the 19th century. It is believed that her images help people to strengthen their spirit, overcome the temptations of sin, and gain firmness of faith, which Fotinia once brought to the Samaritans. Her icon patronizes not only women named Svetlana, but also all those who suffer.

Saint Svetlana protects mental and physical health. Her image in the house is a guarantee of a strong family, well-being and understanding between generations, protection from evil intentions and deeds.

Christian traditions claim that when meeting with the Savior Photinia, the saint received power over the water element. Therefore, she managed to survive when she was thrown into the well by the Roman pagans, and heal people with a fever. Saint Svetlana helps people with a similar illness.

Photinia had two sons - Josius (Joseph) and Victor. The first helped his mother in preaching the Gospel, the second was the Roman military commander. They also had deprivations and temptations of faith in their lives. However, the wise guidance and prayer of the mother helped them overcome all this. Today, turning with sincere faith to the image of the Great Martyr, many mothers find consolation and resolution of problems with their children. Saint Photinia (prayer to her inspires believers, gives confidence in their own abilities) teaches not to be afraid of difficulties. Therefore, you can turn to her with a prayer not only on the days of memory, but every day:

“Pray to God for me, holy saint of God, great martyr Photinia, as I diligently resort to you, an ambulance and prayer book for my soul.”

Miracles of Healing

There are cases when appeals to the image of Photinia helped to recover from serious diseases of the skin, the musculoskeletal system, and beat the fever. Today, her image reminds believers that you need to do good and believe with all your heart, despite all trials.

When the Roman executioners tortured the martyr, thanks to the power of prayer, she remained unharmed, her wounds healed quickly and without a trace. With her life, Saint Photinia proved that miracles are possible when you believe in them and work them yourself with the power of faith.

Holy places

The biblical story about the meeting of Christ and the Samaritan Photinia has a real geographical confirmation. In Israel, one of the most beautiful and picturesque places that attracts thousands of pilgrims is the Well of Jacob (Jacob). Next to it is an ancient temple, which was destroyed three times and rebuilt again. The well itself reaches 40 meters in depth. The water from it is considered healing.

The relics of Photinia the Samaritan woman are kept on the island of Crete, in the village of Fodele, in the convent named after the Great Martyr. Streams of pilgrims annually come here to strengthen their faith and ask for help in resolving spiritual problems.

On the territory of the CIS there are many temples of St. Photinia, where her Christian deed is revered and miraculous images are located. One of these is the Church of the Great Martyr in Dnepropetrovsk.

Photinia Palestine

In Christian sources, there is a story about another ascetic of faith with the name Photinia (angel's day - February 26, according to a new style). She was originally from Caesarea, therefore she received the prefix Palestinian. During a storm, the ship on which she sailed with other passengers was wrecked. Clinging to the plank, Photinia was the only one to escape and swim to the island, where Blessed Martinian was in prayer and fasting. He converted a woman to the Christian faith, and he left the island. Three times a year, a ship came to the island and brought food. Photinia of Palestine remained to live on the rock and continued the asceticism of Martinian. For six years she remained in fasting and prayer, and then she died and was buried in her native Caesarea.

Saint Photinia (her life dates back to the 5th century) helps people gain faith, improve their mental and physical health, and also patronizes sailors.

Photinia of Cyprus

There is another legend about Photinia of Cyprus. Her life dates back to about the 15th century. She was born in Karpasia (eastern part of Cyprus) in a pious family. In her youth, she decided to become the bride of Christ and left her father's house. Photinia settled in a cave, indulging in fasting and prayers. Soon the virgin was filled with the grace of God and began to perform miracles of healing. The news of this spread throughout the island and beyond. Many Christians turned to her for advice and to maintain spiritual strength.

Today, the cave where St. Photinia once labored is a place of pilgrimage. There is an altar and a deep spring in it, the liturgy is read. Every new moon, water rises in the spring with a thin film of sand. It is believed that water grants healing from many diseases, and sand is smeared on the eyes of the blind for insight. The cave is located near the Cypriot village of Agios Andronikos. And the relics of the ascetic herself are placed in the temple of the Apostle Andrew. The day of memory of the saint falls on August 2 (according to the new style).

Thus, there are three days a year when all Svetlanas celebrate name days. But this is not an ordinary holiday, but a day of memory of the patron saint, deep in the spiritual sense. Here business is not limited to a feast and gifts. According to Christian tradition, on the day of St. Photinia-Svetlana, they go to church, confess, partake of the Holy Mysteries. They also turn with a grateful prayer to the Lord and the patroness.

Saint Photinia (of Samaritan) is also remembered on the fifth week after Pascha. At this time, the liturgy is read, thanksgiving and laudatory prayers are offered for the martyr's feat in the name of the Christian faith.

Martyr Fotina (Svetlana)

Samaritan ( Samaritan, Roman)

The Holy Martyr Photina was the same Samaritan woman with whom the Savior spoke at the well of Jacob (John 4:5-42).

During the time of Emperor Nero (54-68), who displayed extreme cruelty in the fight against Christianity, Saint Photina lived in Carthage with her youngest son Josiah and fearlessly preached the Gospel there. Her eldest son Victor bravely fought in the Roman troops against the barbarians and for his services was appointed commander in the city of Attalia (Asia Minor).

The mayor of Attalia, Sebastian, at a meeting with Saint Victor, said to him: “I know for sure that you, your mother and your brother are followers of the teachings of Christ. But I advise you in a friendly way - obey the will of the emperor, for this you will receive the property of the Christians whom you deliver to us. I will write to your mother and brother not to preach Christ openly. Let them secretly confess their faith.” Saint Victor replied: "I myself want to be a preacher of Christianity, like my mother and brother." To this, Sebastian replied: “O Victor, we all know well what disasters await you, your mother and your brother.” After these words, Sebastian suddenly felt a sharp pain in his eyes, his face changed and became numb.

For three days he lay blind, without uttering a word. On the fourth day, unexpectedly, he loudly said: “Only the faith of Christians is true, there is no other true faith!” Sebastian said to Saint Victor, who was nearby, “Christ is calling me.” Soon he was baptized and immediately received his sight. The servants of Saint Sebastian, witnesses of the miracle, were baptized following the example of their master.

Rumors about what had happened reached Nero, and he ordered the Christians to be brought to him for judgment in Rome. Then the Lord Himself appeared to the confessors and said: "I will be with you, and Nero will be defeated, and all who serve him." The Lord proclaimed to Saint Victor: “From this day on, your name will be Fotin - “Light-bearing”, for many, enlightened by you, will turn to Me.” The Lord encouraged St. Sebastian: “Blessed is he who completes his feat to the end.” Saint Photina, informed by the Savior of the coming sufferings, accompanied by several Christians, set off from Carthage to Rome and joined the confessors.

In Rome, the emperor ordered the saints to be brought to him and asked them if they really believed in Christ. All the confessors resolutely refused to deny the Savior. Then the emperor ordered that the hands of the holy martyrs be crushed on an anvil. But during the torture, the confessors did not feel pain, and the hands of the martyr Photina remained unharmed. Nero ordered Saints Sebastian, Photina and Josiah to be blinded and imprisoned, and Saint Photina with her five sisters - Anastasia, Photo, Photis, Paraskeva and Kyriakia - were sent to the imperial palace under the supervision of Nero's daughter Domnina. But Saint Photina converted Domnina and all her slave girls to Christ, who received holy Baptism. She also converted the sorcerer to Christ, who brought a poisoned drink to kill the confessors.

Three years passed, and Nero sent to prison for one of his servants, who were imprisoned. The messengers informed him that Saints Sebastian, Photin and Josiah, who were blinded, became completely healthy, and they are constantly visited by people who listen to their sermon; the dungeon itself turned into a bright and fragrant place where God is glorified. Then Nero ordered the saints to be crucified upside down and beat them on their naked bodies with straps for three days. On the fourth day, the emperor sent servants to see if the martyrs were alive. But, having arrived at the place of torture, those sent immediately went blind. At this time, the Angel of the Lord freed the martyrs and healed them. The saints took pity on the blinded servants and by their prayers to the Lord restored their sight. Those who received their sight believed in Christ and were soon baptized.

In impotent fury, Nero ordered that Saint Photina be skinned and thrown into a well. Martyrs Sebastian, Photin and Josiah had their shins cut off, thrown to the dogs, and then skinned from them. The sisters of Saint Photina also endured terrible torments. Nero ordered that their nipples be cut off and then skinned. The emperor, sophisticated in cruelty, prepared the most cruel execution for Saint Photis: they tied her by her feet to the tops of two bent trees, which, straightening up, tore the martyr apart. The emperor ordered the rest to be beheaded. Saint Photina was pulled out of the well and imprisoned for 20 days.

After that, Nero called her to him and asked if she would now submit and make sacrifices to idols. Saint Photina spat in the emperor's face and, laughing at him, said: “The most impious blind man, the deluded and insane person! Do you really think me so foolish that I would agree to renounce my Lord Christ and sacrifice to blind idols like you?!”

Hearing such words, Nero again ordered the martyr to be thrown into the well, where she gave her spirit to the Lord.

The well of Jacob, where Jesus spoke with the Samaritan woman, is still located southeast of Shechem or Nablus, at the foot of Mount Gerizim.

A Greek Orthodox church of St. Photinia of Samaria was erected above the well.

Memorial Day of St. Photina, her sons the martyrs Victor, named Photin, and Josiah; and the sisters of the martyrs: Anatolia, Fota, Photis, Paraskeva, Kyriakia, Domnina and the martyr Sebastian, the Orthodox Church celebrates March 20 / April 2.

Prayer to the Holy Martyr Photina

Oh, holy martyr Fotino! Immensely inspired by love for Christ, you showed courage, patience and great strength with your sisters, sons and those who were enlightened by you. She boldly preached the gospel of Christ, and appearing to you and to everyone who was with you, Christ, and strengthened and comforted everyone for the coming torment. Having come to Rome and fearlessly confessing Christ, the former was imprisoned, and having endured many torments, she was thrown into the well, and she gave her soul to the Lord. Hear us, Saint Fotino, who shone with spiritual beauty and unceasingly and incessantly, in prison and in cities, teaching faith in Christ. Listen to us, looking at us sinners, and by the grace of Christ heal those who are ill with a fever, may the rain of sin not sprinkle them, but in the health of their souls and bodies they will unremittingly spend their lives in good deeds and glorify the Lord of all, the Father of bounties, God the Merciful, in all ages. Amen.

Clouds hung over the water. Wave after wave came on, and their run became faster and faster. Meeting each of them, the ship shot up, and then fell sharply. The people crowded on the deck convulsively clutched at the rigging and the sides. Their cries merged into one voice of despair. A huge wall of water was advancing. Just a moment, and she fell upon them with terrible force. There was a crack. The ship went down.

When the storm subsided, only one dot was visible on the surface of the sea in the light of the moon. All that was left of the sailboat was a plank. A young girl held on tightly to her. From the experience she was in some kind of oblivion. She opened her eyes for a moment, tightened her grip on the board and closed them again, her lips repeating the words of the prayer without stopping.

When she woke up, she felt the ground beneath her. The waves threw her onto a small piece of land, over which a rock towered. An unfamiliar man was sitting on a stone next to her.

- Who you are? Where I am? Saint Photina asked.

“I’ll explain everything to you, but now we need to climb a rock, the tide will soon begin, and the coast will be flooded,” the stranger answered and helped the girl get up from the ground.

They made it through the climb. At the top of the rock, Saint Photina looked around and realized that she had landed on an island.

- The ship sank, did anyone else escape? Saint Photina looked at the man with hope.

“No,” the stranger lowered his head.

Saint Photina looked at the sea, and when she turned around, it was clear that tears were flowing down her cheeks. The man's heart trembled with pity, how beautiful she was! He frowned.

“I have to tell you something, I hope you understand me, I must leave you immediately,” he said in a hoarse voice, cleared his throat and continued. My name is Martiniam. From the age of 18 I lived in the desert, alone in silence. This is my way to God, but temptations overtake me even in loneliness. Once there, in the desert, a woman came to me, her name was Zoya. She said she was lost and asked for help. I put her up for the night. But she deceived me, her goal was to lead me astray. At night, she appeared before me in a beautiful outfit. To keep myself from temptation, I stepped barefoot into the red-hot coals left from the fire. Then Zoya repented of her act, and I left the desert and found solitude here, on this rock. Now I see you and I understand that I must leave. But don't be afraid, here's some bread and water for you. That's enough, a ship will come in a week. On it, three times a year, they bring me a supply of food and water. They will take you. Goodbye!

Having said this, Saint Martiniam jumped into the water and swam. Saint Photina looked after him until his figure turned into a dot, which then disappeared over the horizon.

Seven days before the arrival of the ship. Under the rock, she found the supplies pointed out by the man. There were only rocks and stones around, and not a single cave that could serve as a shelter for her. There were no grass or trees either. Lifeless island.

But she was alive! And for this she tirelessly thanked the Lord in her prayers. Sometimes she was visited by longing for the dead, dear to her people who were with her on the ship. They all died, and then she asked why, why it was she who was saved. She did not find an answer, but she often recalled the story of Saint Martiniam, who performed a feat in the name of the Lord. At the end of the sixth day, she decided that she had not hit the rock by accident. Now she must follow the example of Saint Martiniam.

In the morning she saw a ship. A boat landed on the shore, a man disembarked from it. He climbed a rock and was very surprised to see a girl instead of Saint Martiniam. Saint Photina told him everything. The shipbuilder invited her to the ship, promising to immediately take her wherever she said.

- I'm staying here. You helped St. Martiniam, do the same for me, and I will pray for you, - there was no doubt in the words of St. Photina.

– Of course, I will bring you food and water, but I hope you will change your mind and come back.

- Not. Could you visit me with your wife, and please, in addition to bread and water, bring wool next time for needlework. The work will help me.

The shipbuilder promised to fulfill her request and left the island. So the girl began her feat. She prayed day and night and always thanked the Lord for the gift of life to her. It did not matter to her at all that she lived in the open air, washed by cold rains in winter and overcoming the exhausting heat of the summer sun. She had enough loaf of bread for the day. She did not listen to the feeling of hunger, her whole being was occupied with love for God, and she did not get tired of thanking him for her life.

Six years have passed. The shipbuilder regularly visited the rock three times a year. This time he did not find Saint Photina, whom he and his wife treated with great trepidation, bowing before her ascetic feat. The Lord took Saint Photina to himself. On the island, they found only her body. They took him away and took him to Caesarea of ​​Palestine, where they buried him with great honors.

It is known that Saint Photina survived Saint Martiniam by four years. He swam for a long time after he jumped off the cliff. The forces were already leaving him, but unexpectedly dolphins came to the rescue. They carried him out to sea. The saint wandered around different countries for two years, but, sensing the approach of death, he came to the Athenian temple. Falling to the floor, he asked the priest to give his body to the ground after his death.

The meaning of the icon

The image of Saint Svetlana (Photina, Photinia) of Palestine teaches us love for the Lord and love for life. How often we get upset, we blame fate, we are dissatisfied, we always lack money, food, entertainment. And then we are ready to hate our life, accusing providence of injustice. Saint Svetlana (Fotina) miraculously escaped death, she accepted what happened as a gift from the Lord and did not want to waste the years allotted to her. Her feat makes a person take a different look at life. In any circumstance, whatever happens, we should be grateful for her.

Photinia Palestine

The Russian name Svetlana is one of the latest to appear in church and secular names. There is a version that Pushkin invented it. And popularized, of course, Zhukovsky with his ballad "Svetlana".

Only in the middle of the twentieth century did the name spread among believers, when the church allowed it to be given at baptism. In Greek, it corresponds to the analogue Photinia (light). And the saint who glorified him is the Reverend Photinia Palestine. Our story will be about her.

Materials used in embroidery of the icon of St. Photinia (Svetlana) of Palestine: fabric - velvet, beads, truncal, gimp, mother-of-pearl, citrine, chrysolite, chrysoprase, coral, tiger's eye, agate, malachite, aquamarine, amber, pearls.

How to order an icon

Buy or order an icon you can call by phone +7 90 66 47 66 47 , either in chat(lower right corner of the site).

The term for embroidering icons is 1.5 - 2 months. We do not make exact copies. Each icon is unique. Schemes and sets are not used in embroidery. The embroidery uses precious and semi-precious stones.

For each icon, a wooden icon case is made. The size of the icons is 21x29 cm. The size of the icon in the icon case is 28x36 cm. The icons are embroidered with a blessing and consecrated in the church.

Cost: 65,000 rubles.

Delivery in Moscow is free. Delivery to other cities is carried out by mail. In this case, the cost of delivery is agreed separately.

We work with all regions of Russia.

You can pay for the ordered icon in the most convenient way for you, including:
- Cash to the courier upon delivery. (in Moscow)
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- Electronic money - QIWI Wallet or WebMoney.

Venerable Photinia of Palestine - the story of life and prayer deed

To find out who Photinia of Palestine is, you need to tell the story of Saint Martinian, who lived in the 5th century in the Palestinian desert. He led an ascetic and strictly ascetic life, for which God vouchsafed him the gifts of clairvoyance and healing.

Once a certain harlot Zoya, having heard about the exploits of the saint, came to him. The woman asked for the night, and Martinian let her into the outer cell. But Satan began to tempt the saint with lustful passion. Zoya took off her poor clothes and dressed up in expensive and seductive ones, which she brought with her in a bag.

To curb passion, Martinian kindled a fire in the middle of the cell and stepped into it as soon as Zoya, in beautiful clothes, crossed the threshold of the inner dwelling. The fire burned the flesh, Martinian suffered unbearable pain. Coming out of the fire, the saint could not stand.

He lay and prayed to God for forgiveness. Zoya repented of what she had done, and at the direction of Martinian came to the Bethilehem monastery of St. Paul. There, in a feat of prayer, she ended her life, having learned before her death that the Lord had forgiven her grave sin.

After what happened in the desert, Martinian settled on a desert island. Years passed and somehow a fragment of a ship with a girl who had escaped during the crash was washed ashore. It was a Christian Photinia, unusually beautiful. Martinian told her about his life. He also said that a ship with food and water would come soon.

He always comes once a week. This ship will be able to return to the mainland. In the meantime, he left her, so as not to be tempted by her beauty, and threw himself into the sea. Dolphins helped the saint get to Greece. He went around the cities with a sermon, and met his death in the Athenian temple.

Seclusion of St. Photinia on the island

Photinia waited for the ship, but refused to leave the island. She desired to repeat the feat of Martinian. She longed for a prayer retreat on the island. She asked the shipbuilder if he would be able, at least occasionally, to deliver food to her.

But she asked to sail to her only with his wife. And also bring her men's clothes. Together with women's robes, she took off her infirmities and weaknesses. And putting on men's clothes, she put on courage and strength.

Every day Saint Svetlana read the prayer rule twelve times. And at night she stood up for prayer 24 times. She cared little about earthly food - she ate only two slices of bread a day. In moments free from prayer, she wove yarn from the wool brought by the shipbuilder, so as not to feel that she was eating someone else's bread in vain.

The pious spouses took care of the holy ascetic for six years. And once, having sailed, they found only her lifeless body on the island. Taking him with them, they buried him in Caesarea of ​​Palestine. Photinia was in his 32nd year. In her six years of ascetic life, she gained more than some people in a long and eventful life.

This story would be sad if Photinia drowned in the sea. But the Lord saved her in order to glorify her among the saints. This story is instructive. She teaches that for everything in life you need to thank God. Saint Photinia lost her relatives on the ship.

She was left completely alone, on a distant deserted island. But she did not betray God, and did not grumble for a minute about her life. The icon of this saint is very rare. You won't find it in every temple. But it is sacredly revered by the Church. Often the Monk Photinia is depicted together with the Monk Zoe of Bethlehem.

Beaded Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos Tenderness