Saint Christina

A WOODEN ICON 23×17 cm — A COPY OF THE ICONOGRAPHY OF THE HOLY MONASTERY OF XENOPHONT.

Handmade icons by the monks of Xenophontos Monastery.

MADE ON MOUNT ATHOS.

Great Martyr St. Christina
Святая великомученица Кристина
(†300)

Feast day: July 24

Saint Christina was born in the city of Tyre.

Her father, the governor of the city, was a well-known and cruel pagan. Her parents gave her the name Christina not according to their pagan thinking, but by God’s providence: the very name, like a prophecy, foretold that the maiden, when she grew up, would become a Christian — a servant and bride of Christ.

As Christina grew older, through her own reason and heart she came to know the true God, and later recognized the God-Man, Christ.

Disgusted by pagan beliefs in nonexistent gods, driven by zeal for the truth, she broke her household’s silver and gold idols and threw them away. Her father became furious. Christina bravely confessed her faith in Christ to him.

He subjected her to terrible tortures. The young martyr endured everything with unshaken firmness. Her father ordered the tortured Christina to be thrown into prison — but he died suddenly.

The governors who succeeded him, Dion and Julian, continued to torture the confessor. Finally, Julian ordered her execution. The saint was pierced with iron spears by soldiers, and she gave her pure and holy soul into the hands of her Lord. Such great power did God show through her that even three cruel torturers could not overcome a single maiden.

On July 24, the name day is celebrated by: Christina, Christin, Kristina, Kristin, Kristian.