"Stephanida Damascus" - an icon of Orthodox Christians

For most Christians the sign of faith and struggle, which is realized through pain and anguish, became the icon of Stefanida Damascus. In this ecclesiastical relic, the whole power of the word of God is concentrated, which indicates to man its purpose and the truth of life, helps to take the right path.

"Stephanida Damascus" is an icon that enables a person to concentrate all his inner will to be ready to sacrifice himself for the sake of justice. Many righteous people revere it, study its history and meaning. These and other issues will be discussed in more detail in this article.

Icon of Stefanida Damaskaya: History

In 175, when the rule of Marcus Aurelius was in Syria, one of his fighters, Victor, who was a true Christian, lived in Damascus. He was given the order to present the sacrifice to idols, having renounced Christ. But the warrior objected, shouting openly and loudly, that he is a warrior of the King of Heaven and will honor only him alone. After the incident, the man was betrayed to all kinds of torture. His fingers broke, burned the body with fire, pulled out of live veins, poisoned with poison and so on. Victor endured all his torments with courage, without ceasing to pray to God. Despite everything, he remained alive.

The wife of one of the soldiers, who was called Stephanida, interceded for the warrior, glorifying his suffering. She was also a Christian, but in secret. And when Stephanida Damascus, whose icon is familiar to many, saw angels descending from heaven, she realized that she also needed to stand up for believing in Christ. The executioners saw in the young woman a victim for torture. They tied her to two trees to dismember her body. One foot of the woman was attached to the top of the inclined tree, and the other to the second and released them. When the trees rose, they tore Stefanida into two parts. The soul of a woman is like a bird that is free from the trap, found shelter in heaven. After all this, the executioners cut off Viktor's head. So, Stefanida and Victor Damascus, having suffered for Christ, proved their faith in the Lord, showed everyone its miraculous power.

Value

The icon "Stephanid Damascus" helps a person who addresses herself, to understand himself, to realize himself as a person, thereby to find peace and tranquility. To the believing person, the icon helps to decide on their further life, to make it righteous until the very end. Another distinguishing feature of the icon is love for one's neighbor, which determines the level of spirituality of people, because every Christian is ready for the sake of justice for a lot, sometimes even to stand up for the protection of a stranger.

Miraculous power of the icon

Today, a lot of people come to the holy face, addressing to it with various requests. Everyone asking is always waiting for the icon "Stefanida Damascus." What helps this saint - Was considered above. It relieves a person not only from mental disorders, but also from physical ailments. The holy face strengthens the will of people, helps to gain internal strength for the struggle both with external enemies, and with internal demons.

"Stephanida Damascus" is an icon that enables every Christian to understand the meaning of sacrifice in various life situations, adhere to his principles and views, and always be faithful to them.

Honoring

Victor and Stefanida of Damascus were killed on November 11, 175 in the city of Damascus. This day and to this day honor the memory of the holy martyrs. Their relics, according to some information, are in the city of Fano (Italy). Until this time, they were stationed in Constantinople. You can see the icon in any Orthodox church, as it is part of the divine service.

Iconography

In the Orthodox iconography, the martyr Stephanid is depicted as a young woman dressed in a blue tunic. Over tunics, usually wearing a red mantle in the form of a long veil, which is buttoned on the collar and descends to the knees. It symbolizes renunciation of idolatry, and its red color is the torment of Stephanides, as well as the victory of life over death. At the edges of the mantle is trimmed with a blue border. The blue tunic embodies the heavenly purity of the martyr, is a symbol of eternal peace. The cross is usually placed in the hands of the martyr.

The holy martyr Stephenide on the icon is depicted with a head covered, as the praying woman already had to cover her head as a sign of the power over her of the angels. So, the covered head is evidence of the martyr's stay in prayer, her disposition to humility. The white color of matter that covers the head symbolizes Divine light, purity, holiness and simplicity. Only the righteous souls were clothed in white robes. Above the head, the martyr sees a halo - the radiance of light and Divine glory. He transforms a person that is united with God.

"Stefanida Damascus" - an icon that became a symbol of faith in the justice of many Christians. The Great Martyr is considered pure and wise, honest and righteous. To date, the holy face of Stefanida has helped many people find themselves, choose their own way of life and walk righteously along it.