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Icons of St. Alexandra of Old
Rome, wife of Diocletian, secret Christian, martyred at Nicomedia by
the wicked emperor Licinius.
Feast: Apr. 23
from the OCA website: The Holy
Empress Alexandra was the wife of Diocletian (284-305). Her supposed
death was described in the Martyrdom of Saint George, which was written
immediately after his death. The empress, however, received the crown
of martyrdom several years later, in 314. Many events occurred during
these years. In 305 the emperor Diocletian resigned the throne and
power passed to his co-ruler Maximian Galerius (305-311), a fanatic
pagan, as well as a coarse and fierce soldier. His wife was St Valeria,
the daughter of the holy Empress Alexandra, whom Diocletian had given
in marriage against her will. St Alexandra raised her daughter in
Christian piety. When Galerius died, the emperor Maximinus sought her
hand in marriage. When he was refused, he banished St Valeria to Syria,
where she lived with her mother.
After the death of Maximinus in 311 the mother and daughter arrived in
Nicomedia, trusting in the mercy of the emperor Licinius (311-324).
Together with St Constantine, he had subscribed to the Edict of Milan,
which gave Christians the freedom of religion, but secretly he remained
an enemy of Christianity. Licinius gave orders to execute the holy
Empress Alexandra and her daughter Valeria. They were beheaded, and
their bodies thrown into the sea. Holy Martyrs Alexandra and Valeria,
pray to God for us!
Top Icon: of unknown provenance, from
http://www.pravoslavie.ru.
Next Icon: by the hand of
Mother Justina, Greek Old Calendarist convent of St. Elizabeth, Etna,
California. St. Alexandra is shown on the right, with St. Monica on the
left.
Next
Icon: of unknown provenance, with English language inscription.
Next Icon: of unknown
provenance, from http://www.pravoslavie.ru.
Next Icon: appears to be from
Come And See Icons.
Bottom 2 Icons: available from
http://www.ermey.ru/.
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