Saints Cyprian and Justina. Wooden orthodox icon

Wooden Icon of Saints Cyprian and Justina

Below: a fragment of the kontakion of the Most Holy Theotokos: “To the victorious Voivode, as having been delivered from the evil, let us write thanksgiving to Thy servants of the Theotokos: but as having an invincible power, free us from all troubles, let us call Ti : Rejoice, Unbrideless Bride."

In the 3rd century, during the reign of the Roman emperor Decius, a pagan sage, the famous sorcerer Cyprian, lived in Antioch. He appeased the prince of darkness himself with sacrifices, gave him all of himself into power, and he gave him a regiment of demons to serve and promised to make him a prince upon his departure from the body. Many turned to him in their needs, and he helped them with demonic power. One day a young man named Aglaid, the son of rich and noble parents, turned to him. One day he saw the girl Justina and was struck by her beauty, and from then on he began to seek her favor and love, but she refused him: “My groom is Christ; I serve Him and for His sake I maintain my purity.”

Armed with secret knowledge and calling upon unclean spirits for help, Cyprian sent them three times to seduce Justina. They inspired her with evil thoughts, kindled carnal passion in her, tempted her with flattering and crafty speeches, but Justina defeated them with fasting, prayer and the sign of the cross, and, disgraced and frightened by the cross of the Lord, they fled in shame. Cyprian was then indignant and began to take revenge on Justina for his shame. He sent pestilence and plagues to the house of Justina and to the whole city, just as the devil once did to the righteous Job. She prayed earnestly, and the demonic obsession stopped. After such a change, people began to glorify Christ, and Cyprian, having received his sight, renounced the works of the devil, confessed everything to the local bishop Anthimus, gave him all his books to burn and begged him to perform Holy Baptism on him.

He completely changed his life; seven days after baptism he was made a reader, twenty days later a subdeacon, thirty days a deacon, and a year later he was ordained a priest. He was soon made a bishop and in this rank he led such a holy life that he became equal to many great saints.

During the persecution of Christians under the Emperor Diocletian, Cyprian and Justina were slandered, put in prison, then they ordered the saint to be hanged and his body flogged, and Justina to be beaten on the mouth and eyes. After this they were thrown into a cauldron, but the boiling cauldron did not cause them any harm. In the end they were condemned to be beheaded by the sword.

Seeing the innocent death of the martyrs, the warrior Theoktist declared himself a Christian and was executed along with them.

The Holy Martyr Cyprian, the Holy Martyr Justina and the Holy Martyr Theoktistos were killed in Nicomedia in the year 304.

The icon is made by printing on a wooden board. Paints are mineral, do not fade with time. The thickness of the board is 2 cm. The board is covered with primer by hand. The image is covered with wax. Each icon has a metal mount on the back side so that you can hang the icon on the wall. The icon has no recess, the surface is smooth.

You can buy the icon in three sizes:

• 13 х 11 centimeters (5,1 x 4,3 inches)
• 19 х 16 centimeters (7,5 x 6,3 inches)
• 26 х 21 centimeters (10,2 x 8,3 inches)

Our icons are made by Orthodox craftsmen. You can read more about the technology here.

We hope it will be a good gift for you and your loved ones.