St. Lucia of Syracuse icon Mounted on wood Sizes:4 X 6

St. Lucia of Syracuse icon Mounted on wood Sizes:4 X 6Orthodox icon of Saint Lucia, Lucy, Lucie of Syracuse. Commemorated December 13th. Saint Lucy was born in Syracuse, Sicily during the reign of Diocletian. She distributed her wealth to the poor, and made a vow of virginity. Since she refused to marry him, a rejected suitor denounced her to the prefect Paschasius as a Christian, and she was arrested. She was sentenced to be defiled in a brothel, but with God's help she preserved her purity. Then the

and a collection entitled

she also seemed to become more courageous under torture

He asked that a prayer service be offered for his health

St Melania peacefully gave up her soul to the Lord in the year 439

After many cruel tortures St Julitta was beheaded with a sword

and built a church

Remembering the words of St Joannicius

who later became Bishop of Nazianzus

St John was a splendid preacher

for I will not deny my Christ

St Spyridon said to his daughter

the Prophet Elijah began to denounce King Ahab for impiety