Orthodox Icon of St. Justinian

St. Justinian Emperor of Byzantium Please do not deep-link to any of our icons.
with his entourage

November 14th

"A Slav by birth, he was probably a Serb from the Skoplje region. He succeeded his uncle Justin on the throne in 527. Justinian’s great kingship is inseparably linked with his deep Orthodox faith: he believed, and lived according to his belief. In the Great Fast, he neither ate bread nor drank wine, but ate only vegetables and drank water. He made war against the barbarians of the Danube only because they castrated their captives. This reveals his high sense of love for his fellow-men. He was successful in both his wars and his deeds, and built a great many beautiful churches, of which by far the finest was St. Sophia in Constantinople. He collected and published the Laws of Rome [Justinian Code], and himself published strict laws against immorality and licentious behaviour. He composed the hymn: ‘0 only-begotten Son and Word of God’, which was first sung in the Liturgy in 536. He summoned the Fifth Ecumenical Council in 553, and died peacefully on November 14th, 565, at the age of eighty, entering into the Kingdom of the heavenly King." - Prologue of Ochrid
St. Justinian also firmly established the Feast of the Entrance of Christ Into the Temple during his reign.

This icon is a mosaic in the choir at Ravenna, San Vitale, early 6th century.

Order #pdg-12