Orthodox Icon of St. Macrina

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July 19th
Troparion (Tone 3)
Thou didst lend wings to thy mind by thy love of wisdom, and wisely abandon the world's comforts. Thou wast an abode of true philosophy and by thine ascetic life thou didst become a glorious bride of the Saviour. Intercede with Him for those who cry: Rejoice, O Godbearing Macrina.

St. Macrina is another member of a wondrous family of Saints. She is the eldest sister of St. Gregory of Nyssa and St. Basil the Great and daughter of St. Emmelia. She was betrothed to a young nobleman who died before they were married. Macrina determined to maintain her virginity rightly considering her betrothal to be full and irrevocable commitment to marriage, saying: "It is a sin and a shame if the spouse does not keep faith when the partner goes to distant climes." Such was her faith in the Resurrection. She and her mother, St. Emilia, became nuns. Time passed and her mother died then her brother, Basil. Nine months after Basil reposed, Gregory visited Macrina on her deathbed in the monastery, and recorded her prayer: "Thou, O Lord, givest rest to our bodies in the sleep of death for a little time, then Thou wilt waken them again with the Last Trump. Forgive me, and grant that, when my soul is parted from my body, it may be presented before Thee." She blessed herself with the sign of the Cross and died at peace. She reposed in 379.

This icon is by the hand of Nicholas Papas. This icon is one of the "cloud of witnesses" at St. Philip's Antiochian Orthodox Church, Souderton, Pennsylvania.

Order #phn-67