Natalya, which means “native” in Latin, is one of the most popular Russian names in Russia and in the world. For every girl, girl, woman bearing this name, the icon “Natalia” will become a guardian, protector and an amazing example of fidelity to her faith and her husband. Such an icon for newborn Natalya would be a wonderful gift. Why, after so many centuries, does this holy martyr continue to attract us?

The feat of Saint Natalia

Saint Natalia was not tortured, she was not executed, but her bloodless martyrdom makes one feel real admiration for this amazing woman. Her feat dates back to the time of Emperor Galerius (293-311). There were not many years left before the edict of Emperor Constantine the Great on religious tolerance, but under Galerius the persecution of Christians continued.

Arriving in Nicomedia, he demanded that Christians make sacrifices to the pagan gods, otherwise they would be doomed to death. Sacred books and Christian churches were burned, so it is not surprising that many Christians hid their religion. Natalia, the wife of a high-ranking Roman official Hadrian, did the same, without even opening up to her husband.

Adrian was amazed at the torment Christians were willing to go to for the sake of their Savior. He talked with them a lot and in the end he himself believed. Adrian did not hide his conversion, and was immediately thrown into prison. So from high-ranking official he instantly turned into a Christian doomed to torment.

When Natalya learned about her husband’s conversion to the True Faith, her soul was filled with jubilation. She immediately came to the dungeon and told Adrian that they were now of the same faith. After the torture, her husband was in terrible condition, with broken legs, and Natalya stayed to look after him. She also helped other fellow believers who endured inhuman torture, but remained steadfast in the faith, washing their wounds, bringing them food and praying with them.

It is difficult to imagine the mental state of this woman, who endured incredible pain, not just physical, but mental. When her husband's torment ended in execution, Natalya was very afraid that she might be forced to marry again, because she was not only young and beautiful, but also very rich.

There are two versions about how Saint Natalia died. According to one, she died at her husband's grave three days after the execution; according to another, she fled to Byzantium, where she soon died. Often these Nicomedia martyrs are depicted together in the icon of Hadrian and Natalia, and their joint celebration is established on the same day.

Description of the icon

When you look at Orthodox icon“Saint Natalia”, then she amazes with the tragic and, at the same time, unyielding gaze of the great martyr. She is usually depicted in a dark red robe, with a cross in her right hand and a scroll with a prayer in the left. Sometimes she holds a scarf in her left hand, symbolizing her devoted care for her husband.

The meaning of the icon of Saint Natalia

The meaning of the icon of the Great Martyr Natalia lies in the fact that it serves as an eternal reminder of fidelity - fidelity to one’s faith and one’s spouse. She was with him “in sorrow and in joy,” but even death could not separate them, because they were supported by faith in the One God, and only thanks to this faith was the great martyr able to endure mental torture when her husband endured physical torture.

The icon of Saint Natalia reminds us that marriage is not only a common bed and a common household, but also the deepest unity in faith, in thoughts and actions, supporting each other in the most hopeless situations.

What does the icon of St. Natalia help with?

Saint Natalia set an example of selfless marital devotion and devotion to the True Faith, therefore prayers are addressed to her for strength in faith, for perseverance in the face of unfair accusations. She helps young couples not only create a strong union, but also maintain family life mutual love, mutual understanding and fidelity. If on the way career growth obstacles arise, prayer to Saint Natalia can also help.

Prayer to the icon

Oh, holy servant of God Natalia, having fought a good deed on earth, you have received in heaven the crown of righteousness, which the Lord has prepared for all who love Him; In the same way, looking at your holy image, we rejoice at the glorious end of your life and honor your holy memory. You, standing before the Throne of God, accept our prayers and bring them to the All-Merciful God, to forgive us every sin and help us against the wiles of the devil, so that, having been delivered from sorrows, illnesses, troubles and misfortunes and all evil, we will live piously and righteously in the present We will be worthy through your intercession, even though we are unworthy, to see good on the land of the living, glorifying the One in His saints, the glorified God, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.

The early Christian saint Natalia of Nicomedia is revered by the Orthodox as a symbol of marital love and fidelity. An icon with her image, with worthy and sincere prayer and faith, will help strengthen family relationships and protect your loved one from various harassment and troubles. The feast day of Saints Natalia and her husband Adrian is celebrated on September 8th. The saint’s relics are today kept in Milan, in the Basilica of San Lorenzo Maggiore.

Life

The Holy Martyr Natalia of Nicomedia, together with her husband Adrian, lived at the beginning of the 4th century in Nicodemus, in Asia Minor. Hadrian was a pagan and served as an official for the emperor Maximian Galerius, who was a hated persecutor of Christians. This ruler especially cruelly punished those who hid Christians, and promised rewards and honors to those who informed on them. That's why endless denunciations began. One day, the wicked reported to the military commander that Christians were hiding in one of the caves and spending their nights singing prayers to their God.

Fearless Christians

The soldiers immediately caught all the Christians in it, who numbered twenty-three. They were put in iron shackles and sent for questioning to the emperor. Maximian ordered them to be mercilessly beaten with sticks, then on the mouth with stones. However, the executors did not so much strike Christians as they crushed themselves in the jaw. The saints told the lawless emperor that incomparably greater torments awaited him than them. And all because he obviously did not think that all people have the same bodies, with only one difference: his is unclean and nasty, and theirs is cleansed by Holy Baptism.

Saint Adrian

Then the king ordered the prisoners to be shackled in iron chains and sent to prison. Their names and speeches were to be recorded in court books. When they were brought into the courtroom, one of the noble men (Adrian), who observed the terrible torment of Christians, asked them what reward they expected to receive from their God for such torment? They answered him with words from Holy Scripture, where it is said that the eye did not see, the ear did not hear, and the heart did not come to man what the Lord had prepared for those who love Him. When Adrian heard such words, he went out to the scribes and told them to write down his name next to the names of these martyrs and for Christ he was ready to die with them.

The king heard about this, became angry and wanted him to immediately repent. But Adrian said that he would repent before the true God for the sins he had committed when he was a pagan. Then Adrian was shackled in iron chains and sent to prison among those martyrs.

To my husband in prison

When his wife Natalya was told about what had happened, she tore her clothes. But when she learned that he had become a Christian, she rejoiced in spirit. Natalia of Nicomedia had long been a Christian, like her holy parents, but the girl kept this secret, and now she firmly decided to declare it. She put on her best clothes and went to her husband in prison. There the wife fell at Adrian’s feet, began to kiss his chains and beg him not to be afraid of torment, for everything will soon end, and he will receive an eternal reward from Christ in Heaven.

Saint Natalia of Nicomedia

She went to her home, and a few days later Adrian asked to go home to call his Natalya to execution. Seeing Adrian in the courtyard of Adrian’s house, Natalya closed all the doors and sobbed bitterly. She thought that he had become an atheist and renounced the faith of Christ, and therefore he was released.

Adrian reassured her and said that he had come to say goodbye to her, that the saints in prison had vouched for him, and now he needed to return quickly. Hearing such speeches, she opened the doors and hugged her husband. And then they went to prison together. There Natalia of Nicomedia began to kiss the shackles of the martyrs, whose wounds festered and worms fell from them. Then she sent for a maid to bring linens for bandages.

Torture

Adrian was still strong, and he was the first to be led to execution. Natalia of Nicomedia encouraged him in every possible way. Maximian demanded that a sacrifice be made to the pagan gods. And then they began to beat the martyr in the stomach, so hard that his insides began to fall out. Adrian was young, he was only 28 years old, after torture he was again sent to prison. Natalya was always there, encouraging her husband, wiping off his blood and wounds. There were other wives with her, who looked after the holy martyrs and applied healing herbs to their wounds. Having learned about this, the authorities forbade women from entering the prison. Then Natalia shaved her head, put on a man's dress and continued to care for the saints and her husband, whom she prayed to intercede when he appeared before God about her chaste and imminent death. Pious women also took Natalia’s example, shaved, changed into and looked after the martyrs.

Holy Martyrs

The wicked king, having learned about this, ordered the martyrs' legs and arms to be broken. They immediately proceeded to Adrian. Natalya was afraid that Adrian wouldn’t stand it, she was there and calmed him down, and then she lifted his legs and arms and put him on the anvil. Adrian could not stand such suffering and gave up his soul to the Lord. Other prisoners were also brutally tortured, then their bodies were thrown into the oven. Natalya also wanted to rush into it after her husband, but lightning flashed, it started to rain, and the stove went out, and many of the tormentors fell dead. The fire did not take the bodies of the martyrs. One pious husband and wife took the bodies of the saints onto a ship to take them to Byzantium.

Rescue ship

Natalya remained to live with herself, she kept the hand of her holy husband, anointed it with myrrh and wrapped it in purple. Soon the chief of a thousand began to woo her, since she was still young and beautiful. Natalya asked for three days, during which time she could escape to Byzantium. One day she tearfully prayed to the Lord and, exhausted, dozed off. In a dream, Natalya saw one of the holy martyrs. He ordered her to immediately board the ship and sail to where their relics were located - there the Lord would appear to her and lead her to them. At this time, the devil was sailing on a ship, wanting to lead them astray and destroy them. Many ships died because of him, but the ship with Natalya remained unharmed, since Saint Andrian appeared in shining robes and warned them of the dangers.

Holiness

They swam safely to the place. Martyr Natalia of Nicomedia came to the temple to the bodies of the martyrs, knelt down, put the hand of Saint Andrian to his body and prayed for a long time. Tired from the road, she fell asleep and had a dream in which her master Saint Andrian appeared to her and warned her of an imminent reward. Natalia woke up and told her dream to the Christians who were nearby and asked them to pray for her. And then she fell asleep again and never woke up. A little later she was found dead. Thus, Saint Natalia of Nicomedia completed her martyrdom without shedding blood and appeared before Christ as martyrs.

The holy image of the martyr Natalia is found in almost every house where a woman of the same name lives. Servants of the Orthodox christian church claim that the icon of St. Natalia is a bright patroness of the family hearth, as a result of which many Christians believe that this image or list, is a talisman of family happiness and is aimed mainly at protecting the family hearth.

Description of the icon of Saint Natalia

This Orthodox Christian image represents a certain young girl who is holding an Orthodox Christian cross in her hands. The left hand is often turned with the palm towards the person who is serving a prayer service in front of the Holy Image, or on some lists you can see that in her left hand the Holy Martyr is holding a scroll with a certain prayer. The name Natalya translates as Rozhdestvenskaya. The holy image of the Great Martyr Natalia can be found in many Christian churches and churches.

History of the icon of Saint Natalia

Behind this miraculous face lies the unique story of Saint Natalia’s loyalty to her beloved husband Adrian. The history of this Holy image begins in the city of Nicomedia. At that time, a couple lived in this city loving people One of the historical facts is that Orthodox Christian believers were subjected to various persecutions by the rulers of the Roman Empire.

It is believed that the Holy image represents a kind of spiritual connection between husband and wife. The sacrifices of the Holy Martyrs were necessary in order to establish faith in the Almighty throughout the world. It is indisputable that after many centuries and centuries, Orthodox Christian believers remember all the martyrs who contributed to the strengthening of the Orthodox Christian faith.

The meaning of the Natalia icon

This shrine differs from many other icons in that the Holy Martyr Natalia is depicted in full height.

Temple servants claim that Martyr Natalia during the period own life was able to endure a huge variety of mental suffering and experiences. On one of the lists, a woman is depicted in a white robe, which is a kind of robe, which speaks of martyrdom. The cross she holds in her hands can also symbolize minor sacrifice. In some lists you can find an image of the Holy Great Martyr Natalia, who holds a scroll in her hand instead of a cross. It denotes sacrifice and torment for the sake of the people and complete obedience and worship of the Lord. The red color on the icon of Saint Natalia denotes great faith in the Almighty.

Priests in temples and churches claim that married couples often turn to the icon of the Holy Great Martyr Natalia for help and support. This is due to historical information that is known to almost the whole world about how a woman suffered a huge amount of torment, but at the same time did not leave her husband until his soul ascended to the Almighty.

What do they pray for in front of the holy image of the martyr Natalia?

Many Orthodox believers turn to this Holy image for help and support and often ask near it:
- happiness in marriage;
- well-being in the family;
- protection for their spouses;
- mercy for all relatives and friends.

That is why this Holy image is found in almost every church or monastery. So that every woman, man or married couple can come and ask for help, support, protection and mercy from the great martyr Natalia.

The power of the icon of the martyr Natalia

At that moment, when the Saint’s husband named Adrian was arrested, the woman did not leave him, but helped not only him, but other arrested Orthodox Christians. Natalya visited them almost every day and offered prayers of praise directed to the Lord with them. Often, Natalya and other prisoners, as well as her husband, asked the Almighty not for protection, but for strength and courage in order to accept their own life with dignity. painful death at the hands of the pagans. Adrian's wife Natalia was sentenced to death, and at that moment his wife did not leave him. Initially, the executioner cut off the man’s lower limbs, and then the upper one, but Natalya took the hand and hid it, it was for this and for her faith in the Almighty, as well as by the power of her own spirit, that she was subsequently depicted as a Saint in the icon. After a while, the bodies of all the prisoners were taken and transported to the city in order to save them from burning. Adrian's wife came to this city and at will joined her hand with her husband's. On the same day, when the woman was sleeping, she had a dream in which she saw her own husband, who said that in the near future her soul would be reunited again. And so it happened, the day after his execution, the woman Natalya rested on the body of her own husband.

Location at the relics of Natalia of Nicomedia

I would like to note that the Most Holy One is the most famous bloodless martyr. In other words, we can say that she died with an abundance of blood, not under torture and execution, but from internal emotional experiences and heartache. It is important to know that at the moment when the woman died, her body was buried near the Holy Great Martyrs.

Around the 4th century, a certain Saint Mitrofan, who at that time was the bishop of Byzantium, erected a Temple, which was named after Natalia and Adrian. Since then, after the construction of the temple, the relics of both martyrs were located and kept there.

After some time, the relics were transported from Constantinople to Rome. A little earlier, Pope Honorius 1 erected a temple near the Senate building, which was also where the Holy Names and relics were kept there. Some historians and other experts claim that it is in Rome that the relics of the great couple Adrian and Natalia are kept to this day.

Day of Remembrance

The day of remembrance of Saint Natalia of Nicomedia, who is depicted on the miraculous icon of the martyr, is considered September 8th. On this very day a large number of Orthodox Christian believers go to a temple or church in order to offer prayers for protection and mercy directed to this Great Martyr.

Priests claim that very often young married couples or people who are just about to enter into legal sacred bonds turn to this holy image. They ask the Great Martyr for the protection of their family hearth, as well as help in difficult life family troubles.

Servants of the temple, churches and monasteries recommend that every Christian turn to the icon of St. Natalia for help with a pure heart and soul, so that prayers are heard in short term. Of course, in addition to the prayer service, you can read an akathist or offer another prayer.

There are known cases when the miraculous holy face helped a man in severe life situation, this happened due to the fact that his wife at that moment prayed to the Great Martyr Natalia for mercy, protection and help. This is exactly how it has been done since time immemorial: in order to maintain harmony in the family, you need to pray before the icon of Natalia. This is also why in every home iconostasis there is an image of the Holy Great Martyr Natalia of Nicomedia.

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The Holy Martyr Natalya, whose image is depicted on the miraculous icon, lived during the time of persecution of Christians. She herself was a Christian, but kept her faith secret. Although Natalya was a rich city dweller, she helped the poor and never refused to help the suffering, for which she was loved and revered. Natalya is called a saint and a martyr not because she herself was subjected to painful torture, but because of the torment that she experienced seeing her husband and other martyrs suffer.

Icon of Saints Natalia and Adrian

The name of the holy martyr Natalia, depicted on the icon, is inextricably linked with the name of her husband Adrian, who was the head of the court chamber. They had been married for just over one year when 23 Christians were arrested and subjected to terrible torture. To find out why they did not renounce their God, I talked with each of them, and since he was an intelligent and kind man, God’s grace descended on his soul, he believed in true God and ordered his name to be entered on the list of those arrested, after which he was taken to prison.

The power of Natalia icon

When Adrian was arrested, Saint Natalia supported him and other arrested Christians, constantly visiting them and reading prayers together, turning to God with a prayer to give strength and courage to accept a painful death. Adrian was sentenced to execution, and during the execution Natalya was next to him. When the executioner broke Adrian’s legs, Saint Natalya supported her husband, holding his hand. After this, the executioner cut off Adrian’s hand and his soul went to the abode of the Lord. Natalya took her husband’s hand and hid it. For her faith in God and strength of spirit, an image was inscribed on the holy icon. A righteous man named Eusebius took the bodies of all the Christians executed that day and transported them to another city to save the bodies of the martyrs from burning. Saint Natalia arrived there and connected her hand with her husband’s body. That night Adrian appeared to her in a dream and said that their souls would soon be reunited and the next day she rested on her husband’s body.

The miraculous power of the icon of Saint Natalia

Pray to the holy icon of the martyr Natalia for happiness in marriage, for the protection of the family hearth. I recommend buying miraculous icon Natalya, embroidered with beads, for women bearing this name, since the holy saint Natalya is their heavenly patroness and will help in any way difficult situation or in a moment of confusion. Newlyweds who are about to get married, as well as wives whose husbands are undergoing difficulties in a just cause, turn to the icon of the Holy Great Martyr Natalia.