Wood icon, "Saint Christina of Bolsena", miniature, 7x10cm

Hand-painted orthodox wood icon representing Saint Christina of Bolsena, whose feast day is July 24th.

Miniature icon, measuring 7x10 cm. Original artwork, signed by Ana Drăgan (DAM).

Saint Christina of Bolsena suffered martyrdom during the persecutions against Christians, being executed after enduring prolonged tortures, ultimately by being pierced with spears.

She was born in Tyre (Phoenicia, in present-day Lebanon) and lived during the reign of the Roman Emperor Septimius Severus (193–211).

Christina was the daughter of the Roman official Urban, who, wishing to shield her from worldly temptations and dedicate her to the service of the pagan gods, lodged her in the highest tower of his palace, surrounded by golden and silver statues of Roman deities.

Believing in the God of the Christians, Christina destroyed her father’s idols and distributed the precious metals to the poor. In retaliation, her father subjected her to harsh tortures and confined her in the tower for several more years. When she was eventually brought out, she still refused to abandon her Christian faith. Urban ordered her to be thrown into the sea, but she reached the shore unharmed.

After imprisoning her again and considering further tortures, Urban died suddenly, and his successor Dion continued her persecution. Christina was ultimately executed, remembered for her steadfastness in her faith and the suffering she endured.