Wood icon, "Saint Photine of Samaria", miniature, 7x10cm

Hand-painted orthodox wood icon representing Saint Photine of Samaria, the one who met the Savior Jesus Christ at Jacob’s well, whose feast day is February 26th. Miniature icon, measuring 7x10 cm. Original artwork, signed by Ana Drăgan (DAM).

The Holy Great Martyr Photine of Samaria (Greek: Photini; Slavic: Svetlana), equal to the apostles, is the one who met the Savior Jesus Christ at Jacob’s well. According to tradition, the Apostles baptized the Samaritan woman from Sychar with the name Photine, meaning “the enlightened one.” Her feast is celebrated on February 26 together with those who were martyred alongside her, and on the fifth Sunday after Holy Pascha (“Sunday of the Samaritan Woman”).

The Gospel of John recounts the encounter of Saint Photine, the Samaritan woman, with the Lord Jesus Christ at Jacob’s well. Through this meeting, she repented and proclaimed that Jesus is the Christ, becoming one of the earliest witnesses of the Good News.

Photini brought to faith her five sisters and her two sons, who began to preach the Gospel. After the martyrdom of the apostles Peter and Paul, she and her family left Samaria and continued preaching in Carthage.

During the persecution of Christians under Emperor Nero, her son Victor, a general of the Roman army, refused to persecute Christians and converted after witnessing a divine miracle. He, together with his mother Photine, his brother Iosi, and Duke Sebastian, boldly continued to confess Christ.

When Nero learned of this, he ordered them to be brought to Rome and subjected to torture. Saint Photine and those with her steadfastly confessed their faith in God, refusing to renounce Christ even under threat of death. By the power of their faith, many pagans present also believed, receiving the crown of martyrdom alongside Saint Photine and all those martyred with her.

Thus, the life and witness of Saint Photine and her family stand as an example of unwavering faith and courageous proclamation of the Gospel in the face of persecution and death.