Description
Saint Blandina of Lyon and the martyrs of 177
Saint Blandina was an enslaved Christian woman who suffered martyrdom at Lyon in 177. Her witness is preserved in the early account of the persecution of the churches of Lyon and Vienne, later transmitted by the historian Eusebius.
The account emphasizes her endurance and the encouragement she gave to fellow prisoners. Remembered with the martyrs of Lyon on June 2, she is an important figure in the Christian history of Gaul and in devotion to the early martyrs.
This full-length image shows Blandina in a red mantle, holding a leafy branch and a scroll. An amphitheater and a lion evoke the setting of persecution. The scroll uses the Gospel theme of rendering to Caesar and to God; it should be read as an artistic biblical reference, not a recorded quotation from Blandina.
Made in Poland on linden wood
Art Christiana makes this icon to order on a linden-wood board with two coats of primer. The image is printed directly onto the prepared surface and finished with decorative gold-tone metal leaf (schlagmetal). A certificate bearing the production year and a hanging fixture are attached to the back.
For a prayer corner or a setting devoted to early Church history. The icon can accompany prayer for persecuted Christians and reflection on the dignity of a woman whose social status did not diminish her witness.