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Orthodox icon of Saint Ludmila of Bohemia.
Comemmorated September 16.
The Holy Martyr Ludmilla, a Czech (Bohemian) princess, was married to the Czech prince Borivoy. Both spouses received holy Baptism from St Methodius, Archbishop of Moravia and Enlightener of the Slavs (Comm. 11 May).
As Christians, they showed concern for the enlightening of their subjects with the light of the true Faith, they built churches and invited priests to celebrate the divine services. Prince Borivoy died early at age 36. St Ludmilla, as a widow, led an austere, pious life and continued to be concerned for the Church during the reign of her son Bratislav, which lasted for 33 years.
Bratislav was married to Dragomira, with whom he had a son, Vyacheslav. After the death of Bratislav, eighteen-year-old Vyacheslav came on the throne. Taking advantage of the inexperience and youth of her son, Dragomira began to introduce pagan manners and customs in the country.
St Ludmilla, of course, opposed this. Dragomira came to hate her mother-in-law and tried to destroy her. When St Ludmilla moved away to the city of Techin, Dragomira sent two boyars in secret to murder her. St Ludmilla was praying at the time, and the two assassins entered the house and carried out Dragomira’s orders.
The relics of the holy Martyr Ludmilla was buried in Techin in the city wall. Numerous healings occurred at her grave. Prince Vyacheslav transferred the body of St Ludmilla to the city of Prague and placed it in the church of St George.
Ladder of Divine Ascent icon
Orthodox icon of the Ladder of the Divine Ascent.
Copy of an icon of 12th cent. Monastery of Saint Catherine, Sinai Egypt.
Ladder of Jacob icon
Orthodox icon of the vision of Jacob. Icon of 16 cent. Mount Athos.
"He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it." (Genesis 28:12)
Ladder of the Divine Ascent, the Vision of St. John of Climacus icon
Orthodox icon of the Ladder of the Divine Ascent. The Vision of St. John of Climacus
Copy of an icon of 1663 cent. of Emmanuel Gante.
NOTE: The sizes of the icon ARE NOT EXACT
St. Kalliope icon
Orthodox icon of Saint Kalliope, Kalliopi, Calliope.
Commemorated June 6th.
It is unknown where the Holy Martyr Kalliope was from, who suffered during the years of the Emperor Decius (249-251 AD). She was known for her bodily and spiritual beauty, and also for her clear and deep piety. During the persecution of Christians of that era, she was arrested and led before the eparch for judgment.
He immediately observed Kalliope's beauty, and was occupied by evil thoughts and desires, and sought with promises and flattery to convince her to fulfill his guilty desires. But Kalliope remained indifferent to his promises and unshakable in her faith. This enraged the eparch, who saw that his hopes were proving false, ordered that she be immediately be tortured terribly until death.
Thus, having been whipped mercilessly, and having had her breasts cut off, they burned her with lit torches, and poured vinegar and salt on her wounds. In the end, they beheaded her, and thus St. Kalliope received the incorrupt crown of glory, and entered into the joy of her Bridegroom Christ.
Reference: G.O.A.A.
