Saint Gaiana of Armenia

Orthodox icon of Saint Gaiana of Armenia on thick plywood 20mm, which does not sting and keeps its shape over time. Preparation with acrylic stucco and have been used acrylic colors. It has been covered with varnish to keep the colors undiluted in time and humidity. Hanging clip included on the back of the icon.  

St. Gaiana was the Abbess of a women's monastery in Asia Minor. When the Emperor Diocletian sought a wife for himself, he was brought portraits painted of beautiful women, and among them was of the beautiful virgin Rhipsimia. He sent word to her that he desired to marry her. Because Rhipsimia had dedicated her life to Christ in virginity, she secretly fled Asia Minor with her Abbess Gaiana and 70 nuns and went to Ararat in Armenia, where they hid in a cave. The King of Armenia, who desired Rhipsimia for himself, had Gaiana brought to the palace, to convince her to persuade Rhipsimia to marry him. Instead, she encouraged Rhipsimia not to give in. For this the King ordered that Gaiana be struck in the teeth with a rock until they fell out and was exiled to a distant land. During the night the King sent his soldiers to capture Rhipsimia, Gaiana and the other nuns. Gaiana were thrown to the ground and had her hands and feet cut off, pierced in her neck, skinned alive in a spool, her tongue cut out, her stomach torn open with rocks and iron instruments, and at the end beheaded. Her feast day is on September 30.