In Christianity in general and, of course, in its Orthodox tradition, a sufficiently large number of icons has a special meaning. Suffering people come to them in times of great need for help and comfort. Each such icon has its own story, almost all such images have a miraculous effect.
But even among the unusual icons there are special ones. One of these images is the icon of Guria, Samon and Aviv. It is generally accepted that this image is able to protect from strife, prevent quarrels and enmity between loved ones, protect the house from ill-wishers and their influence and preserve the integrity of the family.
Who is depicted on the icon?
The icon of Guriy, Samon and Aviv, whose photo is presented on almost every thematic Orthodox portal, depicts three Christian martyrs. These people lived at different times and, of course, did not suffer for the faith together. The union of saints who did not live together on one icon-painting image is not at all something out of the ordinary. This artistic technique is typicalfor Christian culture in general and, of course, for Orthodox iconography.
The saints are believed to have lived between 293 and 322. And since the time of their lives and deeds in the name of faith almost coincide, the Christian tradition has united these martyrs.
Church historians do not have a common opinion about whether Gury and Samon knew each other. They suffered for their faith in the same city, and there is an official version of joint martyrdom. Aviv, however, died much later and had no direct relationship with Guria and Samon.
How are the saints depicted?
The icon of Saints Gury, Samon and Aviv depicts each of the martyrs in a peculiar way. Guria icon painters represent in the form of an old man. As a rule, on the image it is in the center. However, in the wall paintings typical for Orthodox churches, the location of Guria is not always the same. The figure of an old man is depicted both in the center and at the head of the composition.
Samon is usually presented as a middle-aged man. Usually, if Gury is written in the center of the image, Samon takes place on his right hand. When depicted on wall frescoes, his image is usually the second, if the figures are depicted sideways, in profile. But in the case when the icon painter depicts Guria in the center on the fresco, the image of Samon can be both the first and the last.
Aviv is presented as a young man, sometimes even a boy. The image of Aviv is the most ambiguous. Icon painters adhere to the sameness in the depiction of Samon and Guriy, but Aviv everytimes it is presented by the authors of the images is not quite the same.
How do we know about the martyrdom of these saints?
For the first time, descriptions of the martyrdom of all three saints were recorded in Syriac. The text was compiled by Theophilus of Edessian. Translations of his works into Armenian, Latin and Greek have survived to this day. In the history of the martyrdom of these saints, the church is guided by a list of the text of Theophilus, made in the 15th century. Due to the fact that a lot of time has passed from the moment the manuscript was compiled to the design of this text, church historians admit the possibility of any inaccuracies in the document that appeared due to numerous translations and copyings.
Extremely little is known about the author himself, all knowledge is gleaned from his own description of the martyrdoms of Saints Guriy and Samon. Theophilus describes himself as a pagan who converted to Christianity. And he mentions that he began to work on a description of the act of martyrdom of Christians in the city of Edessa on the fifth day after its completion.
When did the saints martyr?
The image of these three holy martyrs is a revered icon. The Holy Martyrs Guriy, Samon, Aviv were among the last Christians who suffered terribly for their devotion to the faith. But in addition to the terrible death that many Christians took in those distant times, these people were buried. The believers managed to take away their bodies and perform the burial ceremony, which was a great rarity at that terrible time for Christians. They began to pray to the holy martyrs almost immediately after their death, and in church history a lot of evidence of miracles associated with their images has accumulated.
The saints perished in torment during the Great Persecution begun by Emperor Diocletian and continued by his heirs. It was the most terrible time in the entire history of the formation of Christianity. Many historians, in an effort to highlight and emphasize the power of persecution, compare the atrocities perpetrated by pagans against believers in Christ with convulsions of the physical body preceding his death.
It was in the era of the Great Persecution that hundreds of Christians died daily in the arenas, accepted other deaths, languished for years in dungeons and street prison pits. Terrible events throughout the empire became commonplace, no one was surprised anymore and did not especially single out the death of another believer.
There were not so many exceptions. And among those whose names have been preserved and revered by believers, were the martyrs Aviv, Guriy and Samon. Their stories shocked the author of the biography and the martyrdom itself, even against the backdrop of the evil and lawlessness that was happening at that time. And the fact that local Christians did not leave the bodies of the martyrs, but buried them at the risk of their own lives, also testifies to the exclusivity of their feat in the name of the Lord.
What is the martyrdom of Samon and Guria?
The icon of Guriy, Samon and Aviv does not accidentally represent the saints in different ways from time immemorial. Samon and Gury were simple laymen who had nothing to do with the conduct and organization of divine services. Aviv, according to his biographies, served in the rank of deacon. They also died in different ways.
Christians of Edessa became aware of the upcoming arrests and many of them fled from their familieswalls, left the city. Among the Christians fleeing persecution were both future martyrs. The city authorities sent a chase after the believers, and some of them were captured. Samon and Guriy were among these Christians.
The martyrdom itself began immediately after the capture, at the trial. This was also a rarity, as a rule, at first Christians were thrown into dungeons, where they languished in anticipation of their turn. The future saints were not only immediately presented before the court of the authorities, but they also began to be tortured. After being tortured, Samon and Gury were thrown into prison for several months. Subsequently, another trial took place, after which the saints were beheaded. It happened during the reign of Diocletian.
What is Abib's martyrdom?
Aviv served as a deacon, that is, he was in one of the lower, first ranks. His martyrdom took place later, under the reign of Licinius, who was emperor from 308 to 324. The young man was "offered" to offer sacrifices to the Roman gods, thereby demonstrating a rejection of the Christian faith.
Aviv showed steadfastness and did not deny Christ. He was subsequently burned alive. In the biography of Aviv, it is stated that the body of the young man remained incorruptible. The young deacon was buried by his own family in the immediate vicinity of the tomb of Samon and Guria.
When is the memory of saints honored?
Martyrs' Memorial Day - November 28th. On this day, the icon "Guriy, Samon and Aviv" in Moscow and other cities is taken to the limit, and during the divine services the deeds of the martyrs are remembered.
In Moscow, the most famous of the icons depicting martyrs is in the Church of St. John the Warrior, located on Yakimanka.
What is the meaning of the image?
It is believed that in every home, especially young families, there should be an icon of Guria, Samon and Aviv. How does this image help the newlyweds? In saving a marriage, keeping one's vows, keeping love and respect between family members.
The image prevents the appearance of deceit and anger, enmity and misunderstanding in relations between loved ones. Protects families from domestic violence and preserves the warmth of feelings between spouses. That is, the icon of Guria, Samon and Aviv patronizes marriage, like the saints themselves.
How did martyrs come to patronize families?
The incident that happened in Edessa helped the saints to gain fame as patrons of marriage and defenders of wives from injustice and perjury of husbands. It happened during the invasion of the Hun empire, during the period of the bishopric in this city of Eulogy of Edessa.
One of the soldiers fell in love with a local girl, an exemplary Christian and beauty, Euphemia. The warrior asked for her hand from the mother of the girl, Sophia, who was a widow. Sophia hesitated for a long time before allowing this marriage. But nevertheless she blessed the union of the young with the condition that the Goth would take an oath to respect and protect her daughter on the tombs of the holy martyrs of Edessa. The icon of Guriy, Samon and Aviv had either not yet been painted, or the widow did not have it.
Be that as it may, the Goth took the oath that Sophia wanted to hear, and soon left Edessawith a young wife. But in his homeland, Euphemia was in for an unpleasant surprise. The husband was married. Of course, the pagan wife was not happy with the girl brought from the far south. When a baby was born to Euphemia, a pagan poisoned him.
A girl collected foam from the baby's lips and added it to a glass of water for her husband's first wife. That same night, the pagan woman died, and her relatives accused Euphemia of murder. The girl was laid alive next to the pagan for a joint burial, but the Christian, remembering the oaths taken by the Goth on the tomb, began to pray to the holy martyrs. In the process, the girl lost consciousness, and came to herself in a Christian church in her hometown, not far from her mother's house.
The news of the miraculous return of Euphemia quickly spread around Edessa, as well as about her misadventures. Goth was not lucky, he again had to come to this city. Of course, the warrior, as soon as he was in Edessa, was convicted of perjury and executed. This is how the icon "Guriy, Samon and Aviv" acquired a meaning that remains with the image to this day.
How to pray in front of an icon?
You need to pray sincerely before the image - this is the main and only condition, there are no others. If the icon of the martyrs Guria, Samon and Aviv is in the house, then you can turn to the saints at any time. If there is no image in the house, then the time of prayers is limited to the work schedule of the temple in which there is an image. Words can be anything, no need to memorize texts. Appeal to the saints must come from a pure heart.
Prayer example:
Martyrs saints, Gury,Samon, Aviv! I fall down to you and call you as witnesses, I pray for help and mercy, for intercession for me, a servant of God (proper name) before the Lord! Do not leave me at the unfortunate hour. Save my house. Save my family from evil and slander, from bad thoughts and dishonor. Keep from anger and internecine strife, from rage and violence. Do not let us lose respect and piety, guide us on the true path in Christ and save us from losing it. Amen.
