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Icons of St. Boniface of Rome,
Martyr
Feast Day: December 29
Boniface of Tarsus was one of
the slaves of a dissolute woman named Aglae or Aglaida. Both were
pagans and lived in debauchery together at Old Rome. Tiring of their
way of life, both explored Christianity as a meaningful way. Aglaida
decided to sent Boniface on an errand to collect holy relics from
eastern lands. Finding upon arrival at Tarsus that the authorities were
torturing Christians, Boniface openly declared himself to be a
Christian. His own body constituted the requested relics, and were
brought back to Aglaida, who upon receiving them became a Christian
with all her heart. In his memory she constructed a church, which today
is the Church of Santi Bonifacio e Alessio. She distributed her wealth
to the poor and lived in a monastery for 18 years. She received the
divine gift to exorcise evil spirits. The Eastern Church celebrates
both of them on December 19 as the "Martyr Boniface at Tarsus in
Cilicia and Righteous Aglaida of Rome."
Holy Martyr Boniface, pray to
God for us!
Top Icon is an old Russian
icon.
Next Icon: of unknown
provenance, with Slavonic inscriptions.
Next
icon is available from Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Boston;
bottom
Icon is from Russia, possibly the 16th-17th c.
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