Virgin-Martyr St. Agatha in the paintings of European artists

As we know from the history of the Christian religion, at the time of its formation and development was widespread mass extermination of Christians, followed by cruel executions.

Cruelty impresses the story of the massacre of the young's a pure Sicilian, Agatha, did not submit to the carnal desires of one of the governors of the Emperor's punishment for disobedience was cut off both her Breasts. This legend became a favorite subject of Western artists in the middle Ages and Renaissance, by tradition, depicting Agatha of her severed Breasts on a platter, and attributes of his martyrdom tongs, and large scissors.

Christian history knows many cases when people of faith in the Savior and bearing his ideas to the world, were to sacrifice, becoming martyrs. Among these was the Holy Agafiya (Agatha), born in Catania in Sicily in the early third century to a rich aristocratic family of a noble family. She was lovely and was considered an enviable bride. However, all attempts of the father to marry her was rejected by her.

At the age of 15, Agatha decides to preserve her virginity for the love of Christ. According to tradition, Bishop of Catania took a vow of a girl and covered her shoulders with a red veil, signifying devotion of the virgin of the bride Heavenly Bridegroom. Then she had to keep her virginity.

Arrest Agatha. Author: Felice Riposo Of Ficarelli.

Her beautiful face and amazing figure are still haunted men. And one day, Agatha has attracted the attention of the Roman Governor Kvitsiani. Like other candidates grooms, having been refused, the Governor hated the rebellious beauty, but even more delight in it. Just at that time, the Emperor Decius Trajan were trying to do, after Nero, a heroic attempt to eradicate Christianity. And being the Governor of Sicily, Quitian led a wave of such persecution Sicilian Christians. One of his first victims and became Agatha. He tried to win her at all costs, or cunning, or brute force — it did not matter.

St. Agatha. Author: Francesco Guarini.

A young Christian woman accused of insulting the state religion, the proconsul gave orders for her arrest. The girl was transported to Pretoria, where she started her Calvary. First Quinlan tried to "re-educate" his captive by corruption, sending her to the home of the famous courtesan Afrodisia that for a whole month trying to awaken in agate sensuality and carnal desire, strongly tempted to abandon loyalty to their Heavenly Bridegroom.

St. Agatha. Author: Giovanni Ballon.

A month Afrodisia, octopuses from her, said: "It will harder than lava of mount Etna". Furious Quinlan ordered to torture Agapiou, burning with fire, but these painful punishment force her to renounce Christ. The legend of St. says that during the brutal torture they had to amputate her chest scissors, and the second pulled out with pliers. Bleeding wounds burned with a torch and threw him in prison to bleed.

The Martyrdom Of Agatha.

According to legend it is also known that in prison the Martyr was the spirit of St. Peter, who was executed for 200 years before, in the Name of Christ healed the wounds of Agatha. And when a few days later the girl came back in the dungeon her executioners, she saw that her deadly wound healed. Surprise even more angry, the Governor gave orders to burn Agatha in the Dutch oven. However, when her body was burned on one side, on the other — it was protecting veil of the virgin, which coated the girl the Bishop at the dedication of God's bride.

Saint Peter in prison have Agafia. (1613). Author: Giovanni Lanfranco.

Brutal torture was interrupted by the outbreak of the earthquake on the island. The torturers, frightened, left her again in prison, where she soon died. And during the earthquake killed many pagans, and then frightened the Governor, seeing in this the hand of Providence, stopped the persecution of Christians.

(1510г.). Author: Bergognone.

A year after the martyrdom of the town of Catania in Sicily was the first miracle. On 5 February of the year 252 began the terrible eruption of the volcano that could destroy the city and kill the locals. Then Christian believers, praying and carrying the relic — the veil of virginity Agatha, not burnt in the fire — headed toward the lava flow. A miracle happened — the hot stream is stopped, and the city and its people were saved. Since then, St. Agatha is not only the protector of the city of Catania and the patroness of those suffering from earthquakes, but also a protector from fire and fire.

Author: Nicolo de Simone.

Agatha local Christians were buried outside the city, and sixty years later moved her remains in the newly rebuilt Cathedral in her hometown, where the body of the Saint lies still.

The Martyrdom Of Svyatoy Agatha. (circa 1755). Author: Giambattista Tiepolo.

Artists of the Medieval and Renaissance repeatedly affected by this heartbreaking topic with separate scenes of the martyrdom of Sicilian virgin. And it should be noted that the number of art works on this subject is not measured in tens and hundreds.

The Martyrdom Of Agatha. Author: Massimo Stanzione.

The Martyrdom Of St. Agatha.

The Martyrdom Of Agatha. (1650). Author: Giovanni Andrea Coppola

St. Agatha. Author: Stefano Bolognini.

Author: Giorgio Vasari.

These images present in the paintings of a number of churches in the XIII—XV centuries. cov, and show a very rich imagination of artists who in the details, "with knowledge of the matter" revealed the horrors of bullying recalcitrant virgin.

Iconography.

The Iconography Of Santa Agatha. (, 1505.). Author: Francisco de auxonne.

Often also found the Holy image, demonstrating his trimmed chest, laid out on a platter. It portrayed Francisco Zurbaran, Bernardino Luini, Lorenzo Lippi, Nicholas de Simone, Giovanni Cariani, Guido Cagnacci, and a number of masters, whose names remain unknown.

St. Agatha. (1638-1644 gg.). Author: Lorenzo Lippi.

In paintings, as a rule, the Western European artists depicted wearing Agatha, focusing the viewer's attention on her Breasts cut off, and sometimes on the instrument of torture.

St. Agatha. (1630−1633гг.). Author: Zurbaran.

(1635−1640гг.). Author: Guido Cagnacci.

St. Agatha. Unknown artist (Austria), 18th century.

(1540г.). Author: Sebastiano del Piombo.

St. Agatha. Author: Giorgio Schiavone.

The saints patrons.

The young Martyr faithful to the Heavenly Bridegroom, and in spite of unbearable suffering, deeply revered in the Christian world to this day. It is one of the seven Holy women commemorated in the Roman Canon. On 5 February, the day of her memory, according to tradition consecrated salt water and bread which allow you to defeat the evil forces and fires. St. Agatha is considered the protector of Catania, Malta and Sicily. It protects the residents from natural disasters.

Agate (agathia) — korovnitsa. Russian iconography.

In Russia it has long been the Holy great Martyr is venerated as the patron Saint of livestock. To protect cows from disease, the peasants in this day cleaned the barn, old shoes, impregnated with tar, said that cow death flees from them without looking back. With the same aim hung cow horns pieces of bread and "amphiboly" village plow, which harnessed a widow, as according to legend it was believed that this furrow impure force cannot cross.

And in our time, Agatha is the patroness of women suffering from breast cancer.

Italian crueller. Breasts Of St. Agatha.

In Italy to the present day preserved a centuries-old tradition in the feast day of Saint bake cakes in the shape of the female Breasts — Мinuzze di sant'agata. These are small round sweets with white icing and a candied cherry on top. Sometimes cake "Breasts of St. Agatha" offer under another name so as not to frighten nervous tourists.