05 Works, Today, July 8th, is the Great Martyr Procopius' day, his story in art #189

Unknown artist

Holy Great-martyr Procopius of Caesarea in Palestine

I have no further description of this artwork at this time

Martyr Prokopios (303), was born in Jerusalem of a Christian father and a pagan mother, at first bearing the name Neanias. After his father's death, his mother brought him up entirely in the spirit of Roman idolatry. When he had grown up, the Emperor Diocletian saw him at some time and was so pleased with him that he took him to court to serve in the army. 

Unknown artist

Saint Procopios the Great Martyr, c. 1600

33.8 x 25.6 cm 

Ionian Islands

When the Emperor launched a persecution of Christians, he ordered Neanias to go with a detachment of soldiers to Alexandria and exterminate the Christians there. But, on the road, there happened to Neanias something similar to that which happened to Saul. At three o'clock in the morning there was a violent earthquake, the Lord Jesus appearing to him and saying: 'Neanias, where are you going, and against whom are you rebelling?' In great fear, Neanias replied: 'Who are you, Lord? I cannot recognise You.' Then a brilliant Cross, as of crystal, appeared in the sky and a voice came from the Cross: 'I am Jesus, the crucified Son of God.' The Lord went on: 'By this sign that you have seen, overcome your enemies, and My peace will be with you.' 

Theophanes the Cretan

St. Prokopios the Great Martyr, 16th Century

Stavronikita Monastery, Mount Athos

Theophanis Strelitzas, also known as Theophanes the Cretan, or Theophanes Bathas, was a leading icon painter of the Cretan School in the first half of the sixteenth century, and in particular the most important figure in Greek fresco-painting of the period.

He was born in Heraklion in Crete , and no doubt trained there, but all his known work was done in mainland Greece. Frescoes bearing his signature survive in the Greek monasteries of Mt. Athos, especially Stavronikita monastery and Lavra, and in Meteora, which has his earliest dated work, from 1527. He also did many panel icons, either for iconostases or small portable works. By 1535 both he and his two sons had become monks in the Lavra monastery of Mount Athos, where many of his best works remain. Theophanes returned to Crete before his death in 1559.


Like most Cretan painters of this date, his work shows some influence from Western painting, but less in his case than with many artists. Some faces are personalised or looking out to the viewer, and his figures are modelled to convey volume. His work is more conscious of visual perspective than older Byzantine artists, but he does not use the geometrical perspective schemes by then standard in the West. He uses traditional Byzantine compositions, in a rather austere and powerful manner. More on Theophanis Strelitzas

This event utterly changed Neanias's life. He caused a cross such as he had seen to be made, and, instead of moving against the Christians, set off with his soldiers against the Agarians, who were attacking Jerusalem. He entered Jerusalem victorious and told his mother that he was a Christian. 

Unknown artist

St Procopius in armour with two rivets

Manuscript

National Centre of Manuscripts of Georgia

Brought to trial, he took off his army belt and sword and cast them before the judge, demonstrating by this that he was a soldier only of Christ the King. After harsh torture, he was thrown into prison. There Christ the Lord appeared to him again, baptising him and giving him the name Procopius. 

When St Procopius was led to the scaffold, he raised his hands towards the East and prayed to God for all the poor and needy, the destitute and the widowed, and especially for the holy Church, that it might grow and spread and that Orthodoxy might shine to the end of time. He was assured from heaven that his prayer was heard, after which he joyfully laid his head under the sword and went to his Lord, to eternal joy. St Procopius suffered with honour in Palestinian Caesarea, and was crowned with an eternal wreath of glory, on July 8th, 303." More on Martyr Prokopios

Unknown artist

Holy Great Martyr Procopius of Caesarea, in Palestine (303), St. Procopius the Fool-For-Christ and Wonderworker of Ustiug, Vologda (1303), Saint Theophilus the Myrrhgusher (1548), Royal Martyr Mirdat, King of Kartli (408-410)

I have no further description of this artwork at this time

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