05 works, Today, October 12th, is Probus, Tarachus, and Andronicus' day, their story illustrated #283

Unknown artist

Martyrs Probus, Tarachus, and Andronicus

I have no further description, at this time

Andronicus, Probus, and Tarachus were martyrs of the Diocletian persecution (about 304 AD). All three suffered during the reign of Diocletian. Though born in three different places, the three were found to be Christians at Pompeiopolis in Cilicia, arrested together, and brought before the Governor, Numerian Maximus. Tarachus was sixty-five years old at the time of his arrest, but his captors showed no respect for his age, tormenting him as cruelly as the others.

 

Tzortzi (Zorzis) Fuka

Holy Martyrs Prov, Tarakh and Andronicus, c. 1547

Fresco

Athos, Dionysiates Monastery

 All three immediately and boldly confessed their faith, and were put to many vicious tortures, during which Probus said to Maximus, 'This bloodshed is oil and perfume for me to anoint myself with joy for further contests.' Tarachus was beaten on his cheeks and neck with stones, his hands were burned, he was hanged on a post and smoke was put underneath him to choke him; vinegar was forced down his nostrils and into his wound. Probus was thrashed with whips, his feet were burned with red hot irons, his back and sides were pierced with heated spits.

Fyodor Andreyevich Bronnikov, (1827–1902)

A martyr in a circus arena, c. 1869

Oil on canvas

I have no further description, at this time

Fyodor Andreyevich Bronnikov (1827–1902) was a Russian-born history and genre painter who spent most of his life in Italy.

He displayed an early affinity for drawing. At the age of sixteen he went to Saint Petersburg, hoping to enter the Imperial Academy of Arts. After failing to gain admission, he became an apprentice in the workshop of Evstafy Bernardsk. His talent drew the attention of the sculptor Pyotr Clodt, who arranged for him to audit classes at the Academy. In 1850, he was able to become a regular student. He graduated in 1853 and was awarded a stipend to study in Italy for his graduation painting, The Mother of God.

The following year, he settled in Rome and established his own studio He painted a wide variety of canvases, including landscapes, village scenes, genre scenes, historical works and, of course, portraits of the city's notable citizens. His health was poor, so he remained there after his stipend expired, to take advantage of the warm climate.

He paid a long visit home from 1863 to 1865. While there, the Academy awarded him a professorship in history painting. He also came into contact with a group of dissident artists who would later be known as the Peredvizhniki; which inspired him to paint a series of genre works on peasant life. Later, he became a member of the group and regularly sent paintings from Italy to show in their exhibitions. He was awarded the Order of St. Anna as well as being named an Academician and an honorary member of the Academy. 

He died near Rome. Despite having lived in Italy for most of his life, he left over 300 paintings and drawings and the equivalent of 400 Rubles to establish an art school in Shadrinsk. The school was not established until the Soviet period and the works were used as the basis for a museum More on Fyodor Andreyevich Bronnikov 

Finally, Maximus ordered them taken to the theater and thrown to wild beasts for the entertainment of the people. Though the beasts had just torn others to pieces, they would not touch the holy martyrs, but played and fawned around them: A ferocious bear licked their wounds, and a lioness played affectionately around Tarachus. Seeing this, many in the crowd believed in Christ and denounced the Governor.

 

Menologion of Basil II

Saints Provos, Tarachos and Andronikos, 11th century

Illuminated manuscript 

Vatican library

The Menologion of Basil II is an illuminated manuscript designed as a church calendar or Eastern Orthodox Church service book that was compiled c. 1000 AD, for the Byzantine Emperor Basil II (r. 976–1025). It contains a synaxarion, a short collection of saints' lives, compiled at Constantinople for liturgical use, and around 430 miniature paintings by eight different artists. It was unusual for a menologion from that era to be so richly painted. It currently resides in the Vatican Library. More on The Menologion of Basil II

Unknown artist

Martyrs Tarachus, Probus, and Andronicus

Fresco

Visoki Decani Monastery, Kosovo

The furious Maximus ordered his soldiers to enter the arena and cut the three to pieces. Three Christians who had witnessed the spectacle came by night to retrieve their bodies, but were unable to distinguish the martyrs' relics amid the general carnage. When they prayed for divine aid, three lights appeared above the bodies of the three holy ones, and they were given honorable burial in a mountain cave. More on Andronicus, Probus, and Tarachus