Mount Athos weathered lithography (icon) of Saint Photini, the Samaritan Woman, in pine wood with carved decoration.

Saint Photini was born and lived in the city of Sychar in Palestine in the 1st century AD. Photini lived a sinful and liberated life, a fact that had stigmatized her. On one of his tours in Samaria, our Lord Jesus Christ stopped at the famous well of Jacob to quench his thirst. Then the Saint appeared and Christ asked her to give him some water. She was surprised that a Jew agreed to talk to a Samaritan woman. The Lord revealed her life to her and told her that he was the true Messiah.

Photini left the sinful life, joined the Christian Church and asked the Apostles to work as missionaries. Together with her sisters and children, she went to many places to preach the Word of Christ, reaching as far as Rome. At that time the emperor was the insane Nero, who had begun the first persecution of Christians. In Carthage, Africa, he was arrested and taken to Rome. In front of the emperor she confessed her faith, as a result of which she was horribly tortured and killed along with her relatives.

The Orthodox Church commemorates it on February 26 of each year.

Apolytikion of Saint Photine, the Samaritan Woman

Third Tone

All illumined by the Holy Spirit, thou didst drink with great and ardent longing of the waters Christ Saviour gave unto thee; and with the streams of salvation wast thou refreshed, which thou abundantly gavest to those athirst. O Great Martyr and true peer of Apostles, Photine, entreat Christ God to grant great mercy unto us.