Saints Fyodor and John the Varangians of Kiev (Whirledge) Icon - S683

Saints Fyodor (Theodore) and his son John were Varangian Christians who had immigrated from Greece to Kiev.

Before his conversion to Christianity in the year 988, Saint Vladimir the Great was a ruthless and violent pagan ruler. After a certain victory in battle, he desired to offer a child sacrifice in thanksgiving to his gods. Lots were drawn, and the house of Fyodor was chosen.

Messengers came to Fyodor's house, and they demanded that he give up his son John, saying their gods had claimed him. Fyodor refused to give up his son. He rebuked their idols and called on them to worship the true God. The messengers departed and brought soldiers against Fyodor.

Saint Fyodor again refused to give up his son. In imitation of the Prophet Elias when he faced the prophets of Baal, he said, "If they are gods, let them come and take my son themselves." At this, the crowd rose up against them, destroyed their house, and killed the martyrs.

These martyrs were venerated as saints within a century of their deaths. They are commemorated on July 12.

In the icon, Saint Fyodor holds a scroll that contains his words, "I will not give my son to demons."

After Saint Vladimir's conversion to the Christian Faith, he built the Church of the Tithes on the site of their martyrdom. It was damaged and rebuilt several times over the last 1000 years. The last iteration was destroyed by the Soviets in 1935. A small chapel was constructed on the site in 2006, but it was torn down by the Ukrainian authorities in 2023.

This icon is offered by Legacy Icons with the permission of the iconographer, Brian Matthew Whirledge.