Saint Daria of Rome Icon

Saint Daria of Rome Icon is a hand-painted Orthodox icon of the early Christian martyr Saint Daria, also known as Daria of Rome. She suffered for Christ in the third century together with her husband, Saint Chrysanthus. This icon presents her in a traditional full-length image that unites the signs of martyrdom, purity, and faithful Christian witness.

Saint Daria is shown standing in a rectangular kovcheg on a gold background. She wears a long green garment and a bright red maphorion, with a white embroidered veil covering her head. In her right hand she holds a white eight-pointed martyr’s cross; in her left hand she holds an open scroll. The red borders, gold background, cross, and scroll give the image a strict and clear canonical character.

Name-Day and Family Icon

This icon is especially suitable as a name-day icon for women and girls named Daria. It may be given for baptism, a name day, a birthday, or as a personal prayer image for a home icon corner.

Because the life of Saint Daria is inseparable from the witness of her husband, Saint Chrysanthus, the icon may also be chosen as a meaningful gift for a Christian couple, a wedding anniversary, or a family prayer space. Orthodox Christians turn to Saint Daria for help in faithfulness, chastity, repentance, and spiritual unity in marriage.

Saint Daria of Rome

Saint Daria lived in the third century during a time of persecution in the Roman Empire. According to her Life, she was originally a pagan priestess of Athena Pallas and was married to the noble young Chrysanthus, who had secretly accepted Christianity and was preaching the Gospel.

Those who arranged the marriage hoped that Daria would turn Chrysanthus away from the Christian faith. Instead, Chrysanthus brought his wife to Christ. The young spouses chose a virginal life in marriage and dedicated themselves to serving God. Through their example and preaching, many Romans came to faith in Christ.

When their Christian witness became known, they were arrested. Church tradition tells that Saint Daria was protected by a lion when persecutors tried to dishonor her. After torture failed to break them, Saints Chrysanthus and Daria received martyrdom, being buried alive with earth and stones.

Full-Length Composition

The icon shows Saint Daria full-length in a strict, balanced composition. The rectangular kovcheg frames her figure, while the smooth gold background indicates the heavenly light of the Kingdom of God. The ground beneath her feet is painted in an olive-green tone.

The borders are painted in a strong red color without elaborate ornament. This restraint focuses attention on the saint herself: her face, garments, cross, scroll, and prayerful standing before God.

Green Garment and Red Maphorion

The long green garment, or chiton, points to eternal life and spiritual flowering. Over it lies a wide red maphorion. In icons of martyrs, red is the color of blood shed for Christ, and also the color of life triumphing over death.

The edges of the maphorion are decorated with a fine gold border and pearl-like detail. The contrast of red, green, white, and gold gives the icon a clear visual rhythm and keeps the image both solemn and readable.

White Veil, Cross, and Scroll

The white veil completely covers Saint Daria’s hair and falls toward the chest. In this icon it signifies purity, chastity, and the virginal life that Daria and Chrysanthus chose by mutual consent in their Christian marriage. The veil is enriched with gold and red ornament.

The eight-pointed cross in her right hand is the traditional sign of a martyr. It shows that Saint Daria accepted suffering and death for her confession of Christ. The open scroll in her left hand symbolizes the preaching of God’s word and the spiritual witness through which the holy spouses led many people to the Christian faith.

Prayer Before the Icon

Before an icon of Saint Daria of Rome, Orthodox Christians pray for repentance, strengthening of faith, protection of the family, faithfulness in marriage, chastity, freedom from temptations, and help in raising children. She is also venerated by women and girls who bear the name Daria.

The icon is not a charm or a substitute for church life. It is a sacred image that helps the believer pray with attention, ask for the saint’s intercession, and remember the call to purity, faithfulness, courage, and repentance.

Feast Day

Several holy women named Daria are commemorated in the Orthodox calendar. Saint Daria of Rome, together with Saint Chrysanthus, is commemorated on April 1, which corresponds to March 19 on the old calendar.

This date is often connected with the name day of Orthodox women named Daria. The icon may therefore be chosen for baptism, a name day, a birthday, or another important family occasion.

Materials and Hand-Painted Work

The icon is painted by hand on a linden wood board with a carved kovcheg and oak splines on the reverse side. Linen canvas is applied to the board, followed by layers of chalk gesso. The image is painted in egg tempera, using traditional icon-painting methods.

The background and halo are gilded with 23K gold leaf (960 purity). The finished icon is covered with protective varnish or oil. Since each icon is painted by hand, small differences in colors, garment folds, scroll text, veil ornament, and facial expression are natural.

Available Sizes

This icon is available in 13×25 cm (5.1×9.8 in), 18×31 cm (7.1×12.2 in), and 30×50 cm (11.8×19.7 in). Iconostasis sizes can be made by individual agreement.

The 13×25 cm size is a compact elongated format, convenient for a small prayer shelf. The 18×31 cm size gives the icon painter more space for the face, garment folds, scroll text, and veil ornament. The 30×50 cm format is suitable for a larger home icon corner or as a church gift.

Free international shipping is included. Payment is made after you receive and approve the icon.

Care for the Icon

A hand-painted icon with gold leaf should be protected from moisture, direct sunlight, heaters, humidifiers, kitchen steam, and sudden temperature changes. Do not use water, alcohol, sprays, or household cleaners.

Dust may be removed only with a dry soft brush or dry microfiber cloth, without pressure. The gold background and halo are delicate and should not be rubbed. For better long-term protection, the icon may be placed in a wooden kiot with glass.

Icon Characteristics

Name	Saint Daria of Rome Icon
Saint	Holy Martyr Daria of Rome
Iconographic type	Full-length martyr with eight-pointed cross and open scroll
Feast day	April 1 / March 19 old calendar
Visual details	Green garment, red maphorion, white embroidered veil, martyr’s cross, open scroll, gold background, red borders
Materials	Linden wood board, kovcheg, oak splines, linen canvas, chalk gesso, egg tempera
Gold	23K gold leaf (960 purity) on the background and halo
Available sizes	13×25 cm, 18×31 cm, 30×50 cm; iconostasis sizes by agreement

Questions and Answers

Who is Saint Daria of Rome?

Saint Daria of Rome was an early Christian martyr of the third century who suffered for Christ together with her husband, Saint Chrysanthus.

Why is Saint Daria shown alone without Chrysanthus?

Icons may show Saints Chrysanthus and Daria together or separately. A single full-length icon of Saint Daria is often chosen as a name-day icon for a woman or girl named Daria.

What does the white veil mean?

The white veil symbolizes purity, chastity, and the virgin way of life that Daria and Chrysanthus chose within their Christian marriage.

Why does Saint Daria hold a cross?

The eight-pointed cross is a traditional attribute of martyrs. It shows that Saint Daria accepted suffering and death for her confession of Christ.

What does the scroll mean?

The open scroll symbolizes the preaching of God’s word and the Christian witness through which Saint Daria and Saint Chrysanthus brought many people to Christ.

What do Orthodox Christians ask Saint Daria to pray for?

They ask for repentance, strengthening of faith, protection of the family, faithfulness in marriage, chastity, freedom from temptations, and help in raising children.

Can this icon be given as a wedding gift?

Yes. Because Saint Daria’s life is closely connected with her Christian marriage to Saint Chrysanthus, the icon can be a meaningful gift for a wedding or wedding anniversary.

What materials are used for this icon?

The icon is made on a linden wood board with a kovcheg, oak splines, linen canvas, chalk gesso, egg tempera, 23K gold leaf (960 purity), and protective varnish.

What sizes are available?

The icon is available in 13×25 cm, 18×31 cm, and 30×50 cm. Iconostasis sizes can be made by individual agreement.

How should this gilded icon be cared for?

Keep the icon away from moisture, direct sunlight, heat, and sudden temperature changes. Dust it only with a dry soft brush or microfiber cloth, without pressing on the gilded surface.