Tatiana Day

Tatiana Day is a Russian religious holiday observed on January 25 according to the Gregorian calendar, January 12 according to the Julian. It is named after Saint Tatiana, a Christian martyr in 2nd century Rome during the reign of Emperor Alexander Severus. According to legend, she was the daughter of a Roman civil servant who was secretly Christian, and raised his daughter in the faith. This was dangerous, and one day Ulpian captured Tatiana and forced her to make a sacrifice to Apollo. She prayed, and miraculously, an earthquake destroyed the idol and part of the temple.

Tatiana was then blinded, and beaten for two days, before being brought to a circus and thrown into the pit with a hungry lion. But the lion did not touch her and lay at her feet. This resulted in a death sentence being pronounced, and after being tortured, Tatiana was slain with a sword on January 12 (Julian). The miracles performed by Saint Tatiana are said to have converted many people to the fledgling religion.

In 1755 on Tatiana Day, Empress Elizabeth of Russia signed an announcement of the founding of a State University. The Russian Orthodox Church then declared Saint Tatiana the patron saint of students, and Tatiana Day became also known as the Day of Russian Students.