Saint Pulcheria

Handmade wooden iconography of Saint Pulcheria, made on Mount Athos, on natural wood. The icon is delivered in a wooden box.

Saint Pulcheria, the daughter of Emperor Arcadius and Empress Eudoxia, was born in 399 AD in Constantinople. She was proclaimed Augusta in 414 and guided her younger brother, Theodosius II, with wisdom and devotion as he ascended to the throne. She was a fervent supporter of Orthodoxy and she played a pivotal role in the convening of the Ecumenical Councils of Ephesus (431) and Chalcedon (451). She established charitable institutions and contributed to the construction of the Monasteries of Xeropotamou and Esphigmenou on Mount Athos. Her significant contribution also included the founding of the University of Constantinople (Pandidakterion), regarded as the world's first organized university!  After the death of her brother, she married the wise senator Marcian, who succeeded Theodosius II as emperor. Their reign, though brief, was marked by their focus on faith and philanthropy. Saint Pulcheria passed away peacefully on September 10 and is honored as a model of devout leadership. She is commemorated along with her husband Marcian on February 17.