The holy martyr Tatiana was born in Rome, the daughter of a noble dignitary who secretly professed the Christian faith and raised her daughter in true veneration and fidelity to the Christian faith.
Saint Tatiana did not want to get married, but decided to devote herself to serving the church. She was installed as a deaconess in one of the Roman churches and devoted all her strength to performing church duties.
The Holy Martyr Tatiana suffered during the persecution of Christians under the young Emperor Alexander Severus (222—235). She was captured and brought to the temple of Apollo, where she was forced to sacrifice to a pagan idol. Having refused, Saint Tatiana was subjected to severe torture, but the firmness of her faith and patience were unshakable. Amid the torment, she only prayed that God would enlighten her tormentors. And the Lord heard the prayer of the righteous woman.
Through her prayer, statues of pagan gods were destroyed three times. The torment to which Saint Tatiana was subjected either did not harm her, or during the night their traces disappeared without a trace, or the tormentors themselves suffered from blows inflicted by an invisible hand. Shocked by the saint's steadfastness, Tatiana's tormentors immediately openly addressed Christ, turning from executioners into martyrs for Christ. The hungry lion, released on Saint Tatiana in the circus arena, began to caress her without causing her the slightest harm.
The signs of the power and truth of the Lord, revealed in the martyrdom of Saint Tatiana, led many to faith in Christ. And then the frightened persecutors condemned the martyr to execution with the sword. Her father, who revealed to her the truths of Christ's faith, was also executed along with her.
The holy martyr Tatiana is also considered the patroness of students. As history shows, among the many Moscow patronal holidays Tatiana's Day — of Tatiana's name day and the holiday of Moscow University students, celebrated on January 25 (January 12, old style) — was special.