Slaying serpents (or dragons) isn't just a man's work. One day after the commemoration of St George who famously put a serpent in its place, we honour St Elizabeth the Wonderworker of Constantinople (Apr 24/ May 7), who famously put a serpent in its place. St Elizabeth, who was Abbess of the Saints Cosmas and Damian Monastery, lived centuries after St George. St Elizabeth did it not slay the creature with the aid of a sword, but simply by her prayer.

St Elizabeth, who practiced an ascetic life from her youth, also healed a woman with an issue of blood who had been ill for many years and cast out unclean spirits. At her tomb, many were healed of various illnesses, and the blind received their sight.

Portions of St Elizabeth’s relics can be found at the Monastery of Saint Anna in Lygaria, Crete and the Monastery of Ntaou Penteli in Athens, Greece.

☦ Saint Petersburg.

Orthodox christians decorated the entrance area of their appartment building in Easter spirit, but migrants from Tadjikistan didn't like it and removed the decor, including the icon.