Woman at the Well, Photini

The Samaritan woman at the Well is a Byzantine icon based on the biblical gospel of John. This text is the longest conversation Christ had with anyone. An un-named woman Jesus meets at the well, after his long journey on foot from Judea to Galilee. This is a 3 day walk of 75 miles. He is tired, thirsty, and sitting by Jacob's well when she arrives at high noon to get water.

Who is this woman? What do we know of her through this passage? This long conversation of the Woman at the Well, Photini is documented only once in the Bible. The story shows that she is an uneducated outsider. We also know that the Bible doesn’t record a name for her. She could be anyone. And also no one. She is nameless and faceless in our scripture.

We have an entire tradition of western Christian interpretation of the Samaritan woman at the well based on this passage. As long as this story is, and it being the longest conversation of Jesus’ teaching in New Testament it feels like something special might be happening here. This long and complex two-way theological conversation is unfolding with this unknown and unnamed woman, and what are the guys in the scene doing? The disciples are standing around looking dumbfounded at Jesus, who culturally isn’t supposed to be speaking to a woman at all. Jesus carries on this lengthy conversation, with a Samaritan woman the Jewish authorities have warned against because of their flirtations and tempting behaviors.

Our Western interpretation has regularly concluded that Photini was of questionable character and lived a life of sin prior to this encounter. We are taught that Jesus meets a ‘fallen woman’ at the well, ‘saves’ her and encourages her. She repents of her horrible ways, recommits to doing good, and returns to her village to share the good news. That view of this story might be doing both Jesus and the Samaritan woman a great disservice, leaving her nearly erased from history, erased from the narrative, leaving her as another plot point or tool for a larger story.

More to the story of the Woman at the Well, St Photini

The Western Church ends the story of this woman here. But guess what? This really is the beginning of her story. This is where her story really starts to get good!

The Eastern Orthodox Church, from which we have this beautiful tradition of iconography, tells the rest of the story. History records that she was baptized in the following months, christened with the name Photini. Photini translates into English roughly as ‘the enlightened one’ or ‘luminous one.’ Centuries of Greek literature prior to the Middle Ages document her significant status in the work of the church. Throughout the Orthodox Church, she is repeatedly referred to as Mary Magdalene was – an Apostle to the Apostles, equal to the Apostles, and an Evangelist. She became an important figure in the early church. The Eastern Byzantine Church clearly documents that Photini was not a passive listener, but an actively engaged, and intellectual catalyst. In more than a few holy records from over 1500 years ago, her vision, testimonies, and work are directly compared to male disciples and found to surpass them.

What happens after her encounter with Jesus grows in interest and meaning immediately after her life-changing moment at the well. Jesus reportedly stays and teaches her and others in Samaria for days after this encounter. She is inspirational in inviting others in the village to “come and see”. Photini converts to Christianity, and she embarks on a life of travel as a missionary. She leaves Samaria with her sons, one who was a general in the Roman army, to share their experiences and belief with others. They travel to Carthage, which at the time was the center of the Roman province in Africa. [And just another aside here, whether they walked, went by sea, or some combination of both, it was an arduous 500 mile trek.] They brought the teachings of Jesus to the people of Carthage, as well as the Roman army through Photini’s son, Victor. He ended up converting the Roman military commander in Carthage to Christian belief.

This is where Photini's trouble begins.

The news of many converts did not make the Roman Emperor very happy at all. This guy IS someone you’ve probably heard stories of. His name is Nero. The man who has a reputation for being spiteful, small, small-minded, petulant, and also horrific. Nero called Photini to Rome immediately with her family for an audience with him. At the time Nero was just beginning his persecution of all Christians – including St. Peter and St. Paul. After a conversation in which the family affirmed their beliefs in the teachings of Jesus, Nero was ‘enraged’ and ordered that they were to be tortured. But no one relented or recanted their faith despite the intense punishment and pain. Nero was stumped. So, he decided to change his approach, and sent his daughter, Domnina, to speak with Photini and beg her to renounce her faith.

After speaking with Photini, Domnina converted to Christianity.

Nero was furious. He tried flogging, flaying burning, poisoning, – he even had the entire family cast into a cave with poisonous snakes! – nothing achieved the end he was anticipating. Exasperated, he then imprisoned the family, but that backfired, too, as many prisoners heard their teaching and converted to Christianity as well. Finally, Nero called Photini to him again to ask her to repent and offer worship to his Roman idols.

A quote:

Photini spat in his face, laughed at him, said, “O most impious of the blind, you profligate and stupid man! Do you think me so deluded that I would consent to renounce my Lord Christ and instead offer sacrifice to idols as blind as you?” Last straw. At this, Nero gave orders to throw Photini down a well. She died there in the year 66, approximately 30 years after the death and resurrection of the man we call Jesus Christ. I have to smile at all of this, really. Her tenacity, her wit, and her deep faith! There is tremendous value in uncovering the WHOLE story of hers, not just the tiny bit we are allowed in the Bible. Hers is a story, beginning with a life-altering conversation at a well and ending with the completion of prophecy and His ‘living water.’

Photini is recognized as a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church. She is honored with this simple prayer written centuries ago by Orthodox Christians, and celebrated with a feast day that falls in the season of Lent.

Illuminated by the Holy Spirit, All-Glorious One,

from Christ the Saviour you drank the water of salvation.

With open hand you give it to those who thirst.

Great-Martyr Photini, Equal-to-the-Apostles,

pray to Christ for the salvation of our souls.

In my opinion, what Jesus saw in her was not a sinner who needed saving, but in fact, a truth seeker, a woman who was clearly looking for answers to hard questions. How many of us here today are right there with her? This encounter was not finite as our Bible suggests and we have been taught. It is timeless. The beginning of something beautiful and holy because of one single encounter.

Where are you in your own beautiful and complex story? I hope that you consider the layers and layers of significance that can and do unfold in each aspect of your own lives, and honor the life you are meant to lead and love and enjoy.

What did Jesus do for Photini? This woman who showed intelligence, strength, faith, and wit and sarcasm? He SAW her. He knew her NAME. He respected her. He told her who He was and why He was here. He made her an apostle–one who was sent out to preach to the world. And she did. As the scripture says, “Come and see. Through her invitation, many believed in him.”

“The engaged mind, illuminated by truth, awakens awareness; the engaged heart, affected by love awakens passion. May I say once more – this essential energy of the soul is not an ecstatic trance, high emotion or a sanguine stance toward life: It is a fierce longing for God, an unyielding resolve to live in and out of our belovedness.