The name Galina translated from Greek means “calm, serene,” but the life of the holy martyr Galina of Corinth turned out to be neither calm nor serene. He accomplished his feat of faith in the third century; Some sources indicate 250-251 years, others - 258 years.
Galina's homeland was the city of Corinth in the Greek province of Achaia, the largest after Athens, where the Apostle Paul spread the Christian faith in his time. A sharp turning point in Galina’s life occurred after meeting the righteous elder Kondraty, thanks to whom she converted to the true faith. This is worth mentioning separately.
Memorial Days:
- March 23
- April 29
Story
In that distant period, Christians did not have churches, although there were places where secret meetings took place. People learned about faith from their acquaintances, friends, or by accident. Not every community had a priest. Although the church as an organization existed, communication between cities was hampered by huge distances, persecution also did not improve the situation.
Many Christians suffered in Corinth, including Saint Galina. Her icons have preserved for the Orthodox the bright face of a young woman. She was a student of the hermit Kondrat. The community was not very large, but friendly. Many people gathered around the elder. The saint was from a Christian family; his parents were killed when he was still a baby. Kondrat grew up pious and often retired to the mountains to pray.
History has preserved for us the names of other disciples of the Corinthian martyr:
- St. Cyprian;
- St. Dionysius;
- St. Hariessa;
- St. Nika;
- St. Theodora and others
Church memory remembers everyone on one day, since they became famous together, and prayer is also common. In frequent prayer, you can ask your patron saint for any help.
Persecution
When Decius ascended the throne, he decided to “restore order” to religion. An important point was regular sacrifices. But the inhabitants of the empire began to show negligence in this. The pagan emperor believed that this was why fortune began to turn away from Rome. He issued a decree according to which everyone was obliged to sacrifice an animal, taste its meat, after which the citizen was given a special certificate (libelus).
Since Christians refused to worship pagan gods, they were the first to be attacked. Saint Galina and other Christians, who are depicted on a number of icons together, were arrested. At first they tried to persuade them - many Christians actually made sacrifices and received libeluses, but not Kondrat’s disciples. They patiently awaited judgment in prison, preparing their souls for eternity.
The emperor's viceroy initially tried to convince the martyr to renounce his faith through conversation. St. Kondrat presented his arguments to him, but the boss did not want to believe that God could become a man. He ordered the saint to be tortured by hanging him upside down.
Torture and execution
The holy elder Kodrat was captured and thrown into prison along with his disciples. Galina was also captured and, together with her fellow believers, subjected to terrible torture, but she, like others, did not renounce the true faith. Then Jason ordered wild animals to be set on the righteous, but the animals did not touch them.
Enraged, Jason ordered them to be tied by their feet to chariots and dragged in this form through the entire city, while a crowd of pagans standing along the road threw stones at them. When the martyrs finally found themselves outside the city, where they were to be executed, they asked for only one thing - to be allowed to pray to the Lord.
After the prayer, they took turns humbly approaching the executioner, who cut off their heads with a sword, and where the holy innocent blood was shed, a pure spring gushed out as an eternal reminder to the inhabitants of Corinth about the innocent righteous killed.
Galina, along with other wives, followers and students of Saint Kodrat, could have hidden even before prison, but chose to voluntarily go to torment for the sake of the Lord.
According to one legend, all the holy women were beheaded; according to another, they were thrown into the sea along with Codratus’s disciple Leonidas, but they did not go to the bottom, but straight through the water, singing praises to Jesus. Then the Roman soldiers boarded the ship, caught up with the righteous women and drowned them, hanging stones on their necks.
Saint Kondrat bravely endured trials, he found the strength to instruct and support his disciples. The reminder of their imminent meeting with the Lord consoled them: not one wavered, gave up, or renounced the faith. The icon does not depict what kind of execution the martyr Galina suffered. Most of the prisoners had their heads cut off, some were thrown into the fire, and torn into pieces with iron rods. Some of the women were drowned in the sea.
The cruel emperor did not rule for long - he himself was soon killed in battle, like his son. Decius's plans for world domination were not destined to come true; Constantine soon gained power, adopted Christianity and people found the true God.
Brief biographical information
Little is known about Galina’s life. According to sources, the girl lived on the outskirts of the city of Corinth. The reign of Emperor Decius was marked by a new round of struggle against Christians. The pagans attacked with renewed vigor the followers of the especially talented elder Kondraty. Galina was one of Kondraty’s students.
Several years of searching and persecution led the soldiers of Decius to the refuge of Christians. All supporters of Elder Kondraty were arrested and thrown into prison. Much is said about Elder Kondratiy in Galina’s life. He was born in the desert to a fugitive named Rufina. The woman died immediately after giving birth, but the child miraculously survived. He ate dew, and birds fed him from their beaks. Gradually the child grew up and learned to read and write. Kondraty began to wander around the cities and talk about how the Apostle Paul appeared to him.
Paul began to come to him often, he told him about faith. Kondraty began to say prayers. The teaching made Kondraty a skilled healer, but he inevitably devoted his free time to prayers and solitude. He visited the mountains, prayed for the salvation of his mother’s soul, and asked for a meeting with God.
Kondraty was followed by many contemporaries. As an old man, he showed miracles of wisdom, instructed many lost people, and was an adviser and permanent mentor. The group of disciples was led by Dionysius, among the followers were other righteous people:
They all united around Elder Kondraty. Their purpose was to preach Christianity. When Decius' soldiers found them, the righteous prayed as they did every day.
The Christians were captured and thrown to be devoured by wild beasts, but they did not dare touch them. Then the soldiers dragged the condemned men by their feet to the square for public execution. Angry pagans beat the bodies of those sentenced to death with huge stones. The men were ground down by a large quarry. The bones of the men crunched, inhuman screams erupted from their mouths, indicating insane suffering.
The women who were among the prisoners had the opportunity to hide, but they did not. Proud Christian women came to the square to accept death at the hands of the executioners. There is an alternative version according to which some of the righteous were executed in the square with a cruel and terrible execution, and some of them were thrown into the sea. According to various stories, women were able to walk on water. Then they were captured again and dragged to the square, where they were beheaded.
At the place where the righteous were executed, a spring with clean water appeared the next day after their death. He reminded the people of Corinth of what had happened. After this, life for the pagans was never the same. Many townspeople thought about the barbaric executions, and the source of pure healing water daily returned them to the events of the past days.
Description and meaning of the icon of St. Galina
The holy image of the martyr Galina was created around the third century. Every person who has been able to see this Orthodox creation at least once can say that the icon carries with it some kind of calm and even peace. Often, the icon depicts Galina with a cross in her hand, and her head and hands are always covered.
On the icon, the martyr is most often represented in a half-length image. She is mostly depicted in red robes, always with her head covered. In one hand she has a cross, the other hand is raised and open, which symbolizes the purity of her soul and righteous loyalty to Christ and readiness to help everyone who sincerely needs help.
Currently, such icons are very popular, but before purchasing, be sure to make sure that the Holy Face was previously consecrated in a temple or church.
Otherwise, prayers directed to her may not be heard, as a result of which Saint Galina will not be able to help you if you lose faith in the Almighty.
The icon of Galina the holy martyr is an image that is probably in the house of every girl or woman of the same name. After all, she is their Guardian Angel. The icon is of great importance for representatives with the same name, because by enlisting the support of a righteous saint, you can get rid of everyday difficulties and more.
Iconography
The icon of Saint Galina is a symbol of faith and martyrdom. Anyone who owns such an icon understands that faith does not come easy. Any doubt in faith can be the beginning of a difficult stage in life.
On the traditional icon, Galina is depicted as a holy martyr. She is dressed in simple clothes of a warm terracotta shade, Galina's hands are positioned differently. The right hand holds a cross, signifying unshakable faith, the other hand is hidden in a robe.
It is customary for Orthodox believers to decorate the icon of Galina with beads, gilding, and drape with expensive fabrics. This is a sign of respect and veneration for Saint Galina.
Righteous Galina
In addition to Saint Galina of Corinth, it is necessary to mention the holy righteous Galina - the daughter of the Roman emperor Septimius Severus, who was a pagan and a fierce persecutor of Christians.
She convinced her father to abandon the worship of pagan idols. Galina became a Christian thanks to the miracles, faith and patience of Bishop Magnesia Harlampy.
When he was taken into custody and subjected to martyrdom, she tried to protect him and twice crushed the erected idols in the local Christian temple.
When Saint Harlampius died, she buried his remains. The father did not dare to execute his daughter, so when her time came, she died peacefully. Her name is remembered at church services on February 10 (23).
last years of life
At the end of her life, many sorrows befell Princess Olga. When she was old, there was a triumph of paganism in Rus'. The princess, a zealot of Orthodoxy, had to secretly keep a priest in her house to perform services and requirements. But she raised her grandchildren in Orthodoxy at her own peril and risk.
In 969, the Pechenegs attacked Kyiv. At this time, Svyatoslav’s squad was far from the capital city, but Princess Olga was able to repel the invaders with the help of a small army commanded by Governor Pretich. By this time, Olga was already elderly and seriously ill. Feeling the approach of death, she began to pray earnestly, calling on God, praying for the arrangement of the fate of the state and the entire people. She did not leave prayer until the last hour. Svyatoslav was with his mother until her death. On July 11, 969, the princess died. According to the will, she was buried according to Christian traditions.
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What does the holy icon help with?
How strange, in the age of spiritual freedom, when there is no persecution and all the doors to knowledge of the sacred will of the Lord are open, people voluntarily renounce faith, neglect knowledge of the Word and attendance at divine services.
Prayer at the icon of St. Galina helps:
- rise from spiritual decline;
- strengthen the Christian faith;
- get rid of spiritual illnesses and infirmities;
- observe fasts and remain in prayer.
After a prayerful stay at the holy image, those praying experience the courage to overcome the machinations of the devil, who is trying to distract Christians from the faith.
The icon of the holy martyr Galina is a reminder to Christians of the feat of faith, of the price that the disciples of Jesus paid for their faith in the third century of the last millennium. The holy image, as in a mirror, reflects our spiritual weaknesses. The story of life, persecution and terrible torment makes every conscious Christian think about the given grace of coming to the cup of the Lord without fear for his physical life.
On a note! The Church remembers the saints who were martyred for their faith in Jesus Christ in the early period of Christianity on one day, April 29.
Devotees of faith strengthen believers during fasting and prayer rules, showing how insignificant our sacrifice is compared to the price that the first Christians paid. Saint Galina helps each of us understand what place church life should occupy in the lives of Christians in order to gain the eternal life that lies ahead.
Prayer before the icon
“Oh, most holy martyr Galina! Before Your miraculous icon, I pray for help and support! Hear me and help me on the difficult path. Deliver us from suffering, guide us on the right path. Don't let fears and sorrows darken my soul. Show me the path to a godly life. Deliver me from my sins and forgive me for all my evil and unclean thoughts. Become my intercessor, for only You can help me. I will glorify Your name, I will honor You forever. In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen".
There is another prayer - not to Galina alone, but to everyone who died with her.
Prayer to the holy martyr Leonid and the martyrs Chariessa, Nika, Galina, Kalisa, Nunekhia, Vasilisa, Theodora, Irina and others who suffered with them:
O holy martyr! Extend your favorable prayers to our Lord and Creator and beg His goodness to grant us (names) everything necessary for eternal salvation, and also necessary for this temporary life: we believe without a doubt that everything is possible for you, as His true saint. Hey, holy wonderworkers! Do not disgrace our hope, but through your prayers make us heirs of being the Kingdom of Christ, so that we glorify the love of mankind in the Trinity of the glorified and worshiped God, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and your holy intercession, forever and ever.
The icon of the holy martyr Galina has miraculous powers. She helps everyone whose prayers are sincere and pure. She will definitely help in any trouble and misfortune if your soul is filled with light, and love for Christ and the Christian faith always lives in your heart.
Prayer text
Oh, holy servant of God Galino, having fought a good deed on earth, you have received in heaven the crown of righteousness, which the Lord has prepared for all who love Him: thus, looking at your holy image, we rejoice at the glorious end of your life and honor your holy memory. You, standing before the throne of God, accept our prayers and bring them to the All-Merciful God, to forgive us every sin and help us against the wiles of the devil, so that, having been delivered from sorrows, illnesses, troubles and misfortunes and all evil, we will live piously and righteously in the present We will be worthy through your intercession, even though we are unworthy, to see good on the land of the living, glorifying the One in His saints, the glorified God, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen. HOLY RIGHTEOUS GALINO, PRAY TO GOD FOR US.
Source of the article: https://pravoslavy.ru/ikony/svyataya-galina
Human qualities associated with this name
It is believed that the owners of this name are characterized by quite certain traits. In early childhood, Galina spends more time with her father than with her mother, and most often Galina can be seen in the company of boys than girls, in addition, among the boys she is considered “one of their own.” Growing up, Galina, like all girls, loves to dress up and put on makeup. And she also likes to show off in front of the mirror. But Galina does not like women's gossip and rumors. The Galinas also love children very much and therefore most often choose a teaching profession in the future. Galina is very diligent and sometimes calculating. They can achieve great success if they manage to do the right thing in a certain case. Among other things, Galina has charm.
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According to the Orthodox calendar, Galina’s Angel Day is celebrated in the spring, and she will be very pleased to receive a bouquet of spring primroses on her name day. Galina's best life partners can be men whose names are: Alexey, Boris, Valery, Victor, Vladimir, Vladislav, Georgy, Evgeny, Fedor, Felix, Eduard, Yakov and Yaroslav. There will be a difficult marriage with Vladlen, Ignatius, Igor, Leonid and Nikolai
Let's pay attention to one more interesting news. Orthodox Patriarch Alexei II, on the twenty-fifth of May in the year two thousand and seven, issued a decree according to which the day of the angel Galina according to the church calendar should be celebrated not only on the days mentioned above, but also on the twenty-third of February
You can read more about this in the materials published by the Moscow Patriarchate.
Another version
According to another legend, the disciples of Elder Kondrat were martyred on April 16, old style, in 258 during the reign of Emperor Valerian. This happened on Easter. The holy women, together with Saint Leonidas, were thrown into the sea, but a miracle happened: they did not drown, but began to walk on the water, as if on dry land, and sing divine hymns.
They were followed by a detachment of soldiers on a ship, who, having overtaken them, tied a heavy load of stones to the necks of the martyrs and drowned them.
Galina is a holy martyr who brought her cross to God. The days of honoring her memory are usually celebrated on March 10/23 and April 16/29.
