Eldress Galaktia of Crete: the 4 Things God Wants from Us

What Eldress Galaktia of Crete teaches us about humility and confession. Her legacy and the testimonies of people who met her are collected in the new book about her life.

«Lord, grant me only humility and silence. I ask nothing else from You. Humility births love for all Your creations. I know that I am the greatest sinner, and no one else in the universe has embittered You as much as I, the despicable one, have. Help me to live with this every day. Do not let the devil fool me into thinking I am something when I am nothing. Grant me only to feel how sinner I am and help me to follow Your commandments to find mercy from Your countless love. Do not let me despair because of my sins but let me rejoice every day because You have mercy on me and will save me because You are compassionate. Do not let me have evil thoughts or judge my fellow human beings. I am to blame for them, and since I am the cause of their sin, I must only judge myself. Lord, Lord, do not deprive me of the river of Your divine mercy. Amen!».

In this article you will read about the symbolism of various objects in Byzantine Iconography, such as the cross and the Church held by the Saints, the open palms, the Gospel, the scrolls, the rod, medical objects, as well as the choices of colors. Orthodox hagiography reveals to Christians the unearthly, which transcends the boundaries of our physical world. It functions as a way of communication and seeks to highlight the new world that will come with the Kingdom of God. This can be expressed through the icons of the Saints, where characteristics such as schematization, simplicity and differentiation prevail.