Galina

Saint Galina the Righteous is a saint of the Russian Church, who according to the Life of Saint Haralambos was a daughter of the Roman emperor Septimius Severus. Present-⁠day historians, both Church and secular, rather doubt that she was really his daughter, and other sources know of no such daughter of the emperor. Her historicity is therefore doubtful. The Church commemorates her on 10 February by the old calendar (23 February on the new).

According to the Life of Saint Haralambos, she was born in the year 193 into the family of Septimius Severus. She received a good education but until the age of eighteen did not know Christianity. Her eyes were opened in an unusual circumstance: Galina was present at the torments of Bishop Haralambos of Magnesia. His steadfastness and unyielding faith deeply moved the young girl. But that was not all. She also saw the miracles that the saint worked in the name of the Lord.

Galina realized that her father was tormenting a holy man. She told him openly: “Father, no one can stand against God, for to Christians He is hope, and to the lawless, destruction.” She told her father that she herself was ready to go to torment for Christ. It is said that, coming to the pagan temple, she smashed the statues of Zeus and Apollo. Probably, had she not been the emperor's daughter, she would have been put to death, but Septimius Severus loved Galina and did not touch her. After she buried the hieromartyr Haralambos, she remained living in Christian piety and passed in peace to the Lord, after many deeds pleasing to God.

In icons she is usually shown in royal garments, with a crown on her head such as princesses wore. In her hand she holds a cross, but more often a scroll with the words: “No one can stand against God.” On 25 May 2007, with the blessing of Patriarch Alexy II, her name was entered in the Orthodox calendar for the feat of confessing the faith. The Church sings a troparion in her honour.