Righteous Galina was born in 193. She was the daughter of the pagan Roman emperor Septimius Severus, a fierce persecutor of Christians. Possessing a merciful and compassionate heart, Galina became a Christian at the age of eighteen, after witnessing the steadfast faith of Charalambos, Bishop of Magnesia, his extraordinary endurance under torture, and the miracles performed in the name of the Lord. The name Galina means “calm, meek,” yet when she realized that her father was torturing a holy man, she fearlessly stood up in defense of the 113-year-old elder and declared to her father that she herself was ready to endure suffering for Christ.
The emperor, who had himself witnessed many miracles, was afraid to punish his daughter and allowed her to continue living in Christian piety. It is unknown how many more years the holy Righteous Galina lived († after 202), but she was glorified among the saints for her feat of confessing the faith. Her name was included in the Church calendar on May 25, 2007, with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II.
