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June 16, 2021

When Metropolitans Neophytos of Morphou and Athanasios of Limassol Visited Eldress Galaktia


In a 2017 sermon, Metropolitan Neophytos of Morphou spoke the following words about Eldress Galaktia, without naming her, recalling a visit he made to see her in Crete together with Metropolitan Athanasios of Limassol.

I know a holy woman in Crete, an old woman, a nun, a great saint. When she reposes it will be understood. Even the people of Crete have not come to recognize her value.

I was with the Metropolitan of Limassol, and I told him: "I know this holy woman, let's go see her." We went.

She described our character, our health issues, our problems, our Metropolises, and even said something about each of our futures. It was amazingly accurate.

My brother Athanasios of Limassol then said to me: "She has the eyes of Porphyrios and Iakovos." Two men who were recently canonized. "Her television is very great," he said. "She sees the past, the present and the future," he said.

Because we had spoken by telephone, I was bold enough to ask her: "Eldress, with what eyes do you see all these things about our future, our past and our present?" She said to me: "Not, my Master, with these eyes, but the other ones God gave to all people, which are the eyes of the heart. When the heart is cleansed, you see with those eyes. And you see the light as well." She spoke about the uncreated light, the same that was seen by Saint Stephen at the time of his martyrdom.

"What is this light like?" we asked her. "It has a white/light blue color. It fills one with knowledge. It is a light that fills you with information. And whatever you ask of God, He gives it to you. This is why it is a light full of knowledge and information."

When we chanted the Apolytikion [for Christmas] which speaks about the "light of knowledge", I was reminded of this Eldress. And I said to myself: "How beautiful it is for a person to cleanse the eyes of their heart and to be able to see that which cannot be seen as being present. And to be able to rejoice with the joys of the future age, which our body may not see but our soul will see." 
 
Translation by John Sanidopoulos.