Saint Lucy Signals the Approach of Winter

According to old "Julian calendar," Saint Lucy's Day was the shortest day of the year. .Byzantine iconography has the 4th century Sicilian martyr holding a cross and a lamp, as "Lucia" means "light." This ancient liturgical prayer shows her to be a young woman who loved Christ above all, as the bride loves the bridegroom: "O Jesus, your Lamb Lucia cries out to You with great love: 'O my Bridegroom, I long for You in great pain. I am crucified with You, and in baptism I am buried with You. I suffer for Your sake in order to reign with You, I die for You in order to live in You. Accept me as an immaculate victim, since I am immolated for Your love.' Through her intercession, O Merciful One, save our souls!" (Troparion for the Feast of St. Lucia, Byzantine Liturgy.)