We often read about the lives and miracles of many ascetics and martyrs, but this beautiful gem

shares with us life changing experiences from Athanasios Katigas, a Greek taxi driver, living in the
21st century.

Tears of Repentance is a collection of stories and spiritual advice from the life of a Greek taxi driver,
called Athanasios Katigas. Most of the stories relate to his encounters with customers who occupy
his taxi. There are also certain parts of the book where Athanasios reflects on these experiences and
tries to provide advice for others living in the dark storm of life. In this way the author is able to
express a deep sense of love and compassion.

One of the amazing experiences that Athanasios relates involved one of his aunties. “She hadn’t set
foot in church since the day of her marriage, she had never confessed and never communed.”
Throughout her life, they had hundreds of discussions on the importance of the sacraments,
however, she would refuse to pay attention. At the end of her life, she had a stroke. Athanasios
went and visited her and asked her if she would let a priest come to confess and commune her. She
agreed. And so, at the last moment over her life, “she gained paradise”.

The great ascetics shed many tears throughout their lives for some sins that seem so insignificant in
comparison to us who, daily, draw ourselves further and further away from Christ, and yet, we
struggle to contemplate the multitude of our sins. The aura of repentance which permeates the
book sets a repentant mood and enables us to glimpse what ‘tears of repentance’ so that we may
Perhaps this book through the various experiences and spiritual advice, may allow us to shed even
one tear for our spiritual state and direct us onto the road to true repentance.