Every year the capital of the prefecture, Polygyros, honors and celebrates one of its patrons, the glorious Hieromartyr Charalambos the Wonderworker.
Crowds of residents and visitors, as if the bells are joyfully ringing, on the eve of the feast of the Saint, who is the patron saint of those suffering from infectious diseases, as well as on the day of the great feast, head to the church of Agios Charalambos in Polygyros, reverently and eagerly to pray and worship his grace.
This year in fact, as stated in XalkidikiPolitiki by the Head of the Holy Church, Archimandrite Fr. «During the solemn services in memory of our Saint, our city and parish will welcome the holy and graceful Relic of Saint Charalambous, which will remain as a priceless treasure and protector in perpetuity for our parish».
According to him, official reception of the Holy Relic will be held in front of the Fire Department building today Friday, February 9 (the eve of the feast) at 17:15, during the Holy Litany.
“The capital of Halkidiki celebrates, honors MrsIt celebrates the memory of one of its two patrons, that of the Holy Glorious Hieromartyr Charalambous the Wonderworker. Let us all celebrate the memory of our patron saint with health of soul and body! Help us, Saint Charalambos!“, says Father Irenaios about the great celebration.
The story of the church of Agios Charalambous – The Saint who found his home again
As is known, the inhabitants of Polygyros rebelled against the Turkish yoke on May 17, managing to push back the Ottomans, and thus raising the flag of Freedom. However, the Ottomans, not being able to accept this situation and wanting to take revenge on the inhabitants, set fire to the city of Polygyros, as a result of which the houses burned down, among them the church of Agios Charalambos.
Later, the inhabitants returned to their city and built their houses from scratch, and naturally began the construction of a new church. However, the displacements of the population at that time caused a change in the ecclesiastical activities of the place and the new church received the name of Agios Nikolaos who was designated as the patron saint of the city, compared to the until then celebrated patron saint of Agios Charalambos.
Nowadays it is said that a pious woman saw outside the enclosure of the Metropolitan Holy Church of Agios Nikolaos a grandfather crying and telling her that I was driven from my home. This event directly affected Fr.
The foundation of the new church was made by Makaristos Metropolitan of Kassandreia. Concluding on June 30, 1996, the effort continued with the contribution of pious residents and citizens from various parts of Greece.
The church was inaugurated on November 11, 2012 by His Eminence the Metropolitan, Mr. Nikodimos and from February 17, 2021 it now functions as a second parish in the city of Polygyros.
See the program of the Holy Festival of the Holy Church of Agios Charalambos in Polygyros: