Holiday today: Today, February 10, our Church honors the memory of Saint Charalambous.
THE Saint Charalampos he was a priest in Magnesia in Asia Minor and lived during the reign of Septimius Severus (193 – 211 AD). When in the year 198 AD Severus launched a silent persecution against the Christians, the prefect of Magnesia, Lucian, arrested the Saint and asked him to deny his faith.
But the Saint not only did not do this, but on the contrary, he confessed to the prefect his adherence to Christ and boldly declared that no matter what torture he was subjected to, he was not going to deny the faith of the Church.
Then the darkened and carnal soul of Lucian increased its rage and ordered the horrible tortures to begin on the old priest.
First they stripped him and Luciano himself, taking his sword, tried to wound the Saint’s body. But his hands were cut off and were left hanging on the Hieromartyr’s body and only after the Saint’s prayer were they reattached to the body and the ruler became healthy. Seeing this miracle of the Saint, many of the executioners believed in the true God.
With sadness in his mind and cruelty in his heart, the prefect ordered that the Saint be paraded and dragged through the city with a bridle. Finally, he ordered the beheading of the Saint, who with his martyrdom received the amaranth crown of glory at the age of 113.
Parts of this honorary chariot are kept in the holy monastery of Agios Stefanos in Meteora and in the pilgrimage church of the same name in the town of Thespion in Boeotia.
Holiday calendar: Charalambos, Charilaos, Charalambis, Haris, Hambos, Lampis, Lampos, Lampias, Babis, Babos, Charalambia, Charalambi, Lampi, Lampo, Babina, Biliyo, Bilio, Bia, Hampi Charilaos, Haris Hariklia, Hara, Haroula.
Absolute
Ἦhos d’. He quickly realized.
An unshakable pillar of the Church of Christ, and an unillumined lamp of the worldly sage, you appeared Charalampes; you shone in the world, because of the martyrdom, you redeemed the idols, they were killing her, blessedly, because in Paris Christ, you were an ambassador to save us.
Kontakion
Ἦhos d’. You showed up today.
You who rose from the earth, and who enlightened the faithful, the children of your miracles, Holy Martyr Charalampes; whence we honor your divine sport.
Heteron Kontakion
Ἦhos d’. You showed up today.
The Church has acquired a precious treasure in thee, Hieromartyr Athletes, trophy-bearer Charalampe, for which she rejoices in glorifying the Creator.
Megalynarion
Let us honor with hymns the priest in Athletes, and in priests, the holy Athlete, the instrument of miracles, springing to the world, the great Charalamp.
The House
The solid soldier, and Christ’s soldier and great Martyr, Charalambis the all-glorious, gathered and rejoiced, for he fought brilliantly for Christ and for the truth, and he proclaimed the orthodox faith with a thunderous voice, he abolished the error of idols, he checked the lawless king, and the caran etm morals, rejoicing and rejoicing; therefore he received the crown at the right hand of the Most High, and was made a fellow-citizen of the Angels. Whence the Church of the Orthodox, of this the pandemon was conquered, and euphoria restored, and freed from many afflictions and diseases, it rejoices, glorifying the Creator.
Seat
Ἦhos c’. Of divine faith.
Unshakable pillar of the Church, unburnt lamp of the world, Charalampes, who appeared as a sportsman, and you shone brighter than the sun, the idols were slaughtered, Martyr glorified, Christ the God begged, you gave us the great year.