Charalambos | |
|---|---|
 A Greekicon of Saint Charalambos, early 17th century | |
| Hieromartyr | |
| Born | c. 89 (supposedly) Magnesia on the Maeander,Asia Minor (modern-dayTekin,Aydın Province,Turkey) |
| Died | 202 (supposedly aged 113) Antioch of Pisidia (modern-dayYalvaç,Isparta Province,Turkey) |
| Venerated in | Catholic Church Eastern Orthodox Church |
| Majorshrine | Monastery of Saint Stephen,Meteora, Greece |
| Feast | 10 February |
| Attributes | Vested as either a priest or bishop, holding aGospel Book, with right hand raised in blessing. |
Saint Charalambos orHaralambos (Ancient Greek:Ἅγιος Χαράλαμπος) was anearly Christianpriest inMagnesia on the Maeander, a city inAsia Minor, in thediocese of the same name. His nameΧαράλαμπος meansglowing with joy inGreek. He lived during the reign ofSeptimius Severus (193–211), when Lucian wasProconsul of Magnesia. According to one source, at the time of his martyrdom in 202, Charalambos was 113 years old.[1]
Charalambos was Bishop of Magnesia and spread theGospel in that region for many years. However, when news of his preaching reached the authorities of the area, the proconsul Lucian and military commander Lucius, the saint was arrested and brought to trial, where he confessed his faith in Christ and refused to offer sacrifice toidols.[2]
Despite his advanced age, he was tortured mercilessly. They lacerated his body with iron hooks, and scraped all the skin from his body.[2] The saint had only one thing to say to his tormentors: "Thank you, my brethren, for scraping off the old body and renewing my soul for new and eternal life."[1]
According to the saint'shagiography, upon witnessing Charalambos' endurance of these tortures, two soldiers, Porphyrius and Baptus, openlyconfessed their faith in Christ, for which they were immediatelybeheaded with a sword. Three women who were watching the sufferings of Charalambos also began to glorify Christ, and were martyred as well.[2]
The legend continues to say that Lucius, enraged, seized the instruments of torture and began to torture Charalambos himself, but suddenly hisforearms were cut off as if by a sword. The governor Lucian thenspat in the face of the saint, and immediately Lucian's head was turned around so that he faced backwards.[2] Apparently, Lucian and Lucius both prayed for mercy, and were healed by the saint, and became Christians.
More tortures, the legend says, were wrought upon the saint after he was brought toSeptimius Severus himself. Condemned to death and led to the place of execution, Charalambos prayed that God grant that the place where his relics would repose would never suffer famine or disease.[3] After praying this, the saint gave up his soul to God even before theexecutioner had laid his sword to his neck. Tradition says that Severus' daughter Gallina[4] was so moved by his death, that she was converted and buried Charalambos herself.[1]
Theskull of Saint Charalambos is kept at theMonastery of Saint Stephen atMeteora. Many miracles are traditionally attributed to the fragments of hisrelics, which are to be found in many places inGreece and elsewhere. The miracles have made this saint, considered the most aged of all the martyrs, especially dear to the people of Greece.[5] On someGreek islands,bulls are sacrificed on his feast day. "This festival is the most important popular activity of the village ofAgia Paraskevi and it combines a variety of happenings that regard the ritual of the bull' s sacrifice. [An agricultural group] revived this ancient custom in 1774. It was established as a reverence to St Haralambos, the protector of [the] agricultural group that organises [the] festival".
Thefeast day of Saint Charalambos is normally commemorated onFebruary 10,[6] the exception being when this date falls on theSaturday of Souls precedingGreat Lent or onClean Monday (the first day of Lent), in which case the feast is celebrated on 9 February.[5].
In Greekhagiography andiconography, Charalambos is regarded as a priest, whileRussian sources seem to regard him as a bishop.[2]
