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[[Image:Haralampos.jpg|right|frame|Icon of Saint Charalampus at Skete.com]]The holy, glorious, right-victorious [[martyr]] '''Charalampus''' (or '''Haralambos''') was a [[priest]] (Greek tradition) or [[bishop]] (Russian tradition) in the city of Magnesia in Thessaly during the late second and early third century. He was martyred, having openly preached the [[Gospel]] during persecutions during the reign of Alexander Severus (222-235), when Lucian was Proconsul of Magnesia. His feast is commemorated on [[February 10]].

==LifeMartyrdom==Charalampus served his people with great faith is a most wonderful [[saint]] who lived to a very old age. He was 113 when he was tortured and lovelater martyred. His reputation The Emperor Severus had appointed Lucian as a man the governor of God had spread throughout the area and many people came to the Faith through his preaching the Good News territory of Jesus Magnesia where Charalampus was a priest. Lucian was upset that Charalampus was [[Christconversion|converting]]so many pagans. He had him arrested and commanded him to honor the stone gods. During a period of extreme persecution, Since he did would not hidedo this, but openly and boldly preached the Orthodox FaithLucian began to torture him. When he was finally arrested for having They used a tool that would flay the courage skin and they cut his skin to preach shreds. All the Gospelwhile, his persecutors devised a plan of persecution for everyone Charalampus gave thanks to witnessour Lord. Although he His strength amazed the executioners and they were converted. The military commander, Lucius, was tortured repeatedly, he never denounced angry and had his faith in Christtwo officers Porphyrios and Vaptos beheaded. This persecution went on for several months Three other women were converted, and not once did Charalampus weaken in his faithwere also killed. Forced to suffer extreme pain Then miraculously, the general's hands were severed at the elbow and degradation, he continued saw them hanging from the martyr's body. Fear spread throughout the city. People began to preach, beg mercy from the God Charalampus professed. The general begged for mercy from Charalampus. The Lord's voice was heard and many miracles instantly all those injured were healed. The general was converted and conversions took place among the people[[baptism|baptized]]. When The Governor Lucian stopped persecuting the soldiers thrashed Christians until he could report back to the skin from his body emperor. Meanwhile, Charalampus saidperformed many [[miracle]]s, "Thank youhealing the sick, my brethrencuring the blind, for scraping off and even raising some from the old body and renewing my soul for new and eternal lifedead. The whole region came to believe in [[Jesus Christ]]."

In the final moments of his life before Severus, when he heard about this from Lucian, was outraged and sent in three hundred troops to be beheaded, arrest Charalampus lifted and drive spikes into his hands spine. They were to heaven drag him from Magnesia to a nearby town. But after they had dragged him about a mile and prayed for all humankind: "Lorda half, You know that men are flesh and blood; forgive them their sins and pour out Your blessing on all." Following this prayer two of the [[saint]] gave up his soul soldiers' horses began talking to God and died without the sword being laid soldiers in a great voice calling them minions of the devil. The horses said to his neckfree Charalampus lest they be harmed. At This frightened them and they stopped the time of his martyrdom the saint was 103 (or 113 by some accounts) years of agetorture.

==External link==*[http://ocafsThe devil, in the guise of an old man, came to Severus and told him that Charalampus was a magician and had captured his whole army.oca At this time Charalampus was brought to Severus.org/FeastSaintsViewer He ordered that a skewer be made to pierce his chest so they could hang him over a fire. There were two witnesses to this torture by fire. One was the emperor's concubine and the other her sister. They assisted with the torture. The sister could not tolerate the torture of such a good man and begged for Charalampus to receive her as a Christian. The fire died out and Charalampus was untouched by it.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=100475 OCA biography]

Haralambos is The emperor was frustrated and brought Charalampus in for his questioning. He brought a most wonderful saint person who lived had been tormented by a demon for 36 years to a very old agesee whether Charalampus could [[exorcism|exorcise]] this demon. He was 113 when This he did. Severus was tortured amazed and later martyredexclaimed, "Truly, great is the God of the Christians. " The emperor was Severus then brought before him a lad who had been dead for three days, and he had appointed Lucian as the governor of lad was resurrected by the territory [[prayer]]s of Magnesia where Haralambos was a priestCharalampus. All gathered were converted. Lucian Severus' prefect Crispus was upset angered and asked that Haralambos was converting so many pagansthe emperor put Charalampus to death. He had him arrested and commanded him Again Charalampus refused the demands of Severus to honor his gods and the stone gods. Well, he could not do this so Lucian began to torture himemperor ordered that his face be crushed with stones. They used a tool that would flay the skin and Once they cut bashed his skin to shreds. All the whileface with stones, Haralambos is giving thanks to our Lord. His strength amazed the executioners and they were converted. Th military commander, Lucius, was angry had to apply torches to burn his two officers Porphyrios beard and Vaptos beheadedface. There were three other women who were also converted and When they were also killed. Then miraculously applied the generals hands were severed at fire, the elbow flames leapt forth and he saw them hanging from spread, burning those present instead. The emperor remembered the words of the martyr's bodywise old man who had told him that Charalampus was a sorcerer. Fear spread throughout Severus asked his deputies about who is the cityChrist. People began Aristarchos stepped up to beg mercy from tell the God Haralambos professedtruth about Jesus Christ. The general begged for mercy emperor, angered, declared war on heaven, challenging Christ to come down from Haralambos. The Lord’s voice was heard and instantly all those injured were healed. The General was converted and baptized. The Governor Lucian stopped persecuting the Christians until heaven so he could report back to emperorfight him. Meanwhile Haralambos was performing many miraclesHe exclaimed, healing the sick"Come down, curing the blindO Christ, and even raising some from the dead. The whole region came to believe in Jesus Christ. Severusearth, when he heard about this from Lucian, was outraged and sent in three hundred troops to arrest Haralambos and drive spikes into his spinethat we may fight. They were to drag him from Magnesia to a nearby town. But after they had dragged him about a mile and a halfBehold, my army will war against thee; if thou will not come down, two of I will pull down the soldiers horses began talking to firmament and extinguish the soldiers in sun!" At this moment there was a great voice calling them minions of the devilearthquake. The horse said to free Haralambos least they be harmed. This frightened them In some way, Severus and they stopped the tortureCrispus were suspended in midair.

The devilemperor's daughter, Galina, begged her father to believe in Christ and ask that Christ deliver him from punishment. She then [[veneration|venerated]] the saint and asked that the guise punishment of an old man, came to Severus be stopped and told him that Haralambos it was a magician and had captured his whole army. At this time Haralambos was brought The two retreated to Severustheir palace for three days. He ordered Meanwhile, his daughter had a vision of [[paradise]] and that a skewer be made the guardian carried her and set her down next to pierce his chest so they could hang him over a firecedar tree. There were two witnesses Charalampus explained to her that this torture by fire. One was the emperor’s concubine and Paradise promised by Christ, that the other one who had placed her sister. They assisted with next to the torture. The sister could not tolerate tree was Jesus Christ, and that she had this torture vision because of such a good man and begged for Haralambos to receive her as a Christianbelief in Christ. The fire died out and Haralambos was untouched by it.

The After 30 days, the emperor again summoned the priest, asking him again to honor the commands of the emperor was frustrated , and brought Haralambos in for his questioninghe again refused. He brought a person who This time Severus had been tormented by his men place a demon for thirty six years to see hose's bit in Charalampus' mouth as if Haralambos could exorcise this demonhe were an irrational beast. This His daughter Galina begged her father to stop this torture, but he did. Severus not listen to her and Charalampus was amazed and exclaimed “Truly, great is paraded through the God streets as a beast of the Christiansburden.” The emperor then brought before him a lad who had been dead for three days and the lad Galina was resurrected by the prayers of Haralambos. All gathered were converted. Severus’ prefect Crispus was angered relentless and asked that the emperor put Haralambos turned to death. Again Haralambos refused her and asked her whether she worshiped the demands of Severus to honor his gods and the emperor ordered that his face be crushed with stones. Once they bashed his face with stones, they were to apply torches to burn his beard and face. When they applied the fire, the flames leapt forth and spread, burning those present instead. The emperor remembered the words of the wise old man who had She told him that Haralambos was a sorcerershe did. Severus asked his deputies about who is the Christ. Aristtarchos stepped up to tell the truth about Jesus Christ. The emperor angeredHearing this, declared war on heaven challenging Christ to come down from heaven so he could fight him. He exclaimed, “Come down O christ to earthreleased Charalampus, elated that we might fight. Behold, my army will war against Thee, If thou will not come down, I will pull down his daughter had forsaken the firmament and extinguish the sun!!” At this moment there was a great earthquake. In some way, Severus and Crispus were suspended in midairGod of Charalampus.

The emperor’s daughter, Galeenee, enters Galina then took Charalampus to the picturetemple. She begs her father to believe in Christ and ask that Christ deliver him from punishment He was silent. She then venerated challenged the saint gods and asked that mocked their impotence. She took hold of the punishment statue of Severus be stopped Apollo and it did. The two retreated pulled him to their palace for three daysthe ground along with 34 other stone statues of gods. Meanwhile his daughter had a vision of paradise Severus was dismayed and ordered that they be rebuilt that very night so the guardian carried her and set her down next to a cedar treeGalileans would not mock him. Haralambos explained He told the workers to here tell them that this was the Paradise promised by Christ and the one who they had placed her next to risen from the tree was Jesus Christ and that she had this vision because of her belief in Christdead. Galina again destroyed them.

After thirty days, the emperor again summoned the priest, asking him again to honor the commands of the emperor, and he again refused. This time Severus had his men place a hoses bit in Haralambos’ mouth as if he was an irrational beast. His daughter Galeenee begged her father to stop this torture. But he did not listen to her and Haralambos was paraded through the streets as a beast of burden. Galeenee was relentless and the emperor turned to her and asked her if she worshiped the gods. She told him that she did. Hearing this he released Haralambos elated that his daughter had forsaken the God of Haralambos.Galeenee then took Haralambos to the temple. He was silent. She them challenged the gods and mocked their impotence. She took hold of the statue of Apollo and pulled him to the ground along with thirty-four other stone statues of gods. Severus was dismayed and ordered that they be rebuilt that very night so the Galileans would not mock him. He told the workers to tell them that they had risen from the dead. Galeenee again destroyed them. This time Severus went into a rage and chastised her but could not bring himself to any punishment. He returned to harass Haralambos Charalampus by assigning his him to a widow. Thinking , thinking that this woman would corrupt HaralambosCharalampus. Instead, instead he worked many miracles were worked by him and she was converted.

This time Crispus demanded that Haralambos Charalampus be beheaded. The emperor pronounced the sentence. The saint chanted holy hymns [[hymn]]s on the way to his execution. The event is describes as follows:He began to pray thus: “ "I ever give thanks to thee, O Lord my God, for thou are merciful and the Lover of mankind. Thou, O Almighty, hast cast down our enemy, the evilone, and taken Hades captive, and put death to death, thus delivering the race of man. Remember me, O Lord, in thy kingdom.” " After he had prayed in this manner, the heavens opened. The Lord, with a multitude of His angelshis [[angel]]s, came down. It was a spectacle full of wonder. The Lord was seen to be sitting on a throne of pearl. He said to His his holy priest and martyr, “Come"Come, my pleasing and beloved one , who, for My name’s my name's sake, suffered such ill-treatment and hardships. Ask of Me me whatsoever gift thou dost wish, and I shall grant thine entreaty.”"

Haralambos Charalampus answered, “That Thou "That thou hast, by Thy thy grace, vouchsafed me, the lest least person, to behold the awesome glory of Thy thy presence, this is, in itself, a tremendous gift. But if it please thy goodness to command me to ask a gift of Theethee, I beseech thy majesty and dominion to grant this favor: to whomever should find of or possess a portion of my [[relics]], and in whichsoever whatsoever land he may be celebrating the memory of my martyrdom, may he never suffer from hunger or plague of or pestilence or an untimely death or destruction from an evil man, or injury to crops. I pray that he be in firm peace, salvation of soul, and health of body. I entreat that he enjoy plenty of wheat, oil , and wine, together with an abundance of livestock and other good and useful possessions. And to whosoever whomsoever should read the account of my martyrdom, and invoke my name, I supplicate for his salvation and that he should not suffer evil. Since thou knowest that men are but flesh and blood, and that they are in the Thine thine immaculate hands, I beseech Thee thee for the forgiveness of their sins. Do Thou thou pardon the sins of such faithful ones, as Thou thou are good and the Lover of mankind. Do Thou thou also, O Lord, keep the oxen of such in health, and all their animals and livestock, that they may cultivate the earth and abundantly enjoy her fruits, to the glory of thy name.” Haralambos " Charalampus then surrender surrendered his soul to the Lord. Severus , in awe , did not punish his daughter , seeing that the God of the Christians was with her. ==Relics==A large fragment from the cranium of Charalampus was looked after in the template of St. George in old Iraklitsa, Greece. In 1922, it was moved to new Iraklitsa.<ref> [http://www.panagiairaklitsa.gr/english/Kara_Haralampous.html The Cranium of St. Haralambos]</ref> An even larger fragment of his cranium is preserved in the [[abbey]] of [[St Stephen Monastery (Meteora)|St. Stephanos]] in [[Meteora]]. It is worthy to note that within the sheath of the cranium, there was also discovered to be a 17th century cross. ==References==<references /> ==External links==*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=100475 Hieromartyr Charalampus the Bishop of Magnesia in Thessaly] ([[OCA]])*[http://www.goarch.org/chapel/saints_view?contentid=423 The Holy Hieromartyr Haralambos] ([[GOARCH]])*[http://www.westsrbdio.org/prolog/my.html?month=February&day=10 The priestly-martyr Haralambos (Charalampus)] (''[[Prologue of Ohrid]]'') [[Category:Bishops]][[Category:2nd-3rd-century bishops]][[Category:Saints]][[Category:Greek Saints]][[Category: Ante-Nicene Saints]][[Category: Martyrs]][[Category:Wonderworkers]][[Category:3rd-century saints]] [[ro:Haralambie]][[el:Χαράλαμπος, Άγιος]]