Ο Saint Charalampos, protector of those suffering from infectious diseases is honored today, February 10. On this day, those who bear the names Charalambis, Charalambia and Charilaos celebrate.
According to ecclesiastical tradition, Charalambos was born and lived in Magnesia, Asia Minor, during the reign of Emperor Septimius Severus (192-211). When the Roman emperor unleashed relentless persecutions against Christians, Charalambos, who was then priest, was arrested by order of the prefect Lucianos.
The same Lucian the submitted into a horrible torture to deny his faith. When Charalambos boldly proclaimed his faith, Lucian tried to wound his body with his sword. But, miraculously, the The hand with which he held the sword was cut off and remained hanging from Charalambos' body..
Then, o Saint prayed and Lucian's hand was glued to his bodySeeing this miracle, many of those present believed in the true God, among them the executioners Baptus and Porphyrios, who are celebrated together with Saint Charalambos on February 10. Humiliated, Lucian ordered the beheading of Charalambos, after first having paraded him through the city..
Two miracles are attributed to the Saint: The rescue of Zakynthos from the plague in 1728 and preventing the burning of Filiatra by German troops occupation in July 19, 1944, when the Saint appeared in their commander's sleep and changed his mind, as reported by ekklisiaonline.gr.
Parts of the relics of Saint Charalambos are kept in the monastery of Saint Stephen in Meteora and in the homonymous church of Thespia, Boeotia. Two miracles are attributed to the Saint: The saving of Zakynthos from the plague in 1728 and the prevention of the burning of Filiatra by the German occupation troops on July 19, 1944, when the Saint appeared in the sleep of their commander and changed his mind. Saint Charalambos is the patron saint of Preveza, Pyrgos Ilia, Filiatra and Kea, as well as the protector of those suffering from infectious diseases and marble workers.
Saint Charalambos is honored in many parts of Greece because he is protector from infectious diseases and especially from the plagueThat is why the Saint is depicted stepping on the plague, which is presented as a monstrous woman which is He is spewing smoke from his mouth.. That is why God gave him this grace. In many icons the saint is depicted trampling on the plague, which is in the form of a repulsive woman who exhales smoke from her mouth. In other icons the saint holds a black demon, the personification of the plague, by the hair.
In others, next to the saint there is a phrase “I AM AWAY FROM THE DESTRUCTION OF DEATH TO THE PEOPLE WHO HONOR ME IN THE TERRAINS OF THE HIGHEST.” It is the saint’s supplication-intercession to God for the protection of the faithful from illness. “God Almighty, I beg you to preserve the faithful, who honor me, invulnerable from the calamity of illness.
The Saint was a great service to farmers at a time when there were no veterinarians, and oxen were essential to the family. In the past, on the eve of the Saint's feast, the herders would light a large candle of pure wax in their homes near the fireplace in memory of the Saint and it would burn all night. In the morning, they would go to the Church for the liturgy. And all this so that Saint Charalambos would keep his oxen strong throughout the year.
He is also the protector of all animals.That is why in Crete, when their livestock is not doing well, the shepherds They beg him to heal them.. In Preveza Saint Charalambos is patron saint. They hang a multitude of offerings on his icon. Among the offerings, a characteristic one is a shirt made of cloth. This is done in one day!. That is why it is also called one-piece…
This happens like this: One night, some women gather in a house, where they spin and weave cotton.
With this fabric, which is made in one day, they make the shirtThis tribute begins with an event that is mentioned in the miraculous action of the SaintOnce upon a time, Saint Charalambos was visited by villagers who abandoned their homeland and ran to him because the The plague was reaping them daily.Out of gratitude for the Saint being their protector, they gave him a shirt that was spun and knitted from cotton and sewn in one day...
