Prayer to Charlampius of Magnesia

Sschmch. Haralampiy, ep. Magnesian. Icon

Charalampius
(c. - 202), Bishop of Magnisia, Hieromartyr Commemoration February 10

Saint Charalampios, bishop of the Thessalian city of Magnesia, successfully spread faith in Christ the Savior. The news of his preaching reached the governor of the region, Lucian, and the military commander, Lucius, by whose order the saint was captured and brought to trial, where he firmly confessed his faith in Christ and refused to sacrifice to idols. Despite the bishop’s advanced age (he was already 113 years old), he was subjected to monstrous torture: they tormented his body with iron hooks until all the skin was torn off from head to toe. At the same time, the saint turned to the tormentors: “Thank you, brothers, you have renewed my spirit!”

Hieromartyr Charalampius, Bishop of Magnesia

Seeing the patience of the elder and his complete gentleness, two warriors Porfiry and Vaptos openly confessed Christ, for which they were immediately beheaded with a sword.
Three women who were present at the suffering of Bishop Charalampius also began to glorify Christ and were immediately tortured. The angry Luki himself grabbed the instruments of torture and began to torment the holy martyr, but suddenly his hands, as if cut off by a sword, were taken away. The ruler who came to the place of execution spat in the face of the saint, and immediately his head turned back. Then Lukiy began to beg the saint for mercy, and through his prayer both tormentors immediately received healing. At the same time, many witnesses believed in Christ. Among them was Lucius, who fell at the feet of the holy elder, asking for forgiveness.

Lucian reported what had happened to Emperor Septimius Severus (193-211), who was at that time in Antioch in Pisidia, and he ordered Saint Charalampios to be brought to him, which was done with unprecedented cruelty: they dragged the holy martyr with a rope tied to his beard. The emperor ordered the bishop to be tortured even more, and they began to shoot him with fire. But the Power of God helped the saint, and he remained unharmed. In addition, through his prayer, miracles began to happen: a dead young man was resurrected, a demon-possessed man who had been tormented by a demon for 35 years was healed, so that many people began to confess Christ the Savior. Even the emperor’s daughter Galina, who twice crushed idols in a pagan temple, believed in Christ. By order of the emperor, they beat the saint on the mouth with stones, they wanted to set fire to his beard, from which a flame came out, scorching the tormentors. Full of anger, Septimius Severus and his nobleman Crispus raised a blasphemy against the Lord, mockingly calling on Him to come down to earth, boasting of their strength and authority. The earthquake that occurred threw everything into awe, and both wicked men hung in the air, bound by invisible bonds, and only through the prayer of the saint were brought back down. The frightened emperor hesitated in his wickedness, but soon fell into error again and ordered the saint to be tortured, and finally condemned him to be beheaded by the sword.

During his last prayer, the saint was honored to see the Savior Himself and asked Him to grant peace, fertility to the place where his relics would rest, and forgiveness of sins and salvation to people. The Lord promised to fulfill the request and ascended to heaven, taking with Him the soul of the holy martyr Charalampius, who, by the grace of God, accepted a peaceful death before execution.

The emperor's daughter, Blessed Galina, buried the martyr's body with great honor.

Memory of St. Charalampia is celebrated on February 10th. On this day, the Greek Church also remembers the miracle of the deliverance of the island of Zakynthos from the plague through prayers to Saint Charalampios in 1728 [1].

Three hundred warriors and an old man

Saint Charalampios (his name means “radiating joy”) was 113 years old when he was arrested.
During the persecution of Septimus Severus (2nd century), which swept throughout the Roman Empire, the Bishop of Magnesia did not run away or hide from persecution. He was tortured, inventively and horribly. And the old bishop, according to the testimony of the executioners, as if he had not suffered, was so calm in spirit.

Amazed by the old man’s fortitude, the two warriors Porfiry and Baptus, who tortured the bishop, admitted that only some unknown Power could save a decrepit man from fire, sword and iron, and they themselves confessed the faith of the martyr. And then the rest of the torturers did it too.

When the emperor was informed that the result of the terrifying torture of the local bishop was the adoption of Christianity by almost the entire Magnesian province (the territory of modern Turkey), together with its ruler, he was at a loss. And this during a period of persecution! The emperor sent an army of three hundred soldiers with the order to deliver Charalampius to Antioch.

Healing the Possessed

Saint Charalampios.
Fresco, 19th century. Macedonia. Image from the site wikipedia.org They brought a demoniac to the arrested Charalampius, who had suffered for 35 years and attacked others. This happened after he killed a neighbor, wanting to take his property. As soon as the unfortunate man was brought to the feet of the old man, the evil spirit groaned and “told” in detail how and why he was tormenting the murderer. The saint commanded the evil spirit to come out of the poor man. At that very moment the possessed man was healed.

Ikos 7

Rejoice, ornament of the elders; Rejoice, friend of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Rejoice, for with the faces of the angels you praised the Lord; Rejoice, for you have acquired the Lord's paradise and eternal life.

Rejoice, servant of the Chief Shepherd of Christ our God; Rejoice, good shepherd of Christ's flock and prayer book of the whole world.

Rejoice, decoration of the Lord's grapes; Rejoice, affirmation of the Church of Christ.

Rejoice, Haralampie, our merciful intercessor before God and wonderful miracle worker.

"Incombustible"

Before his meeting with the Emperor, St. They decided to try Kharlampy again: they hammered three nails into his chest and then began to fry him. The emperor himself came and watched. But Charalampius did not burn.

The amazed emperor decided to talk with the elder. He asked how old the martyr was, who his parents were, and why he did not honor the Roman gods. Strict Roman justice recorded all the answers - then the martyria (testimonies of martyrs) formed the basis of Christian lives.

Charalampius said that he loves Christ and believes that He is the one and true God. Septim Severus thought about it and decided to check whether Charalampius actually has the gift of miracles or whether there is some kind of witchcraft here.

Prayers to the Hieromartyr Charalampios

Icon of the Hieromartyr Harlampius and Blasius

Prayers to the Hieromartyr Charalampios

First prayer O sacred and long-suffering head, good shepherd of the verbal sheep of Christ, holy martyr of Christ Charalampos.

Magnisian praise and glory of the universe, universal lamp and our great intercessor and helper in sorrows, troubles and all kinds of needs! Hear us sinners who come running to you and pray, and deliver us from every evil situation.

You have received from the Lord grace and great strength for your many and necessary sufferings and patience, to help us everywhere and in everything, and especially where your memory will be honored by vigil, singing and fervent prayer. The great grace was given to you, holy martyr of Christ, from the appearance of the Lord, the King of glory, at your request.

When I condemned you to be beheaded with a sword, you heard the most beloved and sweetest voice saying to you: “Come, Haralampe, my friend, you who have endured many torments for my sake, and ask me whatever you want, and I will give you.”

Advice

But you, the great lamp, spoke to Christ the Lord with your lips: “My Lord, great is this gift that I have from You, the never-evening Light.

If Thy Majesty pleases, I pray Thee, deign to grant me Your mercy: may my relics be placed there, and the memory of my suffering will be honored; there will be no famine, no pestilence, or noxious air destroying the fruits in that place, but let there be Moreover, in this place there will be peace, health for bodies and salvation for souls, an abundance of wheat, wine, and oil, and a multiplication of livestock for man’s needs.” Again, you, the long-suffering servant of Christ, Haralampie, heard the voice of the Lord telling you: “Be according to your request, my glorious warrior.” And Abiye, according to this saying of the Lord, you gave up your soul without the sword, and you followed in the footsteps of Christ the Lord with much glory, the Angel who met you and escorted you to the throne of the Lord with great joy. And so you received the crown of glory from His Divine hand from the faces of the saints, forever glorifying the most holy name of the Lord. And there, abiding in heavenly glory, look, O servant of God, upon us sinners who pray to you, and remember us before the Lord, to grant us the great mercy of His for endless ages. Amen.

Second prayer

Pray to the Lord God for us, may he bring peace to our cities and towns, may he deliver us from the invasion of foreigners, civil strife and all kinds of discord and disorder! Confirm, O Hieromartyr, faith and piety in all the children of the Orthodox Christian Church, and may the Lord God deliver us from heresies, schisms and all superstition.

Advice

O merciful martyr! Pray for us to the Lord, may He save us from hunger and all sorts of diseases, and may He give us an abundance of the fruits of the earth, the increase of livestock for human needs, and all that is useful to us: above all, may we be worthy, through your prayers, of the heavenly kingdom of Christ our God, to Him be honor and worship is due, with his beginningless Father and the Most Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Prayer three

O most sacred head, good shepherd of the verbal sheep of Christ, holy martyr of Christ Charalampos, great intercessor for us in sorrows and troubles and in all needs! Hear us, sinful and unworthy thy servants (names), praying to you, that through your omnipotent prayers the All-Good Lord will deliver us from every evil situation, forgive all sins, voluntary and involuntary, and grant us the rest of the years of our life to die in keeping His commandments and repentance. Ask, servant of God, that the blessing of the Heavenly King may rest upon Russia, blessed by Him, that there may be peace in this place, health to bodies and salvation to souls. We trust in your prayers, in you, Hieromartyr of Christ Haralampie, to receive great mercy from the Lord in an endless age. Amen.

We advise you to study the Icon “Consolation”

Troparion to the Hieromartyr Charalampios

Troparion, tone 4 With your prayers to the Lord, free from evil, troubles, misfortunes, those who faithfully resort to you and deliver the snares of the enemy, great passion-bearer Harlampie.

In Troparion, tone 4

Like the chosen pillar of the Church of Christ and the ever-bright lamp of the whole universe, Harlampie appeared to the wise, rising in the world through torment, destroy the idolatrous obscurantism, blessed one, for this sake the intercessor of Christ appeared, praying to be saved.

Kontakion, voice

Like a martyr and confessor, Christ crowned you with a double crown, magnifying countless miracles on earth, but like the grace of the Lord showing us, faithfully resorting to you, grant peace, help in adversity and severe troubles, most holy Harlampie.

Jesus Prayer Teacher

Beloved child N. in Christ, rejoice in the Lord.

I received your letter and was very pleased with your questions and your interest in mental prayer.

I will try to answer you based on my experience, from what I myself have experienced. First of all, when I was honored to live in obedience and under the guidance of my holy Elder, Father Joseph, then, when I labored alone, and, finally, when our monastic brotherhood began to take shape.

a) Are you asking whether all Christians can engage in mental prayer, or is it the domain of only monks?

Based on what the Holy Fathers write and from my own experience as a confessor, we can say that all Christians can pray the Jesus Prayer. But, of course, I do not mean heretics, much less infidels. I'll explain why. After the fall of Adam, man does not have grace in himself before his baptism. With Holy Baptism, grace is infused into us again. But is it possible to find God within oneself without the grace of baptism?

It must be said that the method used by the Gentiles is false.

Recently a Greek from Germany was passing through here. He wanted to talk to me about mental prayer. I accepted it.

“I, father, am also a mystic, just like you here,” he said.

“Well, well,” I say, “are you a mystic?” And where did you learn this?

– Many years ago I settled in Germany. There I also met other religions, noting that they have a lot in common with us. I especially liked the self-focus during prayer. They come into a state of ecstasy and contemplation, like the Apostle Paul.

“Stay away from them,” I tell him. - Don't believe them, they are mistaken.

- No, father. After all, I also did this, and I have some experience.

I can't say I was particularly intrigued by his words, but out of curiosity I asked:

- Well, tell me, what kind of self-concentration is this?

“I sit on the floor, cross-legged, and raise my head to the sky. I realized that all people believe in the same God. Hindus call on their god, Buddhists call on theirs. We call on Christ.

– Let me ask one more question. How do you turn to Him?

- Here is the whole secret that you don’t know. You begin to imagine in your mind that you are ascending to heaven, seeing soaring angels, golden palaces, light, etc., and finally, in the radiance of light, you see Christ sitting on a fiery throne. What we imagine is where we focus all our attention.

“Lost,” I tell him, “with such exercises you can go crazy.” And that's how they pray?

– I’ll tell you now. You will be amazed, and then you will judge. We force our imagination to work with maximum tension, and at some point we begin to see everything we imagine with our own eyes. Do you know what it's like to see Christ, angels, saints and many other amazing things?

I tell him:

- My child, listen to what I tell you... Give up all this, otherwise you will lose your mind. In order to find Christ within us, we close all the doors of imagination. With your imagination you open the door to Satan. Are you reading the Holy Scriptures? Do you know that he can appear in the form of an angel of light or even in the form of Christ Himself?

– Don’t you believe me? I told you that we see Christ not in dreams, but with our bodily eyes. Once I even saw Buddha, he is great, but not as great as Christ.

I felt sorry for him and I said:

“My child, Satan is laughing at you.” So you can become an atheist.

- No, no, father, I don’t believe you. We have different views

He left saying to himself: “No, I don’t agree. Does God belong only to monks..."?

Do you understand, my child, how many dangers there are, and what misconceptions there are?

So, beloved, we said that at Holy Baptism, Divine grace is infused into a Christian, and Christ abides in him. However, with his sins he again drives Him out of himself.' Christ and sin are opposites.

Therefore, as long as sin stands before us like a wall, it is impossible for us to find God within ourselves. But fortunately, the Church has the medicine needed to break down this wall. This is repentance and confession.

Many people who are interested in mental prayer come here. First of all, we ask them: “Have you ever gone to confession? Do you take communion, live like a Christian?”, etc. If they say “yes,” we continue the conversation. If the answer is “no,” then we say nothing more because it is useless.

First of all, my child, through repentance and confession we make a beginning, and then we follow the advice of some experienced teacher of mental prayer.

Now to answer your question, can lay people pray the Jesus Prayer? Yes they can, no matter how successful they are at it. We know of exceptional examples of lay people who are significantly ahead of us monks in this blessed work. However, such cases are the exception.

After all, if it were easy to practice prayer in the world, then there would be no need to go to monasteries and mountains. In the Gospel, Christ says to Martha: you worry and fuss about many things. The laity are like Martha. If they live like Christians, then they serve Christ. But their ministry is earthly. A true monk is like Mary sitting at the feet of the Savior. He enjoys His glory and, like Lazarus, becomes a friend of Christ and has the boldness to ask Him for what He wants.

But there are also lay people who are more like Mary. And there are monks who, in their structure, are not at all similar to even Martha.

I confess a family from Thessalonica. I was amazed at the righteousness of their lives. Their house looks like a monastery. The wife goes out only for shopping and when urgent matters require it. They have three children. When they go to school and her husband goes to work, she sits down and practices the Jesus Prayer for an hour or two. Then he gets down to household chores, and meanwhile the prayer continues, like a little motor. It is pronounced without stopping, sometimes with the lips and sometimes in the mind.

The husband, coming home from work, devotes most of his time to prayer and reading the Holy Scriptures and the Holy Fathers.

Their children are accustomed to this routine. Listen to what the mother of this family wrote to me the other day: “Our children have learned to pray even at school. When they return from classes, I already have time to finish all the housework, prepare lunch, and go back to the prayer room. Children ask curiously: “What are you doing there, mom?” - “I pray to the Lord that he will protect us.” - “Mom, can we pray with you too?” - “Of course, my children. Christ loves you and wants you to talk with Him.” Thus, it has become a custom for us to pray for fifteen to twenty minutes at noon, and then we have lunch.

In the evening, my father returns, and we all either read church books together, or I tell them various stories from what I have read.

Sometimes someone comes to visit us and breaks this routine a little. But the majority, having gotten to know us better, either come in to take part in a soulful conversation, or go to their other friends, who are more suitable for their arrangement. Sometimes at night we get up to pray, or read a little from the works of the Holy Fathers. On Sunday, the whole family goes to service and receives communion.

By the grace of the Lord, our children are accustomed to this routine and willingly follow it. Despite the fact that their schoolmates do not observe fasts, the children, fortunately, are not at all tempted by this.”

At the end of the letter, this blessed woman writes: “This is how our life flows. Although we have many temptations that happen due to the envy of the devil, we feel that Christ reigns in our house, and we are very content and happy.”

Here is an example for you, my child, from the lives of people in the world so that you can understand: God is no respecter of persons. He sends down grace everywhere, but it is very difficult to achieve its highest levels in the world.

First, we learn to continually say the prayer with our lips: “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.”

As far as we succeed, we say this prayer out loud and soon enough. However, the beginner does not yet have strength, and the enemy tries to darken his mind with various ideas. By constantly and quickly saying your prayer, you prevent these ideas from clinging to your mind. I especially want to draw your attention to this. During prayer, with all your might, drive away any idea, even if it seems good to you. Drive him away from you, because Satan has already laid his hand on him. Your diligence should be aimed at listening only and only to what your lips say.

Imagine, for example, a man whose house is surrounded by robbers. What will he do? He is forced to scream at the top of his lungs: “Help, help. Bandits... I'm in danger, help..."

The beginner does the same. He cries out (sometimes even loudly): “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me,” “Most Holy Theotokos, save me.”

During confession, the monks told me that at times Satan attacks them with various vain thoughts, including carnal ones. Then they are forced to pray with the maximum effort of all their strength. This becomes the reason for them to find pure prayer.

Some, by God's permission, even in reality see Satan breathing rage. His appearance is terrible, he threatens, strikes, even grabs them by the throat so that they stop praying. So he trembles at the name of Christ. Then you pray the three hundred rosary to yourself in one minute, and the prayer becomes so pure that the mind is completely immersed in Christ.

One monk told me that one day while praying, he felt Satan squeezing his heart as if a huge rock had collapsed on his chest. He could not utter the words of prayer either with his lips or with his mind. He tried to cross himself. But at that very moment the enemy tied both his hands so that he could not move them. However, God enlightened him, and with his head he drew a cross in the air. That was enough. Satan immediately released his arms and chest and became invisible. Immediately the brother began to quickly and purely perform mental prayer. When he confessed all this to me, I told him: “You should be grateful to Satan, who taught you prayer. Now try to keep it."

Mental prayer is also called heartfelt prayer. Are you asking whether oral prayer can also be called heartfelt prayer?

Prayer, if it is pure, whether it is mental or oral, can be called heartfelt.

Prayer becomes heartfelt when the mind is literally “absorbed” by the heart. Let the bombs explode, let the house catch fire, he will remain there, even if the person is in danger of being burned alive.

To make it clearer to you, read the life of St. Irene Chrysolanthou. Satan set her clothes on fire, her body burned, but she continued to stand motionless, like a candle.

This is real prayer, which rises like lightning to heaven and reaches the throne of God. Moses did not open his mouth and heard the words of God addressed to him: “Why are you crying out to Me?” This means that his prayer came from within, this means that lightning, coming out of his heart, reached the heavens.

As for the oral prayer of the novice, it is mixed with various thoughts and is not pure. Therefore, how will it be called cardiac? But often verbal prayer can also be heartfelt. This is exactly the kind of prayer that the prophet David speaks about: “I cried out of the depths.”

The Canaanite woman, asking Christ for her child, said “have mercy on me” with her lips, but from the depths of her soul. It was a heartfelt prayer. When, my child, the mind is immersed in God, then if you make a prayer with your lips, such prayer is called heartfelt prayer. It comes from the depths, the heart. The heart and mind connect with God.

Another necessary condition: in order for you to be able to freely practice mental prayer, your conscience must certainly be clear in front of everyone.

For example, you live in a monastery where there are fifty brethren. It is your duty to live with them in peace and love. You will put forty-nine to rest, but you will despise one, and this one takes over, and prayer does not come. He becomes an obstacle in her.

Sometimes it’s someone else’s fault, and he’s in no hurry to ask for your forgiveness. But if you want to find God in prayer, you must take his guilt upon yourself, ask for his forgiveness, pray for him and do everything possible to bring him to reconciliation. However, if he is possessed by a demon and avoids you, then, of necessity, he should arm himself with patience. Some are also possessed by the demon of murder, which darkens their minds. It is impossible to talk to such people. But it is our responsibility to love them and pray for them.

You live in the world. At home, at work, be polite and constant with everyone. Avoid those who might offend you, and do not show them your friendship with others. They will certainly notice this, and you will get into extra trouble.

You write that sometimes you feel pain in your chest and this pain makes you feel some kind of tightness and suffocation. Here, my child, you need to be very careful. There is pain that comes from a thirst for prayer, but there is also another, the reason for which we ourselves gave by deviating from our usual routine.

Pay attention: when sometimes you are late for lunch, your stomach immediately lets you know about it, a pain appears in the pit of your stomach. The same thing happens to the soul of those who have the custom of saturating it with spiritual food. This happens to me very often. If worries and unexpected obstacles occur, due to which at a certain time I cannot stand for prayer, then my heart begins to experience such pain, such thirst that I, for seemingly no apparent reason, begin to suffer. Then I am forced to run to my cell, lower my head to my chest, where it hurts, and say a prayer as long as I can, holding my breath. For one inhalation and exhalation I can say 100 or 200 prayers.

But you ask, is it possible to say so many prayers in one breath? Do you think we're telling lies? The prayer is said so quickly and so purely that the mind plunges into the depths of the heart. The mind and heart grieve immensely from holding the breath. This pain remains. But the soul requires it. After strongly forcing yourself, the moment of saturation comes. The soul bursts into the sweetest tears. Within herself she senses the coming of the Lord. Such ardent, fiery love for Christ and His Most Pure Mother appears that at this moment cutting off your head for the sake of the Lord will be the highest bliss for you. Then I realized what a pleasure torment was for our saints. They gave themselves entirely to Christ, so this great love constantly reigned in them.

Sometimes, although your soul is not deprived of prayerful food, you feel pain inside you. This means that we must force ourselves to pray even more; this is a notice that some kind of temptation awaits us. Therefore, we must be fully armed. But sometimes this pain means that someone needs our prayerful help. Having succeeded in the science of prayer, you already understand all this. Feeling pain, I begin to prayerfully go over in my memory those whom I know need help, and when I remember someone who especially cries out, my soul responds and bursts into hot tears. Then my heart softens, the pain goes away, and my soul is filled with love for God. and to that brother who asked for help.

Later, this person himself says that, indeed, at that moment he needed support. This has happened to me many times. For true ascetics, this pain intensifies many times over when the whole Church, the people, or the whole world as a whole needs help. My holy Elder Father Joseph said that when the Second World War began, he felt severe pain, a fire flared up in his heart, like the flame of a burning hearth. He was forced to leave everything and pray intensely, day and night, as he had never prayed before. The elder realized that something terrible had happened. Soon a message came about the start of the war. Do you know how many soldiers his fiery prayer saved from bullets?

We mentioned that as a result of some temptation and our imprudence, there is other pain. You have to be very careful here. If, through inattention or through demonic instigation, you happen to offend your brother, then as soon as he becomes sad because of you, you will immediately feel pain in your chest, mixed with a feeling of embarrassment and strong anxiety. If you are guilty, then immediately go to him, bow and ask for his forgiveness. Give rest to the heart of your neighbor if you want God to give rest to your heart too.

Sometimes it happens that although the truth is on our side, our brother considers us guilty. In this case, his satanic confusion is transmitted to us. Then again, whether we like it or not, we should ask for forgiveness.

If we want our soul to be at peace, we must take the blame upon ourselves. The worst thing is when a brother turns out to be possessed. Here you already need to have extraordinary courage in order to overcome temptation.

When I was still a beginner, something similar happened to me and I found myself in a very awkward position. Although the truth was on my side, I bowed to my brother, repeatedly asked him for forgiveness, but it was all in vain, he also scolded me. I was seething inside. I run to the Elder for confession. He tells me: “Be careful, don’t give in to temptation, don’t talk back and don’t open your mouth, otherwise you’re lost. Satan sitting in him wants to get at least one word out of you. He's just waiting for you to open your mouth so he can enter you. What will you have to go through then? But don’t be afraid, I will pray for you, and peace will soon return to you.” Indeed, at that very moment I calmed down. However, I owe this entirely to my Elder, because I was already close to despair.

After all that I have written to you, take a careful look at yourself and see what exactly is the source of your pain every time. However, be careful. Try to be very careful so as not to confuse anyone.

You ask why I advise praying while standing, while the Philokalia says that sitting on a low bench is more conducive to self-collection.

It's good to pray sitting in a pew, but it's not good for you. It is not suitable for me either, who has already reached old age. I notice that when I pray standing, the prayer flows quickly and clearly. It brings tenderness, tears, contemplation and much more that you cannot yet understand. Very often such a fragrance emanates from the chest that even the cell begins to smell fragrant.

A similar thing happens with Elder Arseny. Do you know what grace he acquired? Quite often during prayer he feels such a great sweetness, such a fragrance that he completely forgets about everything and stands for many hours in a row. With Father Prodromus, everything happens the other way around. Although he is young, the tediousness of standing on his feet makes him dizzy. Sitting on a bench, he becomes so immersed in prayer that he even reaches a state of admiration.

That is why I want to emphasize to you once again that an experienced mentor is absolutely necessary for doing mental prayer. In order to be self-assembled, especially for young people, it is necessary first of all to humble your body through labor, bowing, fasting and standing in prayer as much as you can. If you want, try both and you will feel the difference yourself. As for falling prostrate and kneeling, this also happens, but with a feeling of great contrition. When an ascetic sees the Lord before him with his spiritual eyes, he feels the need to fall on his face. My knees buckle on their own, making it impossible to stand. He falls at the feet of the Savior. But be careful, because the enemy often relaxes his knees in order to then induce negligence and sleep.

When you get tired of standing on your feet, it’s better than sitting comfortably on a chair to alternate prayer: do it standing, kneeling, or sitting. When we have no strength, God condescends to our weakness, whether we pray on our knees or while sitting; you can pray even while lying in bed. However, when you have bodily strength, then the enemy does not sleep and immediately induces negligence, darkness of mind and sleep. Many ascetics, in order to sometimes overcome drowsiness, learn to say prayer while walking around their cell, etc.

You write that you say the prayer out loud for some time. Then you have a desire to close your lips and pray internally, with your mind.

This is a sign of some success. After we cry out the words of prayer with our lips for many hours, forcing ourselves to listen to what we say, little by little prayer enters the heart. You turn inward, take your breath away, and you can no longer pray out loud. Then we gather our minds as much as we can, hold our breath and repeat the prayer as clearly as possible. If you could achieve pure prayer and be worthy of those sweet tears that then flow from your eyes, then I would tell you about what happens next.

Just be careful. Satan can also offer turning inward (apparently, unreal). So we begin to pray with our lips. The devil comes and, like a stone, shuts our mouths. You think that this is turning inward, you try to pray internally, but nothing comes of it. The mind wanders. This means it is a trick and Satan has gagged you. If you cannot collect your mind from distraction, make every effort to push this gag out of your mouth.

One day I, then still a new novice, happened to experience temptation. In obedience, when I continuously prayed: “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me,” the enemy closed my mouth. I tried to keep my mind from wandering, but that day, since there was a lot of work to do, prayer was sometimes interrupted. I told the Elder about this, He tells me: “Force yourself to continuously pray out loud, with your lips.” At first, after a little effort, my lips, like a motor, began to say a prayer non-stop. An indescribable sweetness filled my lips, as if I had been eating chocolate all day. Working all day, I felt neither hunger nor thirst. This sweetness filled me up. The more often during obedience your ears hear prayer during the day, the easier it is to pray at night, and the less effort you can concentrate on the meaning of its words.

As for the sacred rites of our Church, they are in no way rejected or despised by those who replace them with mental prayer.

The sacred rites were written with the assistance of the grace of the Holy Spirit. In them you will find wisdom, you will find the dogmas of our faith, you will find prayer appeals, you will find praises. This is a fragrant garden. But, unfortunately, for many it is closed.

It’s good if you love worship, but not so much that this love becomes just a good skill for you, so that you simply enjoy reading and singing, spending your time with pleasure. When we read, sing, all this has value only when we delve into the meaning of what is being said and enjoy divine thoughts. Otherwise, the question “do you understand what you are reading?” applies to us too.

God sent Philip to the Ethiopian to explain to him the meaning of what he had read. For us, when the mind is purified by unceasing prayer, He sends His Most Holy Spirit.

One day a most pious monk came to Burazeri to talk with me. He says:

– Geronda, I am not against the Jesus Prayer, but I do not agree with you that, having thrown all your energy into prayer, you abandoned most of the rites.

I answer:

-Who told you that we left the sacred rites?

– To put it mildly, they are greatly reduced. In our monastery, daily public worship lasts six to eight hours, not to mention Sundays, holidays, all-night vigils, etc.

– Okay, you mentioned temple worship. But answer this question for me sincerely. In your stasidia, do you understand what is being read and sung, or is your mind wandering here and there?

– Well..., to be honest, indeed, often my mind wanders in unknown places.

“So, my dear,” I tell him, “the words of the prophet come true on you: “This people honor Me with their lips and tongue, but their heart is far from Me.” Do you want me to tell you how we read liturgical books? First of all, we hold a vigil in our cell to enlighten our minds. Then we open the canon, the menaion... And such sweetness comes, such tenderness, you are so moved that from an excess of feelings you leave the book, fall on your face, your heart flames with Divine love, and your eyes exude inexhaustible streams of tears. Now that I have a brotherhood, there are also troubles, this happens to me less often than before. But when I was alone, I experienced all this every day.

I only finished primary school. But when the mind opens, then you understand the ancient Greek language in which the books are written better than any professor. Try to first warm your heart with the Jesus Prayer, and then you will feel the difference when listening to what is sung and read at the service. Many monastery monks from whom I receive confession have been convinced of this from their own experience. Now, since you are an educated person, I will ask you one more thing. Do you read the Holy Scriptures?

- Well, of course, Geronda, I’m reading.

– You read, but do you understand anything from what you read?

- I understand something. Indeed, I know a little ancient Greek.

- Since you say that you understand, then tell me, do you notice any changes in yourself?

– Sometimes I experience some changes, some tenderness, but not always.

- So, do you want me to tell you now how we, illiterate people, read the Holy Scriptures? After five or six hours of the Jesus Prayer, I open the Gospel. As a brother, I assure you that my mind is opening up, and I am beginning to understand everything so clearly that from an excess of feelings I put the book down, can’t stand it and cry for a long time with great tenderness. I’m telling you this as if in confession, because you wanted to know if we read the holy books. What is the source of such enlightenment, such an excess of feelings? Isn't this the Jesus Prayer?

- If so, Geronda, then I bow to you. And we in monasteries pray for many hours in the temple, and very little - alone in our cell.

– The same thing is told to me by the monastery monks whom I profess. But God is fair. Pray in your cell as much as you can. After finishing your monastic rule at the service, continue to say your prayer without ceasing.

There is more grace in monasteries, they have their own saints, there are many holy relics, and when you pray, grace appears in abundance. Enlightenment and tenderness come, you feel joy and jubilation within yourself. The time will come, you will say a prayer, and your mind will open, and you will immediately discover with surprise that you have begun to understand with utmost clarity both the prayer and the meaning of what is read and sung during the service. You will become a real theologian.

I tell you all this as a confessor, answering for what has been said: this really happens to those who make an effort. Only the willful and careless fail.

This was our conversation with this monk. As he himself told me, he left us full of humility and deep satisfaction. “Well, now let’s get down to business,” I admonished him.

However, in order not to disappoint those who love divine services, I will say that in monasteries those monks who constantly go to church, fulfill their cell rule and live in obedience are under great protection. They are always filled with inner joy and peace.

I know of cases where monks became possessed. As a rule, this happens to those who live according to their own will and neglect their monastic vows. A similar thing happens in monasteries, when monks are “robbed from the right,” because they labor without a leader and follow their own will.

I am writing to you about all this because you thirst for knowledge and spiritual enrichment, and besides, your friends, after reading my letter, will be able to find in it answers to many of their questions about the Jesus Prayer.

You also ask me for advice, are you fit to be a monk? I see that you have good inclinations, but it will be best to test you here, on the spot, so when the opportunity arises, come to us for a few days.

You are constantly very tired during the day, and several hours pass before you manage to concentrate, so make it a rule to get up as early as possible in the morning. Until the time comes to go to work, continuously read the prayer with the rosary and make fifty prostrations to the ground. As for Sundays and holidays when you are not working, try to make the most of them. On Sundays and major holidays, Christ sends down deep grace.

I remember when I lived in obedience to my Elder, we worked a little every day to earn our bread. But we had Sundays and holidays off. Believe me, I looked forward to these days as if every Sunday was Easter. I spent eight hours at night standing at vigil, the other eight hours during the day praying, also almost always standing on my feet. Well, how can I explain it to you so that you understand? What a prayer it was! What tenderness! What contemplation! It was real paradise!

One Sunday, as I remember now, we had some guests in our cell. The elder calls me:

“Papa Charalampius, take them to the monastery of St. Paul to venerate the shrines.”

Believe it or not, I was very upset internally. But not because I was too lazy to do something... I thought: “Oh, Geronda, Geronda, what are you doing... That’s it, Sunday is gone.”

But nothing could escape the attention of Father Joseph. No sooner had this thought entered my head than he said:

“Don’t be upset, father, today your prayer will go so well that you will remember this day for a long time.”

And so it happened. At the monastery of St. Paul, I was accommodated in the monastery hotel. I immediately closed the door and prayed for four hours while tears streamed from my eyes. My soul was so delighted with Divine love, I went so deeply into prayer that it is simply impossible to describe it in words.

I learned another lesson that day: obedience is supreme. Everything is acquired through obedience.

Now, when very often administrative duties on Sundays do not give me the opportunity to be alone, the soul inside screams, protests, longs to fall to Christ stronger than a deer to sources of water. At least for a short time, I feel the need to hide somewhere in order to satisfy this thirst of my soul.

You write that in the booklet with the akathist to the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos, which you bought, it is written that the Mother of God promises to be a covering both in this and in the future life for those who read this akathist daily.

I know this too. I recited this akathist by heart back in the world, when I was not even a monk. The promise of the Blessed Virgin Mary extends to all people. But for ascetics this is not enough. Our goal is not only to be saved. Christ calls us to become heirs of His Kingdom. Therefore, we must cultivate not only virtues, but also unceasing prayer. We should make every effort to ensure that the prayer “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me” is always on our lips and in our hearts. When you get used to constantly repeating “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me,” you will experience such sweetness, such a desire to constantly say this little prayer that you will not want to eat, or communicate, or do anything else. But here you have to be careful. The slightest negligence, the slightest carelessness in relation to prayer, and it leaves you. Therefore, do not enter into conversation with anyone unless necessary and do not move on to other prayers. At this time, even leave the akathist, and the Mother of God will not hold it against you.

At other times, if you have no desire for prayer, leave it and read the akathist or cry out: “Most Holy Theotokos, save me.” Pray as God instructs you.

Therefore, monasticism is called the art of arts. You asked me if there are any tactics in the spiritual life? Well, of course there is. You are studying the highest art, how can you manage here without guidance? Read the Venerable Nicodemus the Holy Mountain, read the Philokalia, read the “Frank Stories...”, the Hesychast Fathers. They all talk about methods, they talk about practice, that is, they talk about science. You are now in first grade. Let me remind you of the first lesson once again. Since you come home tired, in the evening have dinner and read Compline with the Akathist of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos. Then, for a little while, until you start to feel sleepy, pray the Jesus Prayer. Go to bed as early as possible and wake up well rested. Some people need five hours of sleep, others six, others seven... Try it and decide according to the needs of your body. When you wake up, immediately start praying and bowing. If there is still time left, then read the New Testament, the Psalter or any of the works of the Holy Fathers. If prayer captures you, do not leave it. Pray until it's time to go to work. But even there, as far as possible, say your prayer in a whisper, do not stop, unless you need to talk to someone for work.

When the opportunity arises, come and visit us, we are waiting for you. Try to follow what I wrote. I hope that we will discuss your new questions at our next meeting.

I’ll end here and wish you every success.

Prayers to the Hieromartyr Charalampios.

Icon of the Hieromartyr Harlampius and Blasius

Prayers to the Hieromartyr Charalampios

O sacred and long-suffering head, good shepherd of the verbal sheep of Christ, holy martyr of Christ Charalampos. Magnisian praise and glory of the universe, universal lamp and our great intercessor and helper in sorrows, troubles and all kinds of needs! Hear us sinners who come running to you and pray, and deliver us from every evil situation. You have received from the Lord grace and great strength for your many and necessary sufferings and patience, to help us everywhere and in everything, and especially where your memory will be honored by vigil, singing and fervent prayer. The great grace was given to you, holy martyr of Christ, from the appearance of the Lord, the King of glory, at your request. When I condemned you to be beheaded with a sword, you heard the most beloved and sweetest voice saying to you: “Come, Haralampe, my friend, you who have endured many torments for my sake, and ask me whatever you want, and I will give you.” But you, the great lamp, spoke to Christ the Lord with your lips: “My Lord, great is this gift that I have from You, the never-evening Light. If Thy Majesty pleases, I pray Thee, deign to grant me Your mercy: may my relics be placed there, and the memory of my suffering will be honored; there will be no famine, no pestilence, or noxious air destroying the fruits in that place, but let there be Moreover, in this place there will be peace, health for bodies and salvation for souls, an abundance of wheat, wine, and oil, and a multiplication of livestock for man’s needs.” Again, you, the long-suffering servant of Christ, Haralampie, heard the voice of the Lord telling you: “Be according to your request, my glorious warrior.” And Abiye, according to this saying of the Lord, you gave up your soul without the sword, and you followed in the footsteps of Christ the Lord with much glory, the Angel who met you and escorted you to the throne of the Lord with great joy. And so you received the crown of glory from His Divine hand from the faces of the saints, forever glorifying the most holy name of the Lord. And there, abiding in heavenly glory, look, O servant of God, upon us sinners who pray to you, and remember us before the Lord, to grant us the great mercy of His for endless ages. Amen.

O most wonderful holy martyr Charalampius, unconquerable passion-bearer, priest of God, intercede for the whole world! Look upon the prayer of us who honor your holy memory. Ask us from the Lord God for forgiveness of our sins, so that the Lord will not be completely angry with us: we have sinned and are unworthy of God’s mercy. Pray to the Lord God for us, may he bring peace to our cities and towns, may he deliver us from the invasion of foreigners, civil strife and all kinds of discord and disorder! Confirm, O Hieromartyr, faith and piety in all the children of the Orthodox Christian Church, and may the Lord God deliver us from heresies, schisms and all superstition. O merciful martyr! Pray for us to the Lord, may He save us from hunger and all sorts of diseases, and may He give us an abundance of the fruits of the earth, the increase of livestock for human needs, and all that is useful to us: above all, may we be worthy, through your prayers, of the heavenly kingdom of Christ our God, to Him be honor and worship is due, with his beginningless Father and the Most Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

With your prayers to the Lord, free from evil, troubles, misfortunes, those who faithfully come running to you and deliver the snares of the enemy, great passion-bearer Harlampie.

Orthodox Church calendar

Kontakion 1

To the chosen passion-bearer and saint of God, who watered the earth with his venerable blood and who asked for the fertility of the earth from God, we sing songs of praise from the depths of the soul. But you, who have great boldness towards the Lord, free us from all troubles, calling: Rejoice, holy martyr Charalampos, our merciful intercessor before God and wonderful miracle worker.

Ikos 1

The angels in heaven rejoice at your immaculate life, holy martyr Charalampio, for you followed the holy prophet and apostle, instructing people on the path of salvation. For this reason we cry out to you: Rejoice, great lamp of the Church; Rejoice, preacher of truth. Rejoice, teacher of the words of eternal life; Rejoice, accuser of idolatry. Rejoice, in whom Satan is put to shame; Rejoice, for in this way the faith of Christ is glorified. Rejoice, for through the Name of Christ you have overthrown the power of the enemy; Rejoice, for by the power of God you have destroyed the wiles of the demons. Rejoice, Haralampie, our merciful intercessor before God and wonderful miracle worker.

Kontakion 2

Seeing your life, filled with piety and purity, and hearing your fiery preaching, the servant of the Lord Jesus Christ, having been strengthened in faith and piety, rejoiced, singing to the Creator of all: Alleluia.

Ikos 2

With a mind enlightened by the Lord, filled with wisdom and long-lived, you did not want to listen to the advice of Lucian, the hegemon, to approach the soulless God with sacrifices, and you were not afraid of great torment. We also cry out to you: Rejoice, despiser of Lucian’s threats; Rejoice, having acquired longevity through fasting and prayer. Rejoice, blessings invisible to the seeker; Rejoice, victorious bearer of the cross of Christ. Rejoice, beloved tormentors of yours; Rejoice, you have turned their hearts to Christ. Rejoice, to whom the true faith has been established; Rejoice, put to shame the deceit of demons. Rejoice, Haralampie, our merciful intercessor before God and wonderful miracle worker.

Kontakion 3

Having been strengthened by the power of the Most High, you overcame great torment, and with iron nails, you prayed to the Lord, healing the illnesses of your tormentors and singing to God the song: Alleluia.

Ikos 3

Having the great mercy of the Lord, you have been worthy, O holy martyr Charalampios, of the voice of God coming from the cloud, listening to Him with a reverent voice: Rejoice, lamp of the earth; Rejoice, you who dwell in the heavenly abode. Rejoice, interlocutor with an angel; Rejoice, fellow prophet. Rejoice, fellow apostle with the throne; Rejoice, fellow martyr. Rejoice, thou who hast been worthy of the Lord's conversations; Rejoice, for the Lord has heard your prayers. Rejoice, Haralampie, our merciful intercessor before God and wonderful miracle worker.

Kontakion 4

A great storm destroys cities, towns, and all kinds of grass; The bitter storms of everyday malice, unbelief and human atrocities confuse our souls and cover our lives with darkness. But help us, glorious holy martyr, who honor your exploits and sufferings and sing about you to the wondrous God in His saints: Alleluia.

Ikos 4

Hearing that the wicked Roman king Sevier heard that you were not overcome in torment, you appeared, filled with anger; But you, long-suffering, when a sharp iron nail was driven quickly into your honest body, said nothing in spite of your tormentor, you endured all this in joy and joy. For this reason, we please your longsuffering with this title: Rejoice, thou art of spiritual meekness; Rejoice, imitating the Lord Jesus Christ with long-suffering. Rejoice, for even the dumb creature was horrified by your wondrous patience; Rejoice, for the Lord God remained with you in your torment. Rejoice, having brought many people to the Lord through your longsuffering; Rejoice, glorified by the Lord. Rejoice, source of healings; Rejoice, helper of man. Rejoice, Haralampie, our merciful intercessor before God and wonderful miracle worker.

Kontakion 5

You were a God-bearing star to a certain woman, who, seeing your suffering and being touched by your heart, cried out loudly: man of God, your old age is honorable, and God is with you, the imam is unfit to believe, singing to Him: Alleluia.

Ikos 5

Seeing King Sevier in the healing of a certain person possessed by a demon, the miraculous power of Christ dwelling in you, venerable martyr, he was greatly surprised and said: truly great is the Christian God! For this reason, we, praising your sufferings and miracles, glorious confessor of Christ, joyfully cry out to you: Rejoice, wonderful miracle worker; Rejoice, victorious champion of faith. Rejoice, you remained unharmed from the fiery burning; Rejoice, you who illuminated unbelieving people with the light of the knowledge of God through your miracles. Rejoice, having glorified the Name of God by your life; Rejoice, for as a good soldier of Christ, the devil trembles. Rejoice, through whose prayer the sick are healed; Rejoice, through His faithful intercession you will inherit eternal life. Rejoice, Haralampie, our merciful intercessor before God and wonderful miracle worker.

Kontakion 6

You were a courageous preacher, the all-praised Haralampie, when you said to the kings: “Torment is of great benefit to me; As much as my body is crushed by wounds, so much does my spirit rejoice within me. Heeding these words, many people confessed the Lord Jesus Christ and received the crown of martyrdom, singing to God: Alleluia.

Ikos 6

God's omnipotence arose and God's terrible rebuke appeared, when your wickedness tormented blasphemies against Christ the Lord, saying shamelessly: the earth, like a leaf, wavered, and I heard from above from the clouds a terrible voice, and the sound of brilliance and thunder; I will make a prayer for you, God’s terrible rebuke will cease. We also cry out to you: Rejoice, accuser of the proud; Rejoice, spiritual teacher of poverty. Rejoice, blasphemers of the Name of the Lord; Rejoice, you deliver people from the wrath of the Lord. Rejoice, calm the brilliance and thunder of heaven with prayer; Rejoice, you who have resurrected people who were dead from fear. Rejoice, you have shown great kindness towards your tormentors; Rejoice, for whose sake the Lord God roared into the clouds of air. Rejoice, Haralampie, our merciful intercessor before God and wonderful miracle worker.

Kontakion 7

Although to save the pure soul of the daughter of Tsarina Galina, the Lord will show you, O Charalampia, like a bright angel, a wise teacher and apostle of the faith of Christ. And listening to your words, blessed Galina was touched in your heart and cried out to God: Alleluia.

Ikos 7

The Lord God showed you the new Joseph, when he gave you understanding, to inform you, the wise one, of the legend of the former blessed Galina of the dream vision. I saw the abundance of water, which is the gift of the Holy Spirit, I saw a great garden with many waters, the paradise of the Lord, and in it I saw red grapes, the establishment of the righteous, and the guardian of that place, Christ God, taking the sheep on His shoulder. We also call you: Rejoice, adornment of the elders; Rejoice, friend of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Rejoice, for with the faces of the angels you praised the Lord; Rejoice, for you have acquired the Lord's paradise and eternal life. Rejoice, servant of the Chief Shepherd of Christ our God; Rejoice, good shepherd of Christ's flock and prayer book of the whole world. Rejoice, decoration of the Lord's grapes; Rejoice, confirmation of the Church of Christ. Rejoice, Haralampie, our merciful intercessor before God and wonderful miracle worker.

Kontakion 8

While making your earthly journeys, you did not want to do the will of the wicked idolaters and retreat from the true faith, but admonishing your tormentors with your godly words, you suffered fiercely for Christ, singing the victorious song to the Lord God: Alleluia.

Ikos 8

Having filled his whole heart with rage, the wicked king gave you to a certain widow wife for reproach. But you, holy Haralampie, entering her house, leaned down on a certain pillar at the temple, and that dry pillar froze; Then the wife, greatly horrified, turned to God. With tenderness of heart we cry out to you: Rejoice, Haralampe, all-bright lamp; Rejoice, servant of Christ, filled with grace. Rejoice, for your very name has been justified by your wonderful life; Rejoice, intercession and intercession of widows. Rejoice, you have brought many to Christ through your teaching; Rejoice, hope and strength for the orphans. Rejoice, beauty of the martyrs; Rejoice, mirror of humanity. Rejoice, Haralampie, our merciful intercessor before God and wonderful miracle worker.

Kontakion 9

All the wealth of your mind, all the grace-filled gifts that you received from the Lord God, you gave away, holy Haralampe, to serve people, teaching everyone faith and piety, and at the hour of your saint’s death you prayed not for yourself, but for salvation and prosperity Let all who honor your holy memory enjoy the gifts of the Lord God, singing to Him: Alleluia.

Ikos 9

Not having been able to adequately sing the greatness of your soul and your ineffable mercy, which we marvel at, we, unworthy, in the simplicity of our hearts call: Rejoice, lamp, drive away the darkness of sin from people with the light of faith; Rejoice, shining with the crown of martyrdom more than the stars of heaven. Rejoice, through your prayers you ask Christ God for the vegetation of bread; Rejoice, for you shed your honorable blood on the earth. Rejoice, for through your blood you have acquired the bounty of the Lord for us sinners; Rejoice, for the Lord has spoken to you: be your word for healing the sick. Rejoice, for God accepted the prayer of your lips; Rejoice, gracious consolation for those who mourn. Rejoice, Haralampie, our merciful intercessor before God and wonderful miracle worker.

Kontakion 10

Although you saved your soul, you counted your body for nothing, O holy martyr, and you rejoiced at the condemnation that fell upon you, singing to the beneficent Lord God: Alleluia.

Ikos 10

There was a wall and a refuge for you, the great Haralampie, the Lord God, who appeared to you in His glory at the hour of your blessed death. We also call you: Rejoice, friend of the Lord; Rejoice, for the Lord gives you what you ask. Rejoice, you who have seen the terrible glory of the Lord; Rejoice, protector of people from famine and pestilence. Rejoice, thou who driveth away the corrupting air, which destroys the fruits of the earth, by the power of God; Rejoice, hardworking teacher. Rejoice, for you intercede for the health of bodies and souls, the salvation of souls; Rejoice, as you also care for the cattle created for the needs of men. Rejoice, Haralampie, our merciful intercessor before God and wonderful miracle worker.

Kontakion 11

Even though we bring you a song of tenderness and much, O miracle worker, we do nothing equal to your miracles and your much mercy towards us sinners, marveling at it, we call to the Lord: Alleluia.

Ikos 11

Be a guiding lamp for us, Haralampie, who walk in the darkness of sin, and pray to the Lord to take away all superstition from us, to enlighten our minds with the light of the Gospel and teachings that are useful for the work of the farmer and in every thing, so that for enlightenment of the mind, in the tenderness of the heart we call you : Rejoice, inexhaustible myrrh, poured out for human labor; Rejoice, fragrant spring of the Lord. Rejoice, beautiful tree of the Lord’s paradise; Rejoice, you send up a prayer like a fragrant incense to the Lord. Rejoice, warm the holy earth with the breath of your prayer; Rejoice, through your intercession before the Lord you water the fruits of the earth with dew. Rejoice, patron saint of farmers; Rejoice, life to their builder. Rejoice, Haralampie, our merciful intercessor before God and wonderful miracle worker.

Kontakion 12

The grace promised to you by the Lord God, which will fulfill every request of yours, knowing, “I pray to you, Lord,” you said, “give glory to your name: where my relics will be placed, so that in that place there will not be famine and pestilence, or destructive air, destroying the fruits, but may there be peace in men and health in bodies, and salvation for souls, and an abundance of the fruits of the earth.” O Lord our God! Pour out this grace of Yours on all of us who sing: Alleluia.

Ikos 12

Singing your miracles, glorified Haralampe, we glorify your long-suffering, suffering and wondrous death, and marveling at your mercy, we call to you: Rejoice, intercede before the Lord for the timely rains; Rejoice, save us from storms and hail with your prayers. Rejoice, for you asked for fertility to the place where you suffered; Rejoice, for you prayed to the Lord, that He, the Merciful, would send down His blessing on the work of the farmer. Rejoice, invincible and invincible sufferer; Rejoice, priest of God, intercede for the whole world. Rejoice, hope of all those who pray to you; Rejoice, bright joy for farmers. Rejoice, Haralampie, our merciful intercessor before God and wonderful miracle worker.

Kontakion 13

O wonderful Haralampie, our most merciful intercessor! Listen to the voice of our unworthy prayer and pray for us to the Lord, to save us from famine and pestilence and internecine warfare, and to send down God’s blessing on every peaceful labor of man, so that we may sing to Him forever: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.

(This kontakion is read three times, then ikos 1 and kontakion 1)

First prayer

Yokos є7.

Vi1dz tsar sevi1r in the healing of a certain person, demonic power, the miraculous power of Christ, in you, the worthy conscientious one, the killing, selw2 њdivi1сz and 3 speech: truly great Yes, there is a Christian! today, for the sake of 3 we2, praising your suffering and 3 miracles, glorious and 3confessor of Christ, we cry out to you with joy:

Rejoice, most wonderfully wonderful: Rejoice, more victorious of faith.

Rejoice, t џgnennagw burnt unharmed: Rejoice, miracles2 of your unbelievers people with the light of the dawn.

Rejoice, let us live your 1st and 4th most glorious life: Rejoice, 3rd, ykw d0bragw war khrt0va, the devil trembles.

We advise you to study Prayers for selling a house

Rejoice, already your ills are being treated: Rejoice, through your faithful intercession you will inherit eternal life.

Rejoice, blessed Charalampia, our merciful God, intercessor and wonderful miracle worker.

Life of a Saint

Memorial Day: February 23

At the age of 113 years, he accepted martyrdom in the name of our Lord, which all believers remember when they turn to him for help, reading the words of the prayer to Charalampius of Magnesia.

During one of his sermons, the bishop and his devotees were captured by the soldiers of the ruler Lucian. The clergyman was required to renounce Christianity and make sacrifices to the pagan gods. However, the holy elder flatly refused this, for which he was subjected to severe torture, despite his advanced age.

When saying a prayer to Saint Charalampios, believers should remember the torment that this unbending warrior of Christ endured, thanking their Lord for his fortitude and giving him hope.

The executioners burned the holy martyr with fire, tore pieces of skin from his body with an iron hook, but not for a minute did Kharlampiy regret the path he had chosen, he only prayed to the Lord. Prayer of St. Charalampia also helped him at the hour when Emperor Septimius Severus himself plunged a sharp stake into the old man’s chest, and then forced his minions to burn the saint in the fire. The Lord God did not forget Kharlampy in torment - he remained alive after torture, and many of the pagans, seeing the elder’s steadfastness, themselves believed in Christ.

Many who saw how faith helped the bishop to withstand and endure unbearable torment, themselves were baptized, offering words of prayer to the holy martyr Charalampios.

How do prayers to Saint Charalampios help?

A prayer to the saint is said in times of despair, and many villages have long prayed to the saint as the patron saint of livestock. People turned to him, asking for the offspring of animals and the harvest.

For many years, believers turned to Charalampius in prayer for health in order to avoid sudden death or death without repentance. The saint also relieves hunger, gives prosperity, spiritual and material, and strengthens faith. The main thing is to say the words of prayer sincerely, cleansing yourself of evil thoughts and thanking God for what you have been given.

Church of Charalampios of the Bishop of Magnesia in Krasnaya Polyana

In 1878, the valley in the mountains was liked by the Greeks, who moved from the Stavropol Territory. More than thirty families saw a beautiful area in the mountains with blooming red ferns and called it Krasnaya Polyana. Later they tried to rename the settlement Romanovsk, but it never took root. At the same time, the construction of temples began, one of which was the Charalampia Church. During the period of Soviet power, the temple was destroyed.

New construction began in 1992 and lasted eleven years. The construction of the building was sponsored exclusively by the Greek community. The architect of the project was a local resident, Fyodor Afuksenidi, who was of Greek origin. A sample building - a simplified version of the volumetric forms of Greek architecture - fascinates with its simplicity:

The brick walls are plastered and painted beige.
Above the entrance to the temple is an icon of the saint. The interior design is different from a Russian Orthodox church.
Everything looks quite simple, but the marble floor and columns add solemnity.

A particle of the relics of the holy martyr Charalampios is kept in the temple.

Prayer to Saint Charalampios:

God bless you!

You will also be interested in watching a video story about the holy martyr:

Icons

Life

Saint Charalampios was a bishop in Magnesia, a region in Asia Minor, a Roman province that bore the same name. His name Χαράλαμπος in Greek means illuminated with joy. He lived during the reign of Septimius Severus (193-211), when Lucian was proconsul of Magnesia. It is believed that at the time of his martyrdom Saint Charalampios was 113 years old.

Despite his advanced age, Saint Charalampios was subjected to merciless torture. His bodies were torn with iron hooks, and the skin was torn off from his body. The saint only said to his tormentors: “Thank you, brothers, for stripping my old body and renewing my soul for a new and eternal life.”

According to the biography of the saint, due to the steadfastness with which he endured torment, two warriors, Porfiry and Baptus, openly professed the faith of Christ, for which they were immediately beheaded with swords. Three women who observed the suffering of Charalampius began to glorify Christ, for which they were also soon martyred.

Tradition says that Lucius himself took the instruments of torture and began to torture Saint Charalampios. But suddenly Lucius's forearm was cut off as if by a sword. Tradition also reports that Governor Lucian spat in the saint’s face, and immediately his head turned to face backwards. Immediately Lucian and Lucius began to beg for mercy, and were healed by the saint and became Christians.

The saint was subjected to many tortures before appearing before the face of Septimius Severus himself. Sentenced to death and taken to the place of execution, Charalampius prayed that in the place where his relics would rest, no one would suffer from hunger or disease. Having prayed, the saint gave up his soul to God even before the executioner’s sword touched his neck. Tradition says that the daughter of Emperor Severus Gallina was so shocked by his death that she turned to Christ and buried the saint herself.

Charalampia is revered by the people as a guardian against sudden death without repentance, as a patron of domestic animals, and as a protector of the harvest. They also pray to him for prosperity and relief from hunger.

> Praise

Saint Charalampios was buried in the monastery of St. Stefan, in Meteora, Greece. Numerous miracles result from particles of his relics located in various parts of Greece.

Life of the Hieromartyr Harlampius

The Hieromartyr Charlampius was a bishop in the Thessalian city of Magnesia (north-eastern region of Greece), and suffered martyrdom for Christ during the reign of the wicked Roman Emperor Severus in 202. Saint Harlampius guided people on the path of salvation and taught them the word of God. The news of his preaching reached the governor of the region, Lucian, and the military commander, Lucius. By their order, the saint was seized and brought to trial, where he firmly confessed his faith in Christ and refused to sacrifice to the pagan gods. Despite the bishop's advanced age (113 years), he was subjected to inhuman torture: they tormented his body with iron hooks until all the skin was torn off from head to toe. Saint Harlampius addressed the tormentors: “Thank you, brothers, you have renewed my spirit!”

Seeing the patience and complete gentleness of the elder, the warriors Porfiry and Vaptos openly confessed their faith in Christ, for which they were immediately beheaded with the sword. Three women who were present at the suffering of Bishop Kharlampi also began to glorify Christ, and were immediately tortured.

The angry military leader himself grabbed the instruments of torture and began to torment the holy martyr, but suddenly his hands, as if cut off by a sword, were taken away. Ruler Lucian, who arrived at the place of execution, spat in the saint’s face, and immediately his head turned back. Then Lukiy began to beg the holy sufferer for mercy, and through his prayer both tormentors immediately received healing. At the same time, many witnesses to these miraculous healings believed in Christ. And the military leader Lukiy fell at the feet of the holy elder, asking for forgiveness.

Ruler Lucian reported what had happened to Emperor Septimius Severus (193-211), who was at that time in Pisidian Antioch (western part of Asia Minor), and he ordered Saint Charlampius to be brought to him, which the war carried out with unprecedented cruelty: they dragged the holy martyr, tying a rope to the beard.

The emperor ordered the bishop to be tortured even more, and they began to shoot him with fire. But the Power of God helped the saint, and he remained unharmed. In addition, through his prayers, miracles began to happen: a dead young man was resurrected, a demon-possessed man who had been tormented by a demon for 35 years was healed, so that the people in great numbers began to confess Christ the Savior. And even the tsar himself was surprised to see such miracles. The emperor's daughter Galina believed in Christ; she twice crushed idols in a pagan temple. By order of the emperor, they beat the saint on the mouth with stones, they wanted to set his beard on fire, but a flame came out of it and scorched the tormentors. Full of anger, Septimius Severus and his nobleman Crispus raised a blasphemy against the Lord, mockingly calling on Him to come down to earth, boasting of their strength and authority. The Lord became angry and shook the earth, great fear fell on everyone, but both wicked men hung in the air, bound by invisible bonds, and only through the prayer of the saint were brought back down. The emperor, frightened by such signs, hesitated in his wickedness, but soon he again fell into error and again ordered the saint to be tortured, and finally condemned him to be beheaded by the sword. During his last prayer, the heavens moved and the Savior came down to him with many angels. Saint Harlampius asked Him to grant the place where his relics would rest and his memory would be venerated; there would be neither famine nor pestilence, but peace, fertility, and an abundance of fruits, and forgiveness and salvation for people. The Lord promised to fulfill the saint’s request and ascended to heaven, surrounded by angels, taking with Him the soul of the holy martyr Harlampius, who, by God’s mercy, died a peaceful death before execution. The daughter of Emperor Severus, Galina, buried the body of the martyr with great honor.

The left hand of the Hieromartyr Harlampius, Bishop of the city of Magnesia, has been kept for many years in Greece, in the Mega Spileon monastery. And its honest head is located in one of the Meteora monasteries.

The Church celebrates the memory of the Hieromartyr Harlampius on February 23, New Style / February 10, Old Style. They pray to him for healing from various ailments and illnesses, from sudden and sudden death, as well as for the fertility of the earth.

Akathist to the Hieromartyr Harlampius Kontakion 1

To the chosen passion-bearer and saint of God, who watered the earth with his venerable blood and who asked for the fertility of the earth from God, we sing songs of praise from the depths of the soul. But you, who have great boldness towards the Lord, free us from all troubles, calling: Rejoice, holy martyr Kharlampie, our merciful intercessor before God and wonderful miracle worker.

Ikos 1

The angels in heaven rejoice at your immaculate life, holy martyr Harlampie, for you followed the holy prophet and apostle, instructing people on the path of salvation. For this reason we cry to you: Rejoice, great lamp of the Church. Rejoice, preacher of truth. Rejoice, words of eternal life to the teacher. Rejoice, accuser of idolatry. Rejoice, for Satan is put to shame. Rejoice, for in this way the faith of Christ is glorified. Rejoice, for through the Name of Christ you have overthrown the power of the enemy. Rejoice, for by the power of God you have destroyed the wiles of the demons. Rejoice, Harlampie, our merciful intercessor before God and wonderful miracle worker.

God's Power in Action

And then one of the emperor’s courtiers suddenly died. Septimus Severus ordered the deceased to be taken to Charalampius. “Can you resurrect the dead?” Sever asked menacingly. Charalampius replied: “This is impossible for humans, but it can be done by the Power of Christ!” The saint asked God in prayer and at that very moment the dead man came to life.

But Severus was not convinced by his own eyes; the emperor called it all “witchcraft.” Out of anger, he began to blaspheme God: “I will send my great army against You! Get down, or I'll drag heaven down to earth!"

Seeing how the emperor had gone wild and fearing the consequences of such blasphemy, the daughter of Severus, Galina, stood up for Charalampia. She was a Christian, but hid her faith.

Then the advisers of the North, seeing that the public trial only added sympathy to Charalampius, asked to kill the martyr. The emperor gave the order for execution.

Prayers, troparion, kontakion and magnification of rights. Artemy Verkolsky

By the command of the Most High / the cloudy cloud darkened the sky, / and the lightning flashed, / the thunder roared with rebuke, / you gave up your soul in the hand of the Lord, / the wise Artemy, / and now you stand before the Throne of the Lord of all, / of those who come to you with faith and love , / giving immediate healing to everyone, / and praying to Christ God / to save our souls.

Kontakion, tone 8:

Today the bright memory of the wise Artemy rises, / God-given grace, like a river, pours out from the holy healing shrine the relics of his wondrous healing, / I accept with faith and cry out: / Rejoice, Artemy the Wise God.

We advise you to study Prayers for admonition

First prayer

Holy servant of God, Artemy the Righteous, guardian of the holy monastery, adorned with your name, and close protector of the entire northern region of the Russian country! Look mercifully at the fervent prayer of us sinners and through your compassionate intercession ask the Lord for forgiveness of our sins, advancement in faith and piety, and protection from the wiles of the devil. Pray to the Lord, may our pious people remain in health and permanent well-being, may He give peace, silence and unfeigned obedience to our power, may He make us all worthy to receive, after the death of Christians, the Heavenly Kingdom, where all the righteous are united with you, ever glorifying the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Prayer four

Holy servant of God, Artemy the righteous! Look mercifully at the fervent prayer of us sinners (names), and through your kind intercession ask the Lord for forgiveness of our sins, and grant us success in faith and piety and protection from the machinations of the devil. Most of all, pray to the Lord, that after the death of Christians he will make us all worthy to receive the Heavenly Kingdom, where all the righteous together with you glorify the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit forever and ever.

Righteous Artemy Verkolsky Only registered users can add comments.

Miracles of the Hieromartyr Charalampios

Athos. View of the Simonopetra monastery. Photo from the site AgionOros.ru

In our time, miracles continue to be performed through prayers to Saint Charalampios, and, what is even more wonderful, the saint often helps even without praying to him.

Second strongest

On Mount Athos St. Charalampios is revered by many as the most powerful prayer book and intercessor after the Most Holy Theotokos. Repeatedly through his prayers, epidemics of typhoid, cholera and plague occurred.

For example, such an incident occurred in 1908 during an outbreak of a typhus epidemic: the relics (head) of the priest were brought from the monastery of St. Stephen to the Holy Mountain. Charalampia, an all-night vigil was ordered, and the epidemic stopped.

And in 1897, when the Turks captured Meteora and wanted to open the shrine with the relics of St. Charalampios in order to take them, they could not do anything - a typhus epidemic broke out. Then the Turkish commander-in-chief himself said that this was God’s punishment for attempting to desecrate the relics of a Christian saint.

Wealth of Nikolaou

In 1966, Nikolaou went to his village to spend his old age where he grew up. Nikolaou took all the money he had accumulated over the years of working in the city with him. When he arrived in his native village, he discovered that the money was missing.

All night Nikolaou could not sleep. As soon as it was light, the poor pensioner drove back to the city to try to find the lost money. On the way I saw the chapel of St. Charalampios. Knowing about the life of the holy martyr and believing in his help, he went in and began to pray. Suddenly I heard a voice advising Nikolaou to look for his money under the seat of the car that was taking him to the village.

Nikolaou found the man who was carrying him. And it turned out that the money actually fell under the car seat.

Dreams of Herr Künster

The honorable head of the holy martyr Charalampius. Monastery of St. Stephen. Meteora, Greece. Photo from wikipedia.org

During World War II, German troops captured the Peloponnesian village of Filiatra. The Germans were looking for Greek resistance soldiers. The commander of the troops, General Künster, had orders to destroy the resisters, burn the village, and send all the men to a concentration camp.

Residents of Filiatra gathered in the temple for prayer. They greatly revered Saint Charalampios. That same night, the holy martyr Charalampius appeared to Künster in a dream and promised: “You do not need to carry out the order in Philiatre. You will not be punished for not following an order. If you don’t burn Filiatra, then you and your soldiers will return to Germany alive, and your family will not suffer during the war...”

For four nights in a row, Künster had this dream. On the fifth day, he called his military commander and told him about the strange warning. And in response he listened to the story that he had the same dream. The boss replied: “You don’t have to follow the order.”

Künster wondered who this saint was, who “gave him the order.” He began to go into different Greek temples, looking at icons and frescoes. And one day he recognized in one of them Saint Charalampios, who had come to him in a dream.

Everything that Saint Charalampius said to Künster came true. After the end of the war, Künster returned to his family. The children and wife were safe.

Since then, Künster visited Filiatra every year, where he was greeted by local residents. They were grateful to the German general for being alive.

Confessor of the monastery

Monastery of St. Stephen. Meteora, Greece. Photo from pinterest.ru

In the 1990s, a young man was experiencing severe depression. He came to the monastery of St. Stephen, and there he suddenly decided to commit suicide. At that moment, when the young man was about to jump from the bridge into the abyss, an old priest approached him, saying that he was the monastery confessor.

The young man saw this priest for the first time, but he told him in detail about all the difficult incidents from his life, which led him to thoughts of suicide. “Don't despair! The Lord will help you!” the old man consoled the guy and he felt something heavy recede from his heart.

A couple of months later, the young man came to the monastery of St. Stephen to see his confessor. But the first nun he met reported that the monastery did not have a permanent confessor. Priests come specially to perform divine services. And on the day when the young man was here for the last time, there was not a single priest in the monastery.

The nun asked to describe the appearance of the priest with whom the young man was talking. As soon as she heard what the elder looked like, she immediately guessed that it was the holy martyr Charalampius.

When preparing the article, the book was used:

Nun Nektaria (Mac Liz). Eulogite! Guide to the holy places of Greece. – 2007.

Martyr's Prayer

Icon of Saint Charalampios in his life.
19th century. Image from the site wikipedia.org People walking next to Saint Charalampios when he was led to execution heard his prayer. He thanked God for being worthy to suffer for Christ.

As the life of the saint says, the Lord, strengthening his faithful Charalampius, answered him: “Behold, Charalampius, you suffered a lot for Me. Ask whatever you want, and I will grant your prayer!”

And Charalampius asked: “Lord, may in the place where my relics rest there never be famine, plague, strong winds that destroy the harvest, but only peace, prosperity and an abundance of wine and grain...

Lord, You know that people are just flesh and blood, forgive them their sins and grant them an abundance of Your earthly fruits, so that in joy they glorify You, the Giver of all good things. And may the dew coming from heaven serve them for healing.

Lord my God, pour out streams of Your goodness on them!”

The saint finished his prayer, knelt down and bowed his head. But not before the sword, but before the will of God: Charalampius died himself, even before the executioner’s blow.

The emperor's daughter Galina herself buried the martyr. The relics of the saint are now in the monastery of St. Stephen in Meteora (Greece).