Holy Hieromartyr Charalampus

After the usual beginning, we say:

KONTAKIA and OIKOI:

Kontakion 1

Chosen from the choir of high priests, great martyr Charalambos, desiring to offer you songs of praise, I feel unworthy, and with the poverty of human speech. You who bear a name corresponding to the grace given by the Almighty God, to be a bringer of joy, enlighten my mind and give strength to my speech, that in joy I may sing to you: Rejoice, O holy Charalambos, great martyr of Christ!

Oikos 1

To honor your deep and holy old age is good, for in the antiquity of your age and holiness you appeared as a valiant and patient sufferer of all the tortures you endured from the pagans. You increased the choir of martyrs, you added to the number of the apostles and preachers of Jesus Christ; to you therefore it is fitting, according to your worth, for all Orthodox Christians to sing such things as these:

• Rejoice, worthy and good one among the high priests, Charalambos;
• Rejoice, you who sanctified and honored old age;
• Rejoice, adornment of high priests and enlightener of the city of Magnesia;
• Rejoice, teacher of the word of God unto the path of salvation;
• Rejoice, good guide who showed the pagans the way of salvation;
• Rejoice, righteous shining one who urged the spirits of tyrants to faith;
• Rejoice, O martyr, you who brought the unbelieving to the true faith;
• Rejoice, you who brought sinners to spiritual repentance;
• Rejoice, follower of the apostles and the prophets enlightened by the Holy Spirit;
• Rejoice, passion-bearer Charalambos, who gave good counsel through word;
• Rejoice, for you dispelled the errors of the pagans;
• Rejoice, for you illumined the perplexity of the faithful;
• Rejoice, O holy Charalambos, great martyr of Christ!

Kontakion 2

Seeing, O holy martyr Charalambos, that through your torments you gained the heavenly and eternal life from the temporal life; seeing that you received with joy from the Master of the world the right faith to impart to those obedient to Christ’s words, the faithful were moved to offer you thanksgiving and to sing to God with one voice: Alleluia!

Oikos 2

As the peoples proclaimed that you are enlightened, by divine power, with the light of knowledge of truth, they also understood that your spiritual deeds are for the salvation of the human race; for you stood as a true soldier and confessor of Christ and preacher of His teaching. Therefore, showing yourself to the faithful as an immovable rock of faith, they came to sing to you these hymns:

• Rejoice, patient sufferer of tortures endured from the pagans;
• Rejoice, O comforter, for through your patience you worked wonders among them;
• Rejoice, you who were tormented for the love of Christ;
• Rejoice, you who offered yourself in the world as a true believer;
• Rejoice, inheritor of eternal life;
• Rejoice, preacher of the faith, good martyr;
• Rejoice, for through the punishment of the body you attained the blessedness of Paradise;
• Rejoice, for through the humility of your soul you conquered the condemnation of hell;
• Rejoice, you who endured on your body the hooks of the pagans;
• Rejoice, you who through your patience obtained the repentance of men;
• Rejoice, you who showed yourself victorious over enemies;
• Rejoice, you who through your wonders brought gladness to the faithful;
• Rejoice, O holy Charalambos, great martyr of Christ!

Kontakion 3

Your soul being enlightened by the understanding of divinity, you stood as a true champion of Christ the Saviour, for you answered the idolater Lucian the governor, that you obey only the righteous and saving commandments of Christ the King, and not the soulless idols which lead the people to perdition; therefore the faithful came with double compunction, singing together with you to God: Alleluia!

Oikos 3

A voice of joy came from the mouth of the Christians, when they saw that no bodily pain happened to you through the flaying of your body, which you suffered from that tyrant, they also confirmed that your deliverance and salvation came through the power of the Saviour of the world, for in His name you endured those punishments without any harm. Therefore the faithful with compunction bring you these hymns:

• Rejoice, you who through divine power removed bodily pain;
• Rejoice, you who conquered the tyrants who dared to torture you;
• Rejoice, for you received instead of rest the torments of those who tormented you;
• Rejoice, bridegroom of all martyrs;
• Rejoice, speaker with angels and friend of apostles;
• Rejoice, you who lifted up the cross of the faithful;
• Rejoice, you who enlightened the mind of sinners;
• Rejoice, strong pillar on which faith was supported;
• Rejoice, fruitful tree through which faith was obtained;
• Rejoice, deliverer from plague and famine;
• Rejoice, healer of wounds and diseases;
• Rejoice, O holy Charalambos, great martyr of Christ!

Kontakion 4

The soldiers and all the servants of the governor saying to the leaders of the people that you desired the dishonor of zeal rather than honor, and the hooks with which they tormented you were completely blunted and only scratched your body without harming it in any way, they all marveled among themselves at the endurance of your torment; and the faithful, glorifying God for His good deeds, strove to sing to Him: Alleluia!

Oikos 4

One of the chiefs of the pagans among the soldiers who tormented you showed himself more cruel, O righteous martyr, and seeing that you had suffered no bodily harm from the punishment to which you were subjected, that tyrant dared with mockery to snatch the hooks from the hand of the torturers and, moved quickly with anger to tear your body more violently, immediately the divine wrath came upon him, for his hands were cut off at the elbows, hanging from your body, and falling down to the ground, he vainly begged the governor for help. And all the people said to you such things as these:

• Rejoice, true wonder of the faithful;
• Rejoice, you who gave worship to sinners;
• Rejoice, terror of the pride of the condemner;
• Rejoice, you who stilled the evil thought of the enemy;
• Rejoice, for you conquered the lawless one;
• Rejoice, for you humbled the senseless one;
• Rejoice, joy of your wonders;
• Rejoice, gladness of your torments;
• Rejoice, preacher of truth;
• Rejoice, enlightener of the mind;
• Rejoice, father of the humble;
• Rejoice, intercessor of the repentant;
• Rejoice, O holy Charalambos, great martyr of Christ!

Kontakion 5

When the people saw that the governor Lucian’s mouth was turned to the back of his neck, because he dared to spit on your holy face, the whole city of Magnesia was terrified by such a wonder and with one voice prayed to you to save them; and the faithful sang to God: Alleluia!

Oikos 5

Your name, Charalambos, was praised in all the city of Magnesia and in Asia, so that later, after your prayers to God, you gave healing to the governor Lucian and the tyrant Lucius, who asked your forgiveness for their transgressions, and repented; immediately many from the people ran to the true faith and, being baptized in the name of the Holy Trinity, said with one voice: "Great is the God of mercies and compassions"; therefore we bring you these hymns:

• Rejoice, you who brought adversaries to faith;
• Rejoice, you who were their healer;
• Rejoice, wonderful among the Saints who made pagans to be baptized;
• Rejoice, spiritual father, who brought men through baptism to be illumined;
• Rejoice, you who were counted worthy to heal the sick;
• Rejoice, you who strove to have mercy on sinners;
• Rejoice, you who gave health to the lame and the crippled;
• Rejoice, you who healed blindness;
• Rejoice, for you purified those defiled by sins;
• Rejoice, for you cast out demons;
• Rejoice, for through your prayers the dead were raised;
• Rejoice, for through your sufferings you gained the gift of holiness;
• Rejoice, O holy Charalambos, great martyr of Christ!

Kontakion 6

The governor himself testifying of your wonders to the emperor Severus, he became very angry at his idols, because they could not stand against those wonders; and you, as a conqueror over them, through your steadfast faith, gained boundless heavenly gifts. Therefore, O praised holy one, receive the thanksgiving of the faithful who with joy sing to God: Alleluia!

Oikos 6

A new and awesome wonder you performed, O holy one, when you were again tortured by tyrants at the command of Severus, for receiving with gladness the nails driven all over your body and being dragged by the beard and placed on a horse to be taken from Magnesia to Antioch, at fifteen stadia on the way, through the mouth of the horse a great voice was heard, cursing the servants of the devil to release you from the bonds with which you were held; therefore all the people sing to you:

• Rejoice, radiant high priest, for the new endurance of torments you had;
• Rejoice, holy martyr, for the new wonder you performed;
• Rejoice, father, for through the mouth of the horse it was spoken for you;
• Rejoice, holy one, for sitting on the horse you tamed it;
• Rejoice, for you humiliated all the envoys of Severus;
• Rejoice, for you terrified the servants of the devil;
• Rejoice, you who extinguished the flame of the tyrants;
• Rejoice, you who terrified the fury of the murderers;
• Rejoice, for all the torments you received were stilled;
• Rejoice, you who like a rose with much fragrance blossomed;
• Rejoice, father, you who as a man suffered much condemnation;
• Rejoice, holy one, you who as a champion conquered all these torments;
• Rejoice, O holy Charalambos, great martyr of Christ!

Kontakion 7

The soldiers of Severus, seeing your mighty wonders, no longer dared to torture you and on the way peacefully brought you to Antioch to fulfill the command. There Severus, with diabolical impulse, again became furious against you, ordering a red-hot spit to be thrust into your chest. But their great effort harmed you in nothing, for the fire was extinguished and the imperial men grew weary. Therefore, O all-powerful holy one, together with you we sing to God with compunction: Alleluia!

Oikos 7

In his fury, Severus losing patience, when he himself saw this wonder, he tried with cunning to tame you and to examine by what power you perform these wonders. And he, receiving an answer from you, that you hope in the faith of Christ God, tempted you to ask to raise the dead and to deliver those possessed by demons. Then you, O righteous father, receiving grace and power from God, showed before this unbeliever yet another wonder, for you raised the dead man brought to you, delivered the one possessed by a demon, and Satan himself was terrified and came out of the man, crying out to you with entreaty, not to torment him before the time. Therefore all the people with compunction sing to you such things as these:

• Rejoice, great martyr Charalambos, wonderworker;
• Rejoice, great holy martyr, deliverer from madness;
• Rejoice, you who cast out the demon from the man with a single word;
• Rejoice, you who crushed Satan on the spot;
• Rejoice, for he himself gave a voice of entreaty, confessing you to be a divine man;
• Rejoice, for with these wonders you put to shame Severus and the prefect Crips of the idolatrous race;
• Rejoice, for the emperor Severus himself, seeing that wonder, said: "Great is the God of the Christians";
• Rejoice, for you then made many from the people to believe in Christ, the God of mercies and powers;
• Rejoice, deliverer from every kind of distress and disease;
• Rejoice, for you destroy all the cunning and impulses of the devil;
• Rejoice, for the heavenly angels themselves call you the chosen one of God;
• Rejoice, for all earthly Christians honor your name;
• Rejoice, O holy Charalambos, great martyr of Christ!

Kontakion 8

The true light of spiritual knowledge dawned from the fruit of your labors, Charalambos, who were condemned with many kinds of torments and conquered them all through your powerful faith in God. That light immediately spread over the idolaters, and many of them, believing in the name of the Holy Trinity, were baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, praising your spiritual worthiness, together with you we sing to God: Alleluia!

Oikos 8

The emperor Severus, later thinking that you performed those wonders by sorcery, ordered you to sacrifice to his idols so that he might save you from his terrible torments; but you, as a divine man, knowing his error, answered that as your body is crushed by blows, so your spirit rejoices within you. Then Severus, becoming angry again, ordered you to be killed, striking you with stones and burning your beard and face with lit torches; and you, with spiritual valor, turned the fire back upon the emperor’s servants and scorched them. Therefore we Christians with joy sing to you these hymns:

• Rejoice, divine holy one, who conquered the error of Severus;
• Rejoice, good father, who answered him with mercy;
• Rejoice, you who received heavy punishments instead of bodily rest;
• Rejoice, you who considered beatings as spiritual joy;
• Rejoice, valiant soldier, who turned the fire upon your enemies;
• Rejoice, worthy centurion, who delivered your body from the evil tyrants;
• Rejoice, you who showed yourself as an immovable pillar of the Church of Christ;
• Rejoice, you who showed yourself as an ever-luminous lampstand;
• Rejoice, wise martyr who dispelled the darkness of idols;
• Rejoice, radiant Charalambos who stilled the pain of sinners;
• Rejoice, priceless treasure of heavenly crowns;
• Rejoice, O holy Charalambos, great martyr of Christ!

Kontakion 9

Passing through, good father, without any bodily harm those torments given to you by the pagans, you thereby obtained the praise of all the apostles and the joy of the martyrs, for you were counted worthy to be with them a partaker of the divine crown through which the Christian race was strengthened. Therefore, O praised holy one, receive from us praise of thanksgiving, that together with you we may sing to God: Alleluia!

Oikos 9

The murderer and lawless Severus, understanding at last that your power and wonders came from Christ, the Saviour of the world, dared together with his servants to murmur and even blaspheme against God. Then for such boldness, a heavenly visitation came upon them, for the earth shook and lightning and thunder encompassed Severus and Crips, his prefect, that they might know the power of God. Therefore we dare and pray to you, O holy great martyr Charalambos, be our defender from all dangers and strengthen us also in the faith of the Holy Trinity, that we may not fall into the danger of the pagans. So, O holy great martyr, intercede with God that He may have mercy on us according to His great mercy, that we may be able to sing such things as these:

• Rejoice, you who obtained the power of your wonders from the Saviour;
• Rejoice, you who had the glory of your deeds from the Creator;
• Rejoice, you who in Christ were offered as a sacrifice, and in Him were sanctified;
• Rejoice, you who in the Lord were strengthened and through Him conquered;
• Rejoice, for you condemned your tyrants, that they might know you as a divine man;
• Rejoice, for you humiliated your enemies, that they might honor you as a spiritual father;
• Rejoice, for through you the fountain of good things and mercies was renewed;
• Rejoice, for through you the tree of compassions and righteousness was proclaimed;
• Rejoice, for the emperor Severus himself and Crips, the prefect, begged you to deliver them from the punishment of God sent upon them;
• Rejoice, for the emperor and the prefect praised the faith of the Christians;
• Rejoice, you who received divine gifts for Christians;
• Rejoice, you who received good things for earthly men;
• Rejoice, O holy Charalambos, great martyr of Christ!

Kontakion 10

Fervent were your prayers to God, O righteous martyr, for interceding for the forgiveness and healing of your enemies, the emperor Severus and the prefect Crips, you delivered them from the condemnation into which they had fallen and, releasing them in peace, you gave them good counsel not to sin again. Therefore, we sinners also, knowing your good deeds, O good holy one, come to you with compunction to pray that you deliver us also from all needs and troubles, that together with you we may sing to God: Alleluia!

Oikos 10

Divine grace was upon you, O praised father, for being counted worthy to bring to the true faith the daughter of the emperor Severus, named Galini, she herself became a confessor and preacher of heavenly good things and urged her father to renounce the tyranny of paganism, that he might obtain the mercy of goodness in Christ. Therefore, O praised holy one, receive from us with joy the offering of these hymns:

• Rejoice, you who through your prayers delivered your enemies from punishment;
• Rejoice, you who through your intercessions released in peace those who were in need;
• Rejoice, you who counselled them not to sin again;
• Rejoice, you who urged them to repent;
• Rejoice, for you brought to the true faith the daughter of the emperor Severus, named Galini;
• Rejoice, for you strengthened her knowledge and taught her to be guided in the Lord;
• Rejoice, for she herself urged her father to renounce the tyranny of paganism;
• Rejoice, for she also called him to Christ, that he might obtain the mercy of goodness;
• Rejoice, you who enlightened the mind of the darkened;
• Rejoice, you who obtained the repentance of the awakened;
• Rejoice, vine which sprouted for the strengthening of the Christian race;
• Rejoice, fruit through which you received divine grace for the healing of the human race;
• Rejoice, O holy Charalambos, great martyr of Christ!

Kontakion 11

In a dream seeing the daughter of the emperor Severus that she was sitting in a garden with fragrant trees and beautiful fountains, and also in the dream seeing that her father and the prefect Crips were driven out from there by the guardian of the garden, she ran quickly to you, good father, praying you to interpret that dream. And you, as a fountain of knowledge, valuing the true zeal of the faithful daughter of the emperor, immediately gave her spiritual guidance, for you called the garden the Paradise of the righteous, and the guardian of Paradise you considered to be Christ Himself; for He placed the faithful in Paradise and cast out the unfaithful from there. Therefore we with compunction sing to Him: Alleluia!

Oikos 11

Thirty days having passed since the terrible punishment received from God, the emperor again rebelled against Christ, the God whom he himself had confessed. And summoning you afterwards to sacrifice to his idols to escape his punishment, you stood here also valiantly opposing his paganism, for you answered him that his words were great and incomprehensible. Then he, becoming angry again, put a bridle and bit in your mouth for mockery and dragged you through the whole city as if you were a speechless being. And you, O holy martyr, making prayers to God, escaped even from this. Therefore we, the faithful, bring with thanksgiving praise to your victory, and desire to sing to you with one voice such things as these:

• Rejoice, interpreter of the dream of the faithful one in Christ;
• Rejoice, preacher of the beautiful Paradise;
• Rejoice, valiant opposer of pagan words;
• Rejoice, righteous comforter of spiritual counsels;
• Rejoice, for you strengthened Galini, the emperor’s daughter, in faith, that she shattered the cast idols;
• Rejoice, for through you the indecency of the rooted idolatrous servants was scattered;
• Rejoice, for Galini herself confronted her father against the worship of paganism;
• Rejoice, for she herself embraced and defended the Christian race;
• Rejoice, for you left spiritual deeds for remembrance;
• Rejoice, for you obtained angelic love as a reward;
• Rejoice, holy father, for the fruit of your good things;
• Rejoice, venerable martyr, for the deeds of your wonders;
• Rejoice, O holy Charalambos, great martyr of Christ!

Kontakion 12

Sitting, O radiant holy one, leaning against the dry pillar of the widow’s house where Severus sent you, to be placed for mockery, you performed there yet another wonder, for that pillar, becoming green, sprouted leaves and produced so many branches that it covered the house. Then the widow, knowing the divine power, fell at your feet, worshipping and saying to you to go from her house, for she was unworthy to have you near her. And you, wonderful father, answering with gentleness not to fear, but to believe in the Lord that He is very merciful and praised, after that you doubled your wonders, for the next day that tree blossomed and bore fruit, and the widow’s neighbors, seeing such a wonder, marveled greatly. And the widow, being strengthened in faith, according to her zeal, and knowing that you performed those wonders with the grace and power of Christ the Saviour, immediately was baptized in the name of the Holy Trinity, being delivered from all her evils. Therefore all the orthodox Christians come with joy to sing to God: Alleluia!

Oikos 12

The psalm of David you sang with joy, O holy one, when you were led to the place of condemnation, to destruction, that your head might be cut off, by the command of Severus, that you might no longer turn the pagans from the error in which they were held, and so you said on the way: "Of mercy and judgment I will sing to You, O Lord; I will sing and I will walk with understanding, in a blameless way, when You will come to me." And towards the end, raising your eyes and hands to the heavens, you gave thanks with humility to the God of mercies and compassions for your salvation, saying: "Remember me, O Lord, in Your kingdom." Then the heavens opening, the Lord of powers appeared with a multitude of angels over you and called you to the dwellings of the righteous as a beloved friend who was tormented in the world for His love, at the same time giving you the gift of healing upon those who in the world will honor and celebrate your name, that they may be delivered from all their diseases and needs, and especially from the sudden disease of the plague. Therefore, O praised holy one, receive with joy the singing of these hymns to you:

• Rejoice, radiant high priest, for you made the dry pillar of the widow green and fruitful;
• Rejoice, radiant martyr, for you stilled and humbled the enraged pagan of the city;
• Rejoice, you who brought to the true faith the widow who lived in debauchery;
• Rejoice, you who brought to the longed-for repentance the pagan woman who was in madness;
• Rejoice, for through your wonders you awakened in her the word of truth;
• Rejoice, for through your counsels you also gained the gift of baptism for her;
• Rejoice, good holy one, who performed enough wonders in your life;
• Rejoice, righteous father, who saved a multitude of pagans through your torments;
• Rejoice, you who were counted worthy to see the heavens opened and the boundless beauty of divine glory;
• Rejoice, you who received the voice of the Lord of powers and the unspeakable joy of the heavenly hosts;
• Rejoice, priceless treasure with which your honored head was crowned, when it was cut off by the pagans;
• Rejoice, unexpected adornment with which your glorified body was clothed when it was parted from the tyrants;
• Rejoice, O holy Charalambos, great martyr of Christ!

Kontakion 13

O, all-praised holy Charalambos, receive from us these hymns which with compunction we bring before you, and deliver us from all needs and troubles, as a good and lover of mankind. For although we are unworthy of your mercy because of our many and grievous sins, which we commit at all times of our life and at every hour, yet knowing your great goodness which you have shown upon those who honor you, and upon those who repent with faith in the name of the Lord, we strive with fervent tears to confess before you that we have sinned. Therefore we pray to you to be our intercessor before the almighty God, for the forgiveness of our sins, for our deliverance from all diseases and all dangers, and for our strengthening in the true faith, that we may sin no more. So, O radiant holy one, we pray to you to protect us from all evils, according to your promise, for we all honor you and celebrate your name, singing to God: Alleluia! (This kontakion is said three times)

Then Oikos 1 is said again

To honor your deep and holy old age is good, for in the antiquity of your age and holiness you appeared as a valiant and patient sufferer of all the tortures you endured from the pagans. You increased the choir of martyrs, you added to the number of the apostles and preachers of Jesus Christ; to you therefore it is fitting, according to your worth, for all Orthodox Christians to sing such things as these:

• Rejoice, worthy and good one among the high priests, Charalambos;
• Rejoice, you who sanctified and honored old age;
• Rejoice, adornment of high priests and enlightener of the city of Magnesia;
• Rejoice, teacher of the word of God unto the path of salvation;
• Rejoice, good guide who showed the pagans the way of salvation;
• Rejoice, righteous shining one who urged the spirits of tyrants to faith;
• Rejoice, O martyr, you who brought the unbelieving to the true faith;
• Rejoice, you who brought sinners to spiritual repentance;
• Rejoice, follower of the apostles and the prophets enlightened by the Holy Spirit;
• Rejoice, passion-bearer Charalambos, who gave good counsel through word;
• Rejoice, for you dispelled the errors of the pagans;
• Rejoice, for you illumined the perplexity of the faithful;
• Rejoice, O holy Charalambos, great martyr of Christ!

And Kontakion 1 Chosen from the choir of high priests, great martyr Charalambos, desiring to offer you songs of praise, I feel unworthy, and with the poverty of human speech. You who bear a name corresponding to the grace given by the Almighty God, to be a bringer of joy, enlighten my mind and give strength to my speech, that in joy I may sing to you: Rejoice, O holy Charalambos, great martyr of Christ!