My beloved spiritual children in Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.
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ON FEBRUARY 10th OUR HOLY ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHURCH COMMEMORATES THE FEAST OF THE HIEROMARTYR HARALAMBOS
This great Saint as bishop in Magnesia, and suffered for Christ at the age of 113. When violent persecution broke out under the Emperor Septimus Severus, the aged Haralambos did not hide from his persecutors but freely and openly preached the Christian faith. He endured all tortures as though not in the body, and when they flayed the living flesh from him, the godly Saint said to the Emperor's soldiers: 'Thank you, my brethren, for scraping off the old body and renewing my soul for new and eternal life.' He performed many miracles (wonders, Gk. thavmata) and brought many to the Faith. Even the Emperor's daughter, Gallina, repudiated the paganism of her father and became a Christian. Condemned to death and led to the place of execution, Saint Haralambos raised his arms to heaven and prayed for all men, that God would give them bodily health and salvation of soul, and that He would grant them the fruits of the earth in abundance: 'Lord, Thou knowest that men are flesh and blood, forgive them their sins and pour out Thy blessing on all. After praying thus, the saintly elder gave his soul to God before the executioner had laid his sword to his neck. He suffered in 202 A.D. Gallina took his body and buried it.
FOR CONSIDERATION
Many of the great infirmities to which man is subject have their origin, known or unknown, in his past. The origins of these great infirmities, such as madness, for example, are none other than violations of the moral law of God. While Saint Haralambos was undergoing martyrdom, the royal torturer learned of his miracle-working power and ordered that a madman be brought before him, to find out if Haralambos could heal him. The devil had tormented this man for 35 years, driving him into the deserts and mountains and casting him into mires and abysses. When this madman drew near to Haralambos, the demon smelled the fragrance of the holy man and cried out: 'I beg thee, O servant of God, do not torment me before the time but order me and I will come out; and, if thou desirest, I will tell thee how I entered into the man.' And the Saint ordered him to speak. The demon said: 'This man desired to rob his neighbor, and thought within himself: "If I don't first kill the man, I shall not be able to take all his goods." So he went and killed his neighbor. Catching him in such an act, I entered into him and have been residing here these 35 years. Hearing this, the Saint of God ordered the demon to come out of the man at once and left him in peace, and the man was healed and became calm. (The Prologue from Ochrid)
Please note: Our parish is blessed indeed by having the holy relics of Saint Haralambos inside the crypt of the Altar table of our Saint Andrew church.
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DIVINE SERVICES ON MONDAY FEBRUARY 10th:
Orthros at 9:00 a.m.
Divine Liturgy at 10:00 a.m.
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"Glory Be To GOD For All Things!"
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With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+Father George