The invincibility of Christianity is epitomized by the superhuman endurance of the priest Haralambos, who suffered inhuman tortures and martyrdom at the hands of pagan tormentors. No single martyr was recorded to have endured as much physical punishment as Haralambos.
He was an obscure Orthodox priest who earned his sainthood solely by his steadfastness to the Christian faith in the face of prolonged agonies. Although this seemingly indestructible servant of the Lord had that divine courage and steadfastness of faith which placed him among the saints, he was human and his flesh and blood felt the pain of torture as sharply as any ordinary man. Few Christians have been asked to pledge their allegiance to Christ under interminable cruelty. Haralambos proved faithful to the end. For his steadfast refusal to renounce the Lord, he is venerated as a saint in the highest tradition of the martyr.
Haralambos lived in the town of Magnesia in Asia Minor during the second century. He was ordained a priest at an early age to serve his home town in a province fiercely hostile to Christians. His reputation as a preacher and man of God placed him as the leader of the tiny Christian body that grew steadily under his influence in spite of great odds. A man of the people, Haralambos brought the light of the Lord’s love to everyone in his community. In so doing he also brought down upon himself the envy and wrath of those in power.
The provincial governor, Loukianos, had little regard for the welfare of his people; for the Christians he had nothing but utter contempt. A confrontation between the governor and Haralambos was inevitable, as was the result of their meeting. After a brief exchange of formalities the governor unequivocally declared that Haralambos must renounce Christ or be punished. This set the scene for the longest period of human suffering in the name of the Savior. When he refused to worship the idols, his persecutors began a planned assault on his body. Loukianos unleashed his merciless hatred for Christians.
Haralambos was first lashed to a post in the public square to be held up to public scorn and ridicule. Then they slashed him repeatedly with sharp knives, taking care that no wound would be fatal. When Haralambos refused to denounce the Lord, they cut him down and dragged him through the streets by his beard. He endured the extremely painful grating of his skin by the pebbled surface as well as the merciless kicking of sandaled feet. Finally propping him up on his feet, they demanded that he renounce Jesus; once again he refused.
All of the various tortures applied to Haralambos are overshadowed by the cruel fact that he endured them all. After a systematic series of cruelties that spanned several months, the derision of the pagans turned to wonder at the power and the faith of this Christian. When their methods of punishment only served to draw converts to Christianity, Haralambos’ enemies sought to put him quickly to death. The local people rose in opposition to his planned death. Haralambos had helped many afflicted people who were brought to him. The matter was brought up before Emperor Servius, who ordered the battered priest to be brought to Antioch, Syria. Once there, Haralambos was led through the streets with a horse’s bit in his mouth. Then they nailed him to a cross. Not only did Haralambos refuse to relent, but he also refused to die. Then they ordered him to be beheaded. Just as his executioners were about to carry out the sentence, a voice said, “Well done, my faithful servant; enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.” At that moment, he died without a blow being struck, thus denying the pagans their revenge. The two executioners were immediately converted.
Saint Haralambos died for Christ in A.D. 192.
~Adapted from Father George Poulos, Orthodox Saints, “February 10: Saint Charalambos.”
