Feb. 10 – Martyr Charalampius

The Holy Martyr Charalampius was bishop in the city of Magnesia in Thessaly and lived in the second half of the 2nd century. He converted many pagans to Christ, for which he was summoned to trial before the city governor Lucian. The latter subjected him to various torments for his unyielding faith. They hung him on a tree and scraped his body with sharp iron. “I thank you, brethren,” the martyr said at this time, “by scraping my body, you have renewed my spirit.” Seeing all this, two of Lucian’s servants—Porphyrius and Vantus—turned to Christ; their heads were cut off. At the same time, three women were beheaded who, like Porphyrius and Vantus, had believed in Christ. Finally, the emperor Septimius Severus himself, a persecutor of Christians, subjected Charalampius to terrible torments, but the martyr endured everything. Seeing his patience, the daughter of Septimius believed in Christ and urged her father to do the same. But the emperor condemned Charalampius to death. “I thank Thee, O Lord, for Thy mercy. Remember me in Thy kingdom,” said the saint, raising his eyes to heaven, and he reposed before the beheading by the sword. Septimia buried his holy body with honor.

The Martyrs Ennatha, Valentina, and Paula suffered in the reign of Maximinus in the year 308 under Firmilian. They all came from Palestine: Ennatha from Gaza, and Valentina and Paula from Caesarea.