Martyrs Charalampius the Priest

ON THE HOLY MARTYRS CHARALAMPIUS THE PRIEST, PORPHYRIUS AND BAPTUS, SOLDIERS, AND THREE WOMEN, AT MAGNESIA AND ANTIOCH OF PISIDIA,

IN THE YEAR OF CHRIST 202.

Preliminary Annotation.

Charalampius the Priest, Martyr, at Magnesia and Antioch of Pisidia (Saint) Porphyrius, Soldier Martyr, at Magnesia and Antioch of Pisidia (Saint) Baptus, Soldier Martyr, at Magnesia and Antioch of Pisidia (Saint) Three women Martyrs, at Magnesia and Antioch of Pisidia (Saints)

By J. B.

[1] The metropolis of Pisidia (a region lying on this side of Cilicia) was Antioch, ^a work of the Magnesians, liberated by the Romans from its Kings and augmented by their colony, At Antioch of Pisidia Saint Charalampius underwent martyrdom, as Strabo writes in book 12. Yet it attained ^a far more illustrious distinction, in that through the preaching of the Apostles Paul and Barnabas it received the Law of Christ, and afterward witnessed the triumphs of many Martyrs. Among these was Saint Charalampius: so he is called in the manuscript Acts, Charalampes in the Menaia; which also explain the etymology of the name, that he was full of joy and divine splendor. But he was not born there, but was brought from Magnesia: which one, however, brought from Magnesia the Acts do not indicate; whether the Aeolian one, that is, situated on the Maeander, from which, as we have said, Antioch itself originated; or the one which lies beneath Mount Sipylus, itself also judged free by the Romans, as the same Strabo writes in book 13.

[2] Whichever it was, there Charalampius had vigorously preached the Gospel, by order of the Emperor Severus and had endured the first judicial inquiry for the faith; when he was led away to Antioch by command of the Emperor Severus. He had previously indeed favored the Christians; because, as Tertullian boasts in his Address to Scapula, chapter 22, none of them were ever found to be Albinians, Nigrians, or Cassians -- that is, neither adherents of his enemies Clodius Albinus and Pescennius Niger, who had previously favored the Christians, nor earlier supporters of Avidius Cassius against Marcus Aurelius; and he himself had been cured by the Christian Proculus through oil, as the same Tertullian writes in the same work, chapter 4, who also adds: But knowing that the most illustrious women and most illustrious men belonged to this sect, he not only did them no harm, but even adorned them with his testimony; and he openly withstood the populace raging against us. Afterward, however, ^a persecution was set in motion by him. Thus Eusebius in his Chronicle under the consulship of Fabianus and Mucianus, which falls in the year 201 of the common era, the ninth of Severus. but in the year 201 he set ^a persecution in motion, Under these Consuls ^a persecution of the Christians took place, and many underwent martyrdom. Severus was then in the East, where in the following year, having passed through Antioch (of Syria, that is), having given the toga of manhood to his elder son, being in the East. he designated him Consul with himself, and they immediately entered upon the consulship in Syria, as Aelius Spartianus writes. This was the third consulship of Severus, in the year of Christ 202; begun perhaps after February and the death of Saint Charalampius. Spartianus adds: On the journey (toward Egypt) he established many laws for the Palestinians. He forbade conversions to Judaism under severe penalty. He decreed the same also concerning Christians. In that year, therefore, it is permissible to conjecture that the triumph of the holy Martyr occurred, when Severus had returned from the Parthian war, in the waning ninth year of his reign.

[3] We have obtained the Greek Acts of Saint Charalampius from the library of the Most Christian King, The Acts of Saint Charalampius very ancient, but hitherto never published. They were translated into Latin by John David Henxtovius, ^a young man of distinguished character and learning, son of John Fortunatus Henxtovius, ^a most illustrious physician and our very dear friend, who, as we said on February 5, here published for the first time, also translated the Acts of Saint Agatha, Virgin and Martyr, composed by Metaphrastes, and piously died at Louvain on August 2, 1653. We have both carefully reviewed these Acts and added annotations.

[4] The commemoration of the holy Martyr Charalampius is celebrated (as is stated at number 33) in the month of February, His feast on February 10. according to the reckoning of the region, on the tenth day: which, namely, according to the Roman reckoning, is the fourth day before the Ides. Molanus in his additions to Usuard: On the tenth day, of the holy Martyr Charalampius. Galesinius adds the companions: On the same day, of Saints Charalampius, Porphyrius, and their companion Martyrs. He then presents ^a summary of the Acts, which we shall represent more accurately from the Menaia. Ferrari also makes mention of the companions in these words: At Magnesia in Asia, of the holy Martyrs Charalampius, Porphyrius, Baptus, and three women, under Severus.

[5] The Menaia thus briefly summarize the deeds of Saint Charalampius: Saint Charalampius lived in the times of the Emperor Severus, A summary of the Acts from the Menaia, when Lucianus was Prefect of the city of Magnesia. He was himself ^a Priest of the Christians, teaching the way of truth. He was stripped of his sacred vestment, and all the skin of his body was scraped off. When the Prefect saw his constancy in enduring his torments, inflamed with anger, he began to lacerate him with his own hands. But immediately his hands fell off and clung to the body of the Martyr. The Saint, having prayed to God, healed him. When Porphyrius and Baptus, the torturers, saw this, they abjured the idols and believed in Christ. Three women from among the bystanders did the same. And the Prefect, having seized them all and cruelly tortured them, ordered them to be beheaded. For although he had been healed, he nevertheless persisted in his unbelief. The same account is found in the Anthologion, published by the authority of Clement VIII; the same in Maximus, Bishop of Cythera, in his Lives of the Saints. Mention is also made of Saint Charalampius in the Horologion and in the shorter Menologion of the Greeks.

[6] Concerning the companions of Saint Charalampius, who nevertheless received the crown of martyrdom some months before him at Magnesia, his companions: 2 lictors, the Menaia treat separately here as follows: On the same day, the holy Martyrs Baptus and Porphyrius, who had tortured Saint Charalampius, were beheaded.

Porphyrius and Baptus, by the same sword, Dyed the same purple of martyrdom.

This is an allusion to their names: for Porphyrios means the same as Purpurio, ^a name also used by the Romans; and baptein means to dye. Then concerning the women: Three holy women, having believed, were struck down by the sword.

These three women, endowed with manly character, are indicated by The manly and perfect number of Three, and the sword. and 3 women;

Cytheraeus also lists these five Martyrs. The Menaia celebrate the contest of Saint Charalampius with various odes and antiphons: from which we shall glean some for the annotations.

[7] On September 17, in the Menaia and in the Lives of the Saints by Cytheraeus, Charalampius a commemoration on September 17. and Pantaleon with their companions are mentioned in these words: On the same day, of the holy Martyrs Charalampius and Pantaleon, with their companions. Their solemnity is observed in their own church in the second region, or in the place called the Second. It seems to be entirely the same Charalampius who is venerated here, and the Pantaleon who is venerated on July 27. But perhaps their relics were then brought to Constantinople, or the commemoration was instituted for another reason. However, the Menologion published by Henry Canisius seems to disagree. For it reads thus: On the same day, the Birthday of the holy Martyrs Charalampius, Pantaleon, and their companions. But the word Birthday was perhaps inserted by the translator, in place of "commemoration" or "synaxis."

ACTS, BY AN ANONYMOUS AUTHOR,

from the Greek manuscript of the King of France, translated by John David Henxtovius.

Charalampius the Priest, Martyr, at Magnesia and Antioch of Pisidia (Saint) Porphyrius, Soldier Martyr, at Magnesia and Antioch of Pisidia (Saint) Baptus, Soldier Martyr, at Magnesia and Antioch of Pisidia (Saint) Three women Martyrs, at Magnesia and Antioch of Pisidia (Saints)

from the Greek manuscript, translated by J. David Henxtovius.

CHAPTER I

The preaching of Saint Charalampius, his miracles, and the torments endured at Magnesia.

[1] Saint Charalampius the Priest, In the reign of our Lord Jesus Christ, an end was imposed upon the worship of demons, and every tyranny of idols was cast down. And so in the times of the most impious Emperor Severus, ^a certain Priest named Charalampius was teaching the way of salvation, saying: My Emperor, Christ Jesus, sent Prophets and Apostles through the Holy Spirit, that all might be instructed by their holy preaching, and might be constant in pursuing the way of justice. But the Emperor Severus decrees earthly and cruel things, devised according to his own will, scorning the edicts of Severus, that sacrifices be offered to lifeless idols, and that souls be given over to death. But Jesus Christ, my Emperor, through the Prophets and Apostles, has transmitted to us the words of heavenly life: by which words the enemy is put to flight, the dragon is trampled underfoot, he teaches that Christ must be obeyed: perfidy is subdued and brought over to the side of faith; and at last vain imagination, rushing with blind impulse, is unable to exert any force. Faith, therefore, should rather be given to those discourses which point out the way of eternal life, than to works which have been designed for bringing about destruction.

[2] The Governor Lucianus said: The words that boil up from your heart you rashly blurt out with ^a headlong mouth, with no distinction between evil and good. he laughs at the threats of the Governor and the Judges: But do not suppose, good old man, that on account of those words with which you seem wonderfully pleased with yourself, you will escape punishment. Therefore, following our counsel, put on manners worthy of that age of yours, and come with ^a sounder judgment to sacrifice to the gods; lest we bring forth torments hitherto unknown to you. Charalampius said: We cannot despise the invisible goods which are now close at hand. The Judges, moved to fury, conceived rage and prepared bitter torments, and said to him: Sacrifice to the gods, wicked head. Charalampius said: Dear children, I do not sacrifice to demons. Know, however, that the demons whom you worship tremble at the sign of the Cross, as it is written: The demons shudder and tremble; namely, at the power of the Cross. James 2:19 The Judges, provoked by the apt responses of the Just man, ordered his sacred vestment to be removed, and the emblem which hung from his neck. he is stripped for punishment: And when they had thus laid bare the sacred person of the most devout and angelic man, they passed sentence.

[3] But the holy man, with ^a lofty spirit, filled with extraordinary faith and charity, he is torn with hooks. just as ^a reed is tossed about by every wind, endured all the tempests of torments. The scourging was of this kind: the executioners, armed with hooks, cut him with blows from the skin of his head down to the very nails of his feet. Then the Blessed one, thus lacerated over his whole body, said: I give you thanks, brothers, giving thanks to the torturers, because you have renewed my body: you have also renewed my mind unto things eternal, and henceforth made it ready. For Christ is the Sower, and the seed is the Divine oracles. When he had said this, the awestruck lictors said to the Judges: Your ignominy turns to honor for this man, your torments to refreshment. who, awestruck, plead his cause: Is not this man perhaps Christ, who has assumed the form of an old man and has come to survey Asia, in order to convert its inhabitants? We attack with our hooks his flesh, which is harder than iron: and the hooks indeed are bent, while his flesh remains whole and unharmed.

[4] When they had said this, the Governor, fuming, said: O wicked attendants, and perverse executors of orders! Neglecting what was commanded you, you have undertaken the defense of this man. While the attendants still held back, the furious Duke said to the Governor: If he has dazzled the lictors with his magical tricks, he shall not bend my arm. And immediately putting his hands to work, he is beaten by the Duke, he attacked the body of the Martyr: and when he applied great force, his hands were separated from his elbows and clung to the body of the Martyr. The Duke therefore fell, bereft of his hands, whose hands fall off; and, marked by this notable punishment, said: This man is ^a sorcerer: bring me help, Governor. The Governor therefore rushed forward, the Governor spits at him, and his head is twisted around: and seeing the Duke's hands hanging from the Martyr's body, he spat in the face of the Martyr: and immediately his head was twisted around, with his face turned backward.

[5] The people of Magnesia, terrified by the immense fear, thus implored the Just man: Set aside your anger, when the Magnesians pray for both, and avert the divine vengeance. For it has been commanded you not to repay evil for evil. Charalampius said: As the Lord God lives; there is no deceit on my tongue. Rom. 12:17. But know this: that Christ, who has chastised the ringleaders of the wicked, will bestow upon us eternal life. Then they cried out, saying: By no means, Lord, by no means destroy us, however many of us have sinned. Spare us, O God. For now, Lord, you have punished the Prefects in order to lead us to the light and to make us worthy of eternal life. And when ^a great multitude had believed, the Duke Lucius said: and when the Duke pledges that he will believe in Christ, Man of God, Angel of the Lord, help me, who am afflicted with immense torment. For behold, my hands are ^a burden to you. Now therefore shake off your own annoyance as well, and restore them to their place; that you may be relieved of the annoyance, and I of the pain. And if this be done, I too will believe in your God.

[6] Then the blessed man, moved by their entreaty, poured forth prayers to God, saying: he prays for them, Baruch Manuel, maranatha, Rabboni, that is, Good Master, we bless you, O Christ. Look upon the lowliness of those in bonds, and being heard by ^a voice sent from heaven, and loose the Judges from their chains, and save your witness who has been scourged. And behold, ^a voice was heard from ^a cloud and ^a whirlwind: Charalampius, you who are ^a lamp to the earth, shining in the heavens, companion of the Angels, fellow-dweller with the Prophets, comrade of the Apostles, fellow-soldier of the Martyrs, and worthy of my address; I have heard what you have prayed, he heals them: I have received the words of your mouth: Let your speech be medicine to the sick. And immediately Lucius and Lucianus were healed.

[7] And Lucius indeed, grasping the knees of the Martyr, said: when the Duke is baptized. O paradise of God, sure proof of divinity, friend of the Holy Spirit, pray for me, that the saving baptism of faith may be preserved in me. when the Governor suspends the inquiry, And having professed the faith, the Duke was purified by baptism. And when he had been joined to Christ, the Governor also suspended the persecution, saying: Until I shall have reported to the Emperor. Then all who were in Asia came flocking to the Martyr, he converts many, having performed miracles: believing and confessing their sins, that they might be forgiven them. And indeed the Blessed Charalampius restored many dead to life, and indiscriminately all the sick to health.

CHAPTER II

Torments inflicted on Saint Charalampius by order of the Emperor Severus. Miracles performed before him at Antioch of Pisidia.

[8] The Governor, however, reported to the Emperor all the things which have already been narrated, saying: I have recourse to you, O Emperor: for what I ought to say, what to express, by the orders of the Emperor Severus, or even what to think, I do not know. A certain man from the flock of the Galileans appeared, who turns everyone away from the gods, and having prayed, as it appeared, restored our health. And Lucius indeed, after that healing which seemed to have taken place, believed in Christ: and all Magnesia has already given over its people to that religion. When I had recovered, I came here to report these things. The Emperor, hearing these words, moved by anxiety and anger, said: O eternal gods, held in contempt, why does the trifling loquacity of the impious thus grow strong on earth? And immediately he sent three hundred soldiers, steeped in all inhumanity and savagery, devoid of all charity even toward their brothers, he is led to Antioch of Pisidia, chosen satellites of the devil, made for inflicting destruction; and he ordered the Martyr's entire back to be cut open, and thus to be dragged from Magnesia to Antioch of Pisidia.

[9] When, therefore, the satellites of the most savage Emperor had come into Asia, they seized the athlete of Christ, and driving nails throughout his entire body, they bound fetters to his beard, which had grown quite long, nails being driven into his whole body, bound by his beard, and thus they dragged the Martyr of Christ. When they had already advanced fifteen stadia, the horse which walked on the right side turned and spoke in ^a clear and entirely unambiguous voice these words: O you three hundred soldiers, and thrice-accursed servants of the devil, do you not see that God is with this man, and Christ, and in him the Holy Spirit? a horse with ^a human voice rebukes the fierce lictors Why then do you persist in these things? Release him whom you cannot bind, that you yourselves may be loosed from your bonds. Struck by this voice of the horse, the satellites were indeed seized with immense fear; nevertheless, as the Emperor had commanded, thus dragging the Martyr, they brought him to Antioch.

[10] But the devil, having assumed the form of an old man, presented himself to the Emperor, saying: Woe is me, O Emperor! I am the King of the Scythians; but ^a certain man named Charalampius, an outstanding magician, came into my dominion, Severus being deceived by diabolic fraud, and has turned my entire army away from me, and all the people have adhered to him. And I, abandoned by all, have come to inform you of this, lest something similar happen to you also. The Emperor, clapping his hands, when he heard that Charalampius was present, bound and dragged there by his men, before any interrogation, driven by diabolic counsel, seeing the Martyr bound by his beard and placed before him, ordered ^a spit of about three cubits to be driven through his breast: and when he saw the spit already fixed, he said to the lictors: Gather wood and burn him with ^a slow fire, so that, roasted bit by bit, he may the sooner occupy hell, lest he also strip me of every military defense, as he did the King of the Scythians.

[11] And when the attendants had immediately brought wood and fire, ^a certain woman, wishing both to please the Emperor and to increase the Martyr's torment, [he is pierced with ^a spit: mocked by the Emperor's concubine, who casts ash upon him:] gathered ash in her cloak or mantle and poured it upon the head, face, and beard of the Martyr, saying: Die, old man, die. For it is better that you should die than that you should ensnare us with your tricks. She was, however, the Emperor's concubine. But the sister of the same woman addressed her thus: she is rebuked by her sister, Do you not, wretched woman, fear God? You do the will of Severus and offend God. With Christ angered against you, Severus will avail you nothing. And turning to the Martyr, she said: Man of God, your old age is venerable; God is above you. I know that I shall believe and be freed from my sins.

[12] After these words, when the flames had already caught the wood, the blessed man emerged more vigorous: he comes forth unharmed from the fire: the fire, however, was extinguished, and the lictors themselves collapsed. The Emperor said: Let this man be released and let him answer me. And when the holy Martyr had stood closer, the Emperor said: Man, having spoken with the King of the Scythians first thing this morning, I adopted ^a more hostile disposition toward you, being impelled to inflict disgrace upon you as well. he is questioned by the Emperor about his age, religion, Now, since you have passed through that trial, consider it an honor, and answer my questions: How many years of life have you? Charalampius said: I have spent many years leading ^a vain life. But if you wish to know exactly, I have lived one hundred and thirteen years. The Emperor Severus said: If you have lived so many years, how have you not directed your understanding to acknowledge the immortal gods? marriage, Charalampius said: Since I have lived many years, O Emperor, and have acquired much understanding, I have recognized Christ and believed in Him. The Emperor said: Have you taken ^a wife, or not? Charalampius answered: I have joined to myself ^a heavenly bride, namely the kingdom of Christ; but on earth I have known no wife.

[13] The Emperor Severus said: You are said to raise the dead. Charalampius answered: miracles: So great ^a benefit is not in the power of men, but of Christ. The Emperor said: Try it before me. And nodding to his attendants, he ordered ^a man to be brought who had been possessed by an evil demon for thirty-five years, and had often been cast into marshes, and often from precipitous places, the demon seeking to destroy him. he frees ^a man possessed by ^a demon. When that man drew near, the demon, having caught the scent of the righteous man's fragrance, cried out: I beseech you, servant of God, do not drive me out before the time, but command with ^a word and I shall depart; or if you bid me, I shall tell by what means I invaded this man. The Saint answered: Tell. And the demon said: when the demon is ordered to reveal why he had entered the man: This man had resolved to seize the possessions of his neighbor, but first he began to reason thus with himself: Unless I first kill the heir, I shall not be able to occupy his goods; and having killed him, he went to seize his possessions. Finding him occupied in this deed, I have dwelt with him for thirty-five years. Then Saint Charalampius commanded the demon: Depart from this man, and do him no harm.

[14] And when that man had been restored to soundness of mind, the Emperor, marveling, said: by his prayers he raises ^a dead man: Truly great is the God of the Christians. Within three days, however, when ^a certain young man had died, the Emperor ordered the bier on which the dead man lay to be set before him, and said: I have kept this man, that you might pray to your God and he might be brought back to life. Then the Martyr, having poured forth prayer to God, raised the dead man.

CHAPTER III

A new trial of Saint Charalampius. Blasphemers divinely punished. The vision of Blessed Galena.

[15] When ^a great multitude of people had been moved to faith by these miracles, and the Emperor himself was wondering, the Prefect Crispus said to him: Take away this man; for he is ^a magician and works these things by incantations. At the Prefect's urging, The Emperor therefore, having changed his mind, said to the Martyr: Sacrifice to the gods, Charalampius, that you may escape deadly torments. Charalampius answered: The torments help me all the more. For the more my body is lacerated by them, the more my soul exults. The Emperor, enraged, [his jaws are beaten with stones: ^a flame applied to his beard burns the soldiers,] ordered his jaws to be beaten with stones. The lictors said to him: Acquiesce in the Emperor's exhortation, and do not thus perish for nothing. The Emperor again commanded the lictors: Take torches and apply them to his beard, so that the flame, spreading around, may illuminate his whole face. They applied fire to his beard and entire face. But the flame, leaping away, burned about seventy soldiers.

[16] The Emperor, enraged, said: The King of the Scythians rightly warned me that this man is ^a magician, and would draw away my soldiers from me. Then he said to the Magnates: Will you not tell me who this Christ finally is? The Prefect Crispus answered: The son of Mary, born of fornication. a certain Aristarchus rebukes the blaspheming Prefect. A certain Aristarchus said: Do not speak so foolishly. For whence do you know those mysteries? Whence do you know who Mary was, or who Christ is? The Prefect Crispus said: Devil, are you wiser than I? Aristarchus said: I lend boldness to my mouth, for I am wiser than you. The Emperor Severus said: O wicked head, do you speak against me? Aristarchus said: By no means, Lord Emperor; I speak neither against you nor against anyone, but for Christ.

[17] Then the Emperor, boiling with rage, ordered ^a chariot to be yoked; and having mounted it, he set about assailing heaven with missiles: for having shot an arrow on high, he said: Come here, Christ, if you sit on high; pitch your tents on earth: The Saint rebukes the blaspheming Severus, for I am preparing war against you. I have strength enough to resist you. Come down here, and stand near at hand. Or I shall destroy the heavens and extinguish the sun, in order to seize you. At these words the earth moved, and an immense dread invaded all. For with God angered in the heavens, and by an earthquake, the earth began to be shaken like ^a leaf, the voices of Angels to be heard from the whirlwind and clouds, the ground to be repeatedly convulsed, lightning to flash, thunder to roar, and mortals to grow stiff with fear. the Emperor is suspended in the air with the Prefect, The Emperor hung suspended in the air, and with him the Prefect Crispus; and the Emperor, crying out, said: My Lord Charalampius, this has befallen me on account of my sins; I am justly punished. But do you speak ^a word to your God, that I may be freed from this punishment; and throughout the whole city I shall inscribe the name of your God and yours; when he implores help, for ^a great dread has been struck into me by your Christ.

[18] Then Galena, the daughter of the Emperor, stood before her father and said: My father, no one can resist God: He is the hope of Christians, the destroyer of the Gentiles. Believe in God, and He will free you; his daughter Galena, ^a Christian, intercedes for him, and He who has bound the chains will loose them. He who holds you is Christ, the eternal and incomprehensible God. And the Blessed Galena, falling down before the Martyr, said: I beseech you, servant of God, pray to Christ and release my father: if he shall have believed, he will have acted rightly and wisely; but if not, he will have made you more perfect. she frees him by her prayers. And when the blessed man had prayed, all that indignation of God ceased, and the Emperor was brought back down with the Prefect, and he said: Lord of heaven and maker of earth, have mercy on me: you who dwell in the heavens, look upon the earth. And the Emperor, having returned to the palace with the Prefect and the rest of his retinue, remained there for three days, reflecting upon the fear of God.

[19] When, however, ^a vision had been presented to the Emperor's daughter, she came and reported the mystery, saying: I seemed to myself to be standing before abundant waters, and suddenly I beheld an enclosure in which were fragrant trees of every kind. [Galena's vision concerning her own election to glory and her father's reprobation,] And behold, in the midst of that paradise there was ^a vineyard, and in it ^a lofty cedar, and at the roots of the cedar ^a fountain. The vigorous guardian of the place, however, allowed no one to enter. But behold, my spirit drew near to my father and the Prefect Crispus in the same enclosure. The guardian, however, hurled ^a fiery brand to destroy the Prefect and my father. But I was held by great fear: I desired, however, to be allowed to remain in that enclosure. And the guardian said to me: Come here; I shall carry you on my shoulders and introduce you with honor. I entered into the midst of the vineyard which was in that enclosure, beneath the cedar, at the very source of the fountain, where I heard ^a voice saying: This dwelling has been given to you and to those like you. These are the things which I saw. I ask you to explain what they mean.

[20] Saint Charalampius said: The explanation of the dream is this. The multitude of waters is the gift of the Holy Spirit: the enclosure, Saint Charalampius explains: the entrance of the Just, which has fallen to you: the vineyard, the root of the Just: the lofty cedar, the surpassing glory of the Angels: the fountain, the knowledge of praise: the fragrant trees are the choirs of the Angels: he who lifted you onto his shoulders, and who is also the guardian of the place, is Christ the Lord, who, leaving ninety-nine sheep in the mountains, came to the lost one. But your father shall be cast aside: for though giving thanks, he shall be ungrateful; and the Prefect, though blessing, shall be consumed. Your father shall be turned backward by the wiles of the devil, and shall decree many things against us. Behold, you have now heard much, daughter of the Emperor.

CHAPTER IV

The Emperor admonished by his daughter Galena. Idols destroyed by the same.

[21] After thirty days the Emperor, having been admonished, ordered the Martyr to be summoned, and addressed him thus: Charalampius, hear my voice and obey, that you may both submit to me, Bound with ^a bit, he is dragged through the city, and worship those gods, and honor yourself. Charalampius answered: It cannot be that ^a servant of God should be perverted by tyrannical words. For truly your words are feeble and insipid. The Emperor, angered, said: Wretched head, you call my words insipid? And he ordered ^a bit to be inserted in his mouth, and thus to be dragged through the whole city. The blessed man, thus led in procession, said: praising God. Lord God, who in wisdom have spread out the heavens, in prudence founded the earth, and by divine dispensation created man and adorned him with your image; Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, look upon this madness and upon the threats of the tyrant; because I am deemed worthy to suffer these things for your name.

[22] Then Galena, the daughter of the Emperor, approached her father and said: Why have you done this, father? Why do you condemn the just? Why do you entangle yourself in the bonds of the devil, and, having rejected good things, seize upon evil? Why do you summon death to yourself and destroy life? Why do you rage with tyrannical fury against the servant of Christ? Galena rebukes her father for not keeping his promises: Come then, father, hear my voice, and with the same zeal with which you have pursued evil, pursue the good: for whoever sows evil shall also reap evil; and whoever sows in blessings shall reap good things. Where does your advantage lie? Suspended on high, you confessed God: set down upon the earth, you have abandoned Him. Many of those who excel in dignity, while they are chastised by God, are mindful of Him; as soon as they have escaped the discipline, they forget Him.

[23] When the Emperor had heard this, having become no better but rather having slipped further into evil, he said: Sacrifice to the gods, Galena. But Galena, turning to him, said: I shall do what you wish, father. The Emperor, rejoicing, said: [then, admonished by him, she pretends she will sacrifice, once Saint Charalampius is released,] Let Charalampius be released, because my dear daughter is sacrificing to the gods. And when Charalampius had been brought, the Emperor said: Behold, my daughter Galena has been persuaded to sacrifice to the gods. Come, you too, Charalampius, and join her in doing what we so greatly desire. And since Charalampius remained silent, the Emperor supposed that he was consenting. Then the Emperor's daughter went to the temple of Jupiter and Apollo, and said to the priests: A grace has been offered me, that, led by repentance, I might entreat the gods and be saved. For by believing in Christ, while the priests exult: I offended the gods. The priests cried out: Great Jupiter, mighty Apollo, makers of heaven, lords of lords, receive the Lady Galena; for the sake of the Emperor Severus be propitious to her.

[24] Then the most blessed Galena, having entered the temple of idols, summoned the priests and said: Which god shall I cast down first -- Jupiter, or Hercules, or Apollo? she overturns the idols: The priests said: Take care that you attempt nothing, and do not provoke our saviors, lest they destroy the heaven or displace the earth. Then the Blessed Galena, seizing Jupiter, said to him: Since you are ^a god, how did you not understand that I was coming to overthrow you? And she seized him and cast him down, and falling to the ground he shattered into three pieces. Then seizing Apollo, she said: Come, hunchbacked old man, fall upon the pavement of the earth. Since you are nothing but ash, depart to hell.

[25] While she was overturning the images, the priests hastened to the Emperor and addressed him thus: Lord Emperor, our hope has perished; now the sun too shall be extinguished and the world shall perish; for the gods are dead. The Emperor said: What are these words of yours? The priests answered: Your daughter Galena has demolished them. The Emperor said: Go, which, when remade overnight at the Emperor's urging, and this night bring fifty craftsmen, and recast the Gods, and replace them in the temple, and say: The Gods appeared to be broken, and behold, they stand whole in the shrine. Otherwise, if the Galileans learn of this, they will mock you. For just as we make sport of them because Christ died, they will retort that our gods too have been broken. Having therefore gathered fifty craftsmen, they cast the images of the gods anew and replaced them in their former position.

[26] On the next day, coming to the Emperor's daughter, they said to her: Come to the temple, Lady, and see the resurrection of the gods. The Blessed Galena said to them: The gods have risen? I shall go to see them. And entering the temple, she saw the recast statues and said: I see ^a great miracle. The priests said: Truly ^a very great miracle. Yesterday they were disgraced; today they have obtained more abundant honor she breaks them again the next day, and more splendid glory. Galena said: It is easy for me to shatter new gods. And she said: I say to you, Jupiter, revived from the dead, sink down to the dead. And saying this, she broke the images. Then the priests, boiling with anger, reported to the Emperor the renewed overthrow of the gods. The Emperor immediately ordered his daughter to be brought before him, and said to her: Why have you done this? Why have you violated the gods? She answered: Because, deceived by ^a vain delusion, you call them gods; for they are nothing but skillfully carved bronze. and she answers her angry father with noble spirit. The Emperor said: Sacrifice to the gods, most impious seed and not my offspring. Galena said: I have sacrificed to those who were presented to me. If it seems good to you, I shall rise against the rest as well.

CHAPTER V

Other miracles of Saint Charalampius, his death, and burial.

[27] Then the enraged Emperor ordered the Blessed Charalampius to be handed over to ^a widow woman for mockery. When the Blessed one entered the house of the widow and leaned his back against ^a doorpost, At the touch of Charalampius, dry wood puts forth leaves again, just as good and fertile soil, having received rain, returns fruit ^a hundredfold, so too the post, at the touch of the blessed body, put forth leaves again into ^a tree, which, rising above that house, even covered the upper story itself, and as it is written, The birds of the air rested in its branches. Ezek. 31:6 The woman, seeing this, said trembling: Depart from me, Lord; for I am not worthy to receive such ^a man. he himself converts the widow: For perhaps you are Christ, or an Angel, or ^a Prophet, or an Apostle, or what I should call you I know not. Depart from me, I beg you; for I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof. And the blessed man said to her: Take heart, woman, for you have found grace with the Lord. Believe in Him; for the Lord is great and merciful and greatly to be praised.

[28] On the next day the neighbors, seeing the shade spread from the upper story and the tall tree, said in astonishment: What is that portent? Some indeed said: Because Charalampius dwells there, that wood has sprouted again. And entering, they found the Saint sitting and teaching and speaking thus: Blessed are you, woman, because you have believed in Christ. Blessed are you, because your sins are forgiven you, he declares that he is not Christ: for God receives the penitent. And those men said to him: Why do you not tell us whether you are truly Christ? Charalampius said: Spare me, children. I am your fellow-servant, ^a servant of Christ, and in His name I do these things.

[29] Then the woman, having become bolder, said in ^a loud voice: Hail, Charalampius, ever shining with unquenchable light. Hail, Charalampius, inexhaustible lamp. Hail, Charalampius, greatest in grace. Hail, Charalampius, most brilliant torch. Hail, Charalampius, joy toward God and our light. he converts the widow's neighbors: For many through your teaching have been joined to Christ. While she was saying these things, those men grasped the knees of the holy man, and believing in Christ, received the saving baptism.

[30] On the following day the Emperor ordered Charalampius to be brought before his tribunal. But those who had recently given their names to Christ came first and reported to the Emperor the miracle performed by him, and how the doorpost had sprouted again. While the Emperor was marveling, the Prefect Crispus said: Lord Emperor, sentence is passed against him, all are being estranged by the miracles which he performs. Command that the sentence of the sword be passed upon him. The Emperor, having been made worse by many miracles, ordered him to be struck down with the sword. The Saint, having received his sentence, sang: I will sing to you, Lord; I will sing and exult in the way of the undefiled, when you shall come to me; and what follows. he goes joyfully to death: In which it pleased God that he should finish his contest, and he said: I give you thanks, my Lord God; for you are merciful and gracious. Ps. 100:2 You are the one who has crushed the enemy and broken hell and loosed the pains of death. My Lord God, remember me in your kingdom.

[31] While he prayed, the heavens were opened, and the Lord came to him with ^a multitude of Angels, and ^a throne of emerald was set, exceedingly magnificent; and the Lord sat upon it and said to the Martyr: Come, Charalampius, he prays to Christ appearing visibly, my friend, who have suffered many things for my name: ask of me what you will, and I shall grant it to you. The Blessed Charalampius said: This is ^a great thing for me, Lord, that you have deemed me worthy to behold your awe-inspiring glory. Lord, if it pleases you, I shall ask that you grant this grace to my name, that those who preserve his relics and honor him that wherever my relics shall have been deposited and my memory shall be celebrated, there may not be in that place famine, or plague, or noxious air corrupting the fruits. But rather let there be in those places peace and health of body, and salvation of souls, and abundance of grain and wine, and of cattle necessary for the use of men. And, if it shall seem good to you, as long as they shall deign to preserve anywhere the memorials of my contest, he may deliver them from evils. let there not be in those places ^a plague upon oxen, or sheep, or beasts of burden, or other animals, much less let any evil befall ^a rational soul. Lord, you know that they are flesh and blood: pardon them their sins, and grant them the use of oxen, that when the earth has been cultivated and the harvests multiplied, and heap them with blessings: they may abundantly enjoy the fruits of their labors, praising Him from whom they have received them: and let them honor me as their intercessor and your athlete: and the dew which falls from you, let it be medicine to them. And, upon which being promised, he dies: O Lord our God, pour out your grace upon all. When he had thus prayed, the Lord said: Let it be as you have asked, noble athlete. And the Lord withdrew with the Angels into heaven, and the soul of Saint Charalampius followed.

[32] Then the soldiers reported to the Emperor the glory of the Martyr, how the Lord had also appeared to him, and he had died without the stroke of the sword, and they themselves had seen the soul departing into the heavens. The Emperor was struck with wonder. And Galena his daughter asked that the Martyr's body be given to her, and she wrapped it in clean linen, he is honorably buried by Galena. and, anointed with spices and precious ointments, she placed it in ^a golden casket, praising God with much wisdom. The Emperor, terrified, refrained from proceeding against his daughter, especially because he knew that God was with her.

[33] These things took place in those times when Severus was at Antioch, while our Lord Jesus Christ was reigning among us. The commemoration of the holy Martyr Charalampius is celebrated in the month of February, according to the reckoning of the region, on the tenth day. when he died and is venerated. This is that unconquerable and invincible and great Martyr Charalampius, Priest of God, who intercedes for the whole world, having completed his contest in the month of February, according to the reckoning of the region, on the tenth day. And Saint Charalampius stands altogether at the right hand of the Lord's throne, interceding for us with our Lord Jesus Christ; to whom be glory and dominion, now and always, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.