On 3 February 2021, the feast of the Hieromartyr Charalampus and with him the Martyrs Porphyrius and Baptus and three women martyrs, the head of the Central Asian Metropolitan District, Metropolitan Vikenty of Tashkent and Uzbekistan, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos in Karshi, which belongs to the Samarkand Deanery.
His Eminence was assisted by the clergy of the Samarkand Deanery.
In his sermon at the end of the service Metropolitan Vikenty spoke briefly about the life and feats of the Hieromartyr Charalampus, who, despite all his torments, did not renounce his faith in Christ and remained faithful to God and the Kingdom of God to the end.
"Why did the Hieromartyr Charalampus stand so firmly in the faith? Even the sufferings inflicted on him could not break him and make him renounce his faith in the True God, his faith in Christ, his faith in the Kingdom of Christ and eternal life. The emperor tried to break his faith in Christ and offered him every earthly good, glory and honor, if only he would renounce Christ and God. But he told the emperor that everything the emperor gives soon passes away, while what Christ the Savior gives him is eternal and never ends, because these blessings never come to an end. Delight, spiritual joy, riches, glory and honor: everything that God gives is eternal. What the emperor gives is temporary. And all this when the Hieromartyr Charalampus was 113 years old.
This steadfastness in faith, brothers and sisters, is a great example for us, so that we too may live on this earth for the Kingdom of Heaven and eternal life, because all earthly goods are temporary. However many treasures, riches, glory and honor a person acquires in this life, they will vanish like smoke and turn to dust. We should reflect on this, and just as the Hieromartyr Charalampus thought and acted, so we too must think about our life. Earthly life is a time for gaining eternal life, not for losing eternity. We can lose it, or we can gain it, if we live according to God's will and not our own, so that our life may be pleasing to God and the Lord may reward our labors with eternity."
On the same day the archpastor served a litiya for the departed for the murdered handmaid of God Valentina, of blessed memory, who had labored in the church in Karshi to the glory of God for many years.
