Hieromartyr Charalampos, Bishop of Magnesia

The Hieromartyr Charalampos was bishop of the city of Magnesia in Thessaly. According to church tradition, he suffered under Emperor Septimius Severus (late 2nd — early 3rd century) under the local governor Lucian, having reached, according to his life, the age of 113. He was tortured — his flesh was torn with iron hooks; two soldier-torturers (Porphyrios and Vaptos) and three women who witnessed his steadfastness came to believe in Christ and were martyred alongside him. According to tradition, the hands of the executioner who raised his sword against the saint became paralyzed and were healed through Charalampos's prayer; the saint emerged unharmed from fire and raised a dead youth, and the emperor's own daughter, Galina, converted to Christ.

St. Charalampos is especially venerated in the Greek tradition as a protector against epidemics and sudden death — he is credited with delivering the island of Zakynthos from an outbreak of plague in 1728. His relics rest in part on Mount Athos — at Vatopedi Monastery, Meteora, Megaspilaion, and other monasteries.