Φωτογραφίες: Δ. Πετρογιάννης, Κ. Κούκουρας

On Monday 9 and Tuesday 10 February 2026, our local Church honoured the memory of the Holy Hieromartyr Charalambos, centred on his named parish church in Afrati, Chalkida, where, during the Vespers service, His Grace Bishop of Skopelos Mr. Nikodimos presided, and on the feast day His Eminence the Metropolitan of Chalkida Mr. Chrysostomos presided over the sacred services.

On the eve of the feast, 9/2, in his sermon, His Grace Bishop Nikodimos referred to the life of Saint Charalambos and emphasized his divinely given strength, so that his age did not diminish his spiritual struggle and courage, and the weakness of his body did not prevent him from hastening toward martyrdom for Christ.

On the main feast day, 10/2, His Eminence Mr. Chrysostomos chanted the Orthros and presided at the Divine Liturgy, while in his sermon he explained that Saint Charalambos is called a pillar of the Church, because as both shepherd and martyr he supports the faithful. Through his life in Christ and his martyrdom for Him, he enlightens the world, which was sunk in the complete darkness of idolatry. All of this made Saint Charalambos an heir of divine adoption, so that with boldness he declares himself a child of God and receives the grace to address Him as children address their father.

His Eminence also commemorated the saints who are celebrated on this day, and, while emphasizing the long life in Christ and courageous witness of Saint Charalambos, he noted that the Holy Church also commemorates today the executioners of the saint who came to believe in Christ, Porphyrios and Vaptos, as well as the daughter of the governor, Galini, teaching all its members that repentance and true faith made the last equal to the foremost saint of the day.

Finally, with pastoral discretion, His Eminence explained to the faithful that through repentance, faith, and boldness before God the Father, we are called to participate in the characteristics of the saints, a wish he extended wholeheartedly to all, and especially to the name-day celebrants.