Saint Haralambos As A Model For Our Lives

Pious Hieromartyr Haralambos of Magnesia (Ceremonial dinner Day - February 10)By Protopresbyter Fr. George PapavarnavasSaint Haralambos came from Magnesia in Asia Minute. Natural in the at the rear of central century he was martyred at the age of 113. One time persecution short of money out opposed to the Christians inside the control of Septimius Severus, faultless spiritual children of Saint Haralambos tried to make happy him to escape, so as not to be having difficulties. He, of course, refused, since it is impossible for a good aide to abandon his flood in time of care and since he was off at every line of reasoning to stand fast his request for forgiveness and be martyred. He was arrested and agonized uncaringly, but faced the ruinous tenderness with creditable strum, after blatantly confessing his assign. One defense force, between natives prearranged to tenderness the higher priest, seeing him last out inhumane tenderness with such strum, but besides with outlandish tranquility, as well as the wonders that came about due to his prayers, alleged in Christ and confessed Him as their Peer of the realm and God. The prefect was frightened by the change in the group and prearranged that he be set free. Taking into account, the identical Severus, unable to last out the dumpiness and the strum of the higher, prearranged for his beheading.Plunder cue from the life and comings and goings of Saint Haralambos, we would intend to star the following:Foundational, the name Haralambos is stubborn. It consists of the noun "hara" ( = joy) and the verb "lambo" ( = expand). Exactly, Saint Haralambos had a line of reasoning that shined and radiated bring to an end joy. "Mock-up joy resides in diffidence, generation the joy of beginners is not free of the image" (Saint Diadochos of Photiki). He had a restful, unperturbed and loving kind, even inside the time of his hideous tenderness.Joy is not a water mood or feeling, but the fruit of the Pious Interior, set to natives who with the sacramental life and graveness purified their nous and intermediate from the passions and the joy of the Pious Interior came to stop within them. Joy is violently associated with diffidence and shame. One time a outfit repents and returns to God, after that all of illusion rejoices, Saints and Angels. "Represent order be joy in illusion polished one malefactor who repents" (Lk. 15:7). And once upon a time the identical repents fatally, they arise the moderation of their sins and gulp the charm of the Pious Interior, according to their receptivity.Joy is amalgamated with contemplative love, which is besides a fruit of the Pious Interior. In the Myth of the Prodigal Son, everyday by Christ, we straightforwardly see how joy is violently amalgamated with true love. One time the prodigal son returns to his family home (the Religious), his close relative (the Pious Triune God) runs to receive him with open arms. He dresses him in the first-rate the same of Promise Diplomacy, gives him the ring of sonship, sacrifices the fatted calf (His Only-begotten Son), and they rejoice and are lucky.One time a outfit is engaged by their passions, and markedly the ill-fated ferocity of self-satisfaction, they cannot perfectly rejoice in their life. Saint Silouan the Athonite would say that a outfit order hold in this life until they gain diffidence. The cloudy brother, of the metaphor which we discussed, may perhaps not rejoice with his close relative and brother, since he did not perfectly love. His love was knack and loving, as he was engaged by the ferocity of self-satisfaction and distrust.Exhibit, Saint Haralambos did not abandon his flood in the time of care. So it is with the relaxed disciples of Christ. They do not willing victim others that they may exist, but they are sacrificed for their flood, for whom, whichever, they rub weekly with great weight and support.The Saints line of reasoning lots and great temptations in their life, and they lament for their passions and sins. But they do not be aware of measureless dimness and devastation, nor is their entertainment measureless, but they are soft in their joy and their dimness, since they know very well that "a good deal dimness leads the principal to devastation, as a good deal joy leads it to self-satisfaction. The medium vigor together with dimness and joy is extravagant" (Saint Diadochos of Photiki). In addition to the Diplomacy of God consoles and gladdens the principal that is humbled and mourns for its sins.Regular time "once upon a time we time after time suppose about the future, we lose the bid and do not perfectly rejoice in our life" (Saint Nektarios). License in God's love drives revealed labored cooperation and edginess, that without favoritism darkens our life and does not allow us to perfectly rejoice.All in all we complain that the nation in which we exist does not allow us to perfectly brag our life, as if it is to accuse for our passions, mistakes and failures. Whether our life is illusion or hell, others are not to accuse, but ourselves, since our fellowmen are not our hell, as the skeptic existentialists say, but they are our joy. Saint Seraphim of Sarov, once upon a time he met faultless empire, called them his joy. Noticeably of up-to-the-minute hail, he would say to them: "Christ is Risen, my joy."Mock-up joy cannot situate exclusive of diffidence and love. Overly, our helping hand takes place within diffidence, shame and contemplative love towards others, the tiniest of the brethren of Christ.Source: "Ekklesiastiki Paremvasi", , February 2004. Translated by John Sanidopoulos.