Lives of Saints - Hosios Charalambos (the servant of the Virgin Mary and the people) Christianity - Books
Don't be anxious for your life, what you will eat, nor yet for your body, what you will wear.                Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing.                Consider the ravens: they don't sow, they don't reap, they have no warehouse or barn, and God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than birds!                Which of you by being anxious can add a cubit to his height?                If then you aren't able to do even the least things, why are you anxious about the rest?                Consider the lilies, how they grow. They don't toil, neither do they spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.                But if this is how God clothes the grass in the field, which today exists, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith?                Don't seek what you will eat or what you will drink; neither be anxious.                For the nations of the world seek after all of these things, but your Father knows that you need these things.                But seek God's Kingdom, and all these things will be added to you.               
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Hosios Charalambos (the servant of the Virgin Mary and the people)
   

The rich and historical village of Dafnes in the province of Temenous of Crete has been the birthplace of notable individuals who became the glory of their land and country. One such individual was Hosios Charalambos who lived during the last years of the Turkish occupation.

He was born at the village of Dafnes on August 16, 1723 and had three brothers. Since early childhood he showed signs of celibacy and his friends and relatives noticed that, as a child, he would retreat to a cave, during rest hours, and pray to God. His burning desire for asceticism and conscious devotion to the Commandments made him worthy of visions of the Virgin Mary. His visions led him to the monastery Kalyviani dedicated in Her memory where he became Her faithful servant. When he reached the monastery, near the Turkish occupied village of Kalyvia, he met a number of monks who were not dressed in the traditional cassock for fear of the Jenissaries. They were crypto-Christians and passed off as poor men.

As soon as the Saint established himself at the monastery he took an active role in promoting the free practice of faith, uncompromising his principles and in spite of the threats from Jenissaries. At that time, the lush and fertile valley of Messara was at the hands of the Turks. The Orthodox Christians were deprived not only of spiritual but also of corporeal nourishment. The presence of Hosios Charalambos soothed the pain, he alleviated the grief of the Christians in the area, and his intervention were very effective. Gradually the Christians acquired more and more concessions by the Turks.

The Saint served our Virgin Mother and the local population for more than twenty-five years. The indefatigable servant of our Virgin Mother's monastery begged Her mercy. The Mother of God lent a willing ear on his burning requests and fortified him to stand up against the demands and threats from the Jenissaries. On September 10, 1788, the Saint passed away at the age of 65. We became aware of the details of his arduous and manifold work by the pious nuns of the monastery. Our Church celebrates his memory on September 10 each year.

The nuns of the monastery are the best sources of information about the life and legend of Hosios Charalambos. They can tell us wonderful things, their personal experiences and about their work of love, which St. Charalambos left them as a blessing and legacy. However, we must shed our biases; we need to go through a personal purgatory. It is not enough to simply read about the lives of Saints; we must also internalise their principles. Jenissaries are lurking in the dark; they take the form of passions, idols and fads - the modern plague of our society. Actions speak better than words; therefore, the best way to pay honour to our Saints is to follow their example. We must sacrifice our ego on the altar of the common good.

Source: http://www.orthodoxchristian.info

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