St. Haralambos (2nd cent.)
Alexandros
Papadiamantis, the great story teller and author from Skiathos, had a cousin,
Alexandros Moraitidis, who late in life decided to become a monk at the monastery
of St. Haralambos on Skiathos. Unfortunately he died within the year, but
he had his wish fulfilled.
St. Haralambos is a much loved saint on the island and we encounter his icons in churches all over Skiathos. His monastery, today inactive, lies in the hills above the Evagelistria Monastery and has recently been beautifully restored. You can either drive there or take the old goat path that starts at Evagelistria.
Looking at his icons, St. Haralambos is depicted as an elderly man with an impressive beard and he often has a fire-breathing demon in chains at his feet, a symbol of his victory over Satan.
St.
Haralambos is one of the earliest saints and lived in Asia Minor the 2nd century.
He became a priest very early on and spent his whole, long life in the service
of God despite several attempts of making him turn to the old gods. He endured
all kinds of horrible torture (like being nailed to a cross with a 100 spikes),
was ridiculed and even dragged around a town by his beard by roman soldiers
on horses. Nothing seemed to work, though, and people flocked to the saint
who would speak to them, comfort them and even heal them.
When St. Haralambos was 113 years old, he was summoned to the emperor Servius, who wanted to defeat the old man once and for all. Again, nothing worked, and Servius summoned two executioners to decapitate Haralambos. Before their swords touched the saint's neck, St. Haralambos died a natural death; the ultimate proof that no worldly power could conquer him. The emperor had the two executioners put to death, and they are celebrated as saints on February 10th along with St. Haralambos. (St. Porphyrios and St. Baptos).
Because St. Haralambos is seen as a shepherd looking after his flock, some even thought he was an incarnation of Christ, he is the patron saint of shepherds. Today St. Haralambos relics are kept in the monastery of St. Stephen in Meteora and people still go to it in the hope of miracles.