Saint Challita - 20 October
Few are those who know something about the biography of Saint Challita, despite the many churches and monasteries spread everywhere in Lebanon.
Saint Challita died in the year 636 AD, but the birth date is still unknown. His name is Artimos. The king Constantine the Great nicknamed him “Challita”, a Syriac word which means “the empowered one”
In Antioch, Artimos was one of the great and powerful men in the roman kingdom in the days of Constantine the great. He was nicknamed “afghanisti”, a nickname given to those who rule Egypt, but he renounced worldly pleasures in the blessings and glory of the world and devoted himself to reflecting on the glory of God and eternal joy.
Saint Artimos retired from his job and left Egypt after the death of King Constantine. Back to Antioch, he devoted himself to his Christian life, announcing and encouraging Christians to defend their religion and adhere to it, and resist oppression. This saint loved the poor and helped the needy and the weak. Julius caught him when he grew old and sober and obliged him to become a pagan. One day, Julius was in Antioch with his troops attacking the Persians. When Artimos refused to follow the cult of the King, since he adhered to his Christians beliefs, King Julius flamed up with rage and incited his troops to assault him and slash him until he lost consciousness. Then they hit him in the neck until he died as a martyr for his faith.
