The Serbian Orthodox Church and its faithful today celebrate the day of remembrance for the Holy Martyr Kalinik, a Christian saint who is believed to have converted tens of thousands of believers.
This saint is believed to be the protector of all those who unjustly suffer for their beliefs, and those who are ready to suffer for their righteous principles pray and turn to him.
St. Kalinik was a native of Cilicia and spent his life preaching the Gospel. On his journey, in Ancyra, he was arrested by the pagan prince Sacerdon, who threatened to torture him if he did not bow down to the idols. He replied to him: “Every torment for my God is as welcome to me as bread is to the hungry.”
The prince then put iron sandals on him with nails inside and ordered him to be taken to the city of Gangra, because he did not dare to torture him anymore, let alone execute him in Ancyra. After many saw how much this man of God could endure, they all decided to accept the Christian faith.
While they were going to the city of Gangra, the soldiers became thirsty, and since there was no water, St. Kalinik performed a miracle—he prayed to God and water then flowed from a stone.
However, suffering spared him nothing—when they arrived in the city of Gangra, the torturers threw St. Kalinik into a fire. The saint then prayed to God saying: “I thank you, Heavenly Father, for making me worthy of this hour, in which I die for your holy name,” and entered the fire. When the fire went out, he was dead, but his body was unharmed.
Customs and Beliefs
It is customary for anyone who finds themselves in some trouble or misfortune today to go to church, light a candle, and pray to St. Kalinik with these words:
“Your Martyr, O Lord, Kalinik, in his suffering received the imperishable crown, from you, our God, for having your help, he overcame the torturers, and destroyed the powerless audacity of the demons: By his prayers save our souls.”
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