28 ВЕРЕСНЯ / SEP 28

Saint Chariton the Confessor was born at Iconium in Lycaonia and suffered during the persecution of Christians under Emperor Aurelian (270–275). The example of Saint Thekla inspired him to boldly confess Christ.

Saint Chariton denounced the pagan gods and firmly professed faith in Christ. He endured fierce tortures but survived by God’s Providence. After his release from prison, he dedicated his life to the service of God.

While on pilgrimage to Jerusalem, Saint Chariton was captured by robbers and left tied up in a cave. A snake poisoned the wine with its venom, and when the robbers returned, they drank it and died. Saint Chariton distributed their stolen gold to the poor, churches, and monasteries.

He remained in the cave and began his ascetic life there. Many disciples gathered around him, and this became the famous Pharan Lavra in Palestine. He later founded two more monasteries: the Jericho Monastery and the Souka, known as the “Old Lavra.”

At the end of his life, Saint Chariton lived in a cave near the Souka monastery while continuing to guide his monasteries. He peacefully fell asleep in the Lord on September 28, 350.

Blessed Nikita Budka was born in Dobromirka in the Ternopil region. He was the first Bishop appointed to serve Ukrainian Catholics in Canada. From 1928, he served as General Vicar and Canon of the Metropolitan Chapter in Lviv. He was arrested by the NKVD on April 11, 1945, and died in exile in the Karadzhar labor camp near Karaganda, Kazakhstan.

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” These words were the life motto of this great servant of the faith. Complete trust in God guided him toward the salvation of souls.

His feet traveled across the vast Canadian lands, sowing the seed of God’s Word. His hands helped lay the foundations of the pilgrimage shrine of Zarvanytsia. Yet his heart never knew bitterness—not in the face of unjust accusations, deceit, or violence. He preserved his soul from hatred and kept it pure until the end of his life.