In difficult times of sorrow, when the Lord sends trials to his children, many Orthodox turn to the saints. Their strict and spiritualized faces, looking inquiringly from ancient icons, are able to cheer up and console with their looks alone. The saints, who endured great torment in their earthly life, became the intercessors of people in the Kingdom of Heaven, constantly heeding their prayers. Especially revered among Orthodox Christians is Saint Ouar. They pray to him for their deceased unbaptized relatives, as well as for the souls of babies who never saw the earthly light. So who is Saint Ouar, whose prayer can work miracles? Today we will tell you about it.
Uar: life before martyrdom
Saint Ouar lived approximately in the three hundred and seventh year in Alexandria. He came from a noble family and, upon reaching adulthood, was sent to serve Emperor Maximian.
Young Uar was brave, kind and distinguished by rare valor, so he was very quickly noticed by the emperor and treated kindly by him. After several years of service, Saint Ouar was promoted topositions, making him a military leader. But all the honors and riches that Maximian showered him with could not make the young man's heart callous. He was incredibly kind and supported Christians in his heart, believing in the true God.
He often saw the torture that martyrs were subjected to for their faith, and his soul trembled with horror and fear of what was happening. Often at night he went around the houses of Christians or secretly descended into prisons to relieve the pain of the afflicted. Saint Ouar brought food to the martyrs, bandaged their wounds and prayed with them.
Each time the young man grew stronger in faith, but his fear of idolaters was so great that Ware could not confess his love for Christ. He only watched with admiration the people who were ready to go to a terrible death for the sake of their God and faith, which the emperor's soldiers tried to take away from them.
Decision making
Once the holy martyr Uar went down to the dungeon to talk with seven Christians. They were teachers and many people had already been converted, so Maximian was especially cruel to them. Having bandaged the wounds of the martyrs, Uar decided to have an important conversation with them.
For a long time the young man tried to get rid of the fear of pain and accept suffering for his God. He turned to the teachers with a request to pray for him, because only the Lord could support Saint Ouar in his intentions. However, one of the teachers answered him that those who are afraid of earthly suffering will never see the face of Christ. This was a real revelation for the young warlord.
He stayed in the dungeon until dawn, and in the morningsaw that one of the prisoners had died. Saint War decided that this was a sign for him, and boldly joined the ranks of the prisoners who were supposed to appear before the court that day.
Martyrdom
At the trial, the martyr stood with his head held high and spoke of his faith. At first, the judge tried to reason with him, but gradually, seeing the stubbornness of the young man, he felt real fury and ordered that Huar be handed over to the executioners first.
The martyr was tied to a tree standing on a hillock and in front of other prisoners they began to beat him with leather lashes and thick gnarled sticks. Feeling the blood covering his eyes, Saint Ouar prayed to the six teachers for support, and they began to pray fervently. Almost immediately, the young man felt how the pain receded, and real happiness filled his soul. Someone's unknown hand softened the blows, which delighted the martyr, and he only strengthened in his decision.
Seeing that their actions were ineffective, the tormentors began to cut off the skin from the still living saint and cut him with knives. The executioners cut open the young man's stomach and shook out all his insides to the ground, and then again hung him to a tree. He was alive for another five hours, and only after these incredible torments did he give up his spirit.
Cleopatra
The execution of Huar was seen by a woman named Cleopatra, who is the widow of one of the emperor's soldiers. She was amazed at the young man's martyrdom, and after dark she returned to the place of torture to collect the remains of the saint in a small vessel.
Together with her son John, she brought the remains of Uar home and buried them in the far corner of the basement. Cleopatra dreamed of returning to her homeland in Palestine, but she was waiting for the right opportunity to return.
Honoring the relics of a saint
A pious woman waited for several years until the persecution of Christians subsided. Every day she went down to the basement and lit candles at the place where the relics were buried. Prayer to Saint Ouar filled her soul with light and strengthened her faith.
Deciding that the time had come, Cleopatra headed from Alexandria to the village of Edra, where she had once been born. Under the guise of the remains of her deceased husband, she was carrying the relics of the saint, which she placed in the ancestral tomb upon arrival.
The woman did not leave her service to God, she continued to burn candles and incense near the relics. Every new day she prayed at the grave of the martyr, and people in the village began to follow her example. Surprisingly, fervent prayer to the holy martyr Huar gave people healing from various diseases and peace of mind. The rumor of the relics spread throughout Palestine.
Church in honor of the Martyr Uar
Seeing how many pilgrims come to pray to the saint, Cleopatra decided to build a temple in his honor. The pious woman enjoyed great respect among her people, so a small church was erected by joint efforts, where the relics of the martyr Huar were transferred with honor.
Cleopatra was happy with everything she had done, she decided to arrange a real holiday for people who came to commemorate the saint. Moreover, herthe grown son was favored by the king and received a good position under him. The satisfied woman entered the temple and began to fervently pray to the saint, asking him to do what would be best for her beloved son. That same night, young John fell ill with a fever and died before morning.
Cleopatra's grief was immeasurable, with a murmur and tears the poor woman rushed to the temple and fell at the grave of the saint, asking him about her hard lot. Exhausted, she soon fell asleep.
Cleopatra's Dream
In a dream, the saint himself appeared to her together with his son, dressed in bright clothes. Martyr Uar tried to persuade the woman and explain to her that her son now serves the Lord and communicates with the saints. But the mother's suffering was immeasurable, and then he offered to return his son to Cleopatra so that he would be near her. But John, turning to his mother, begged her not to take him, and the woman resigned herself.
After the burial of her son, she gave away all her property and settled in the church. She spent all her days in fasting and praying to Saint Ouar. And seven years later she died with a smile on her lips.
Saint War: icon
Orthodox Christians commemorate the saint on the nineteenth of October. On this day, it is supposed to come to church, put candles and pray to the holy martyr, remembering his feat.
On many icons Uar is depicted in military attire. On his shoulders is a scarlet cloak, symbolizing the blood shed for his God and faith in Him. The saint usually holds a sword and a cross in his hands, and a quiver witharrows. On one shoulder of the martyr, a taut string of a bow can be seen.
Orthodox believe that it is necessary to pray to the saint. It helps in many situations, and therefore such an icon in the house is simply necessary. Moreover, Saint Ouar is considered the patron of those who must hide their faith and cannot declare it openly.
Besides, it is at this icon that relatives can pray to alleviate the fate of their loved ones who have decided on the terrible sin of suicide. However, do not do it on your own whim, be sure to consult with the priest and ask for his blessing for the hard work of praying for the sinner.
