John Kalfas

New Martyr John Kalfas the cabinetmaker of Galata, who suffered in Constantinople.

St. John was born in Galata in Constantinople and worked as a skilled cabinetmaker in the Sultan's palace and for other Turkish officials. When he spoke openly about the Christian faith to a young Muslim he had taken on as apprentice, he was denounced and pressed to embrace Islam.

He refused, endured imprisonment and torture, and was beheaded in Constantinople in 1575.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, John Kalfas is commemorated on February 26. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on March 11 (a day earlier in leap years) of the civil calendar.

Also commemorated on February 26

• 

  Porphyrios

  Hierarch, Πορφύριος

  Bishop of Gaza.

  Name days: Porphyrios, Porfyrios, Porfyris

• Photini the Samaritan Woman

  Holy Woman, Φωτεινή η Σαμαρείτις

  Great Martyr Photini the Samaritan Woman, Equal-to-the-Apostles, who spoke with Christ at the well.

  Name days: Photis, Fotini, Photini, Foteini, Fotoula, Fay, Svetlana

• Companions of Photini

  Saint, Ανατολή, Φωτώ, Φωτίς, Παρασκευή, Κυριακή, Βίκτωρ και Ιωσής

  Sts. Anatole, Photo, Photis, Paraskevi and Kyriaki, sisters of St. Photini, her sons Victor and Joses, and the duke Sebastian.

• Theokletos the Martyr

  Martyr, Θεόκλητος

  Holy Martyr Theokletos, the former sorcerer who believed through St. Photini.

  Name days: Theokletos, Theoklitos

• Sebastian of Poshekhonye

  Venerable, Σεβαστιανός του Ποσεσόνε

  Venerable Sebastian of Poshekhonye, founder of the Transfiguration Monastery.