John of Monemvasia

Holy New Martyr John of Monemvasia, who died for Christ in Larissa in 1773.

John was born in 1758 in a village near Monemvasia, the son of a priest. In 1770 Albanian raiders killed his father and carried the boy and his mother into slavery in Larissa, where his Turkish master tried by every means to make him accept Islam.

He refused steadfastly for three years, and in 1773, at the age of fifteen, he was stabbed by his master and died confessing Christ.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, John of Monemvasia is commemorated on October 21. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on November 3 of the civil calendar.

Also commemorated on October 21

• 

  Hilarion the Great

  Venerable, Ιλαρίων

  Venerable Hilarion the Great, father of Palestinian monasticism.

  Name days: Ilarion, Ilarionas

• Philotheos of Athos

  Venerable, Φιλόθεος ο Αγιορείτης

  Venerable Philotheos of Dionysiou, ascetic of Mount Athos.

  Name days: Philotheos, Filotheos, Philotheus

• Theodote and Socrates

  Holy Woman, Θεοδότη και Σωκράτης

  Holy Martyrs Theodote and Socrates the Presbyter of Ancyra.

  Name days: Sokratis, Socrates, Theodoti, Theodote

• Christodoulos of Patmos (Translation of Relics)

  Venerable, Χριστόδουλος ο εν Πάτμω

  Translation of the relics of Venerable Christodoulos, founder of the Monastery of Saint John on Patmos.

• Gaius, Dasius and Zotikos

  Martyr, Γάιος, Δάσιος και Ζωτικός

  Holy Martyrs Gaius, Dasius and Zotikos, drowned at Nicomedia.

• Ursula the Virgin

  Holy Woman, Ούρσουλα

  Holy Virgin Martyr Ursula of Cologne and her companions.

  Name days: Ursula