John of Tourkolekas

Holy New Martyr John of Tourkolekas in Messenia, put to death by the Turks as a boy.

John was born in the village of Tourkolekas in Messenia in the early nineteenth century, into a family of klephts of the Peloponnese. Taken captive by the Turks as a boy with his father, he was pressed to deny Christ and accept Islam.

Tradition relates that he refused steadfastly and was killed in 1816. He was numbered among the saints by the Church of Greece in recent years.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, John of Tourkolekas is commemorated on October 16. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on October 29 of the civil calendar.

Also commemorated on October 16

• 

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