New Martyr19th century

Monastic Martyr Gerasimus the New of Carpenision

c. 1787 – 1812

Also known as Gerasimus of Karpenisi · George

A young man who, having fallen away under pressure, repented and became a monk, then returned to confess Christ openly and was hanged for the faith under the Turks.

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Commemorated as

The Holy Monastic Martyr Gerasimus the New of Carpenision

Life

Gerasimus the New of Carpenision was a Greek monastic of the early nineteenth century who is venerated as a New Martyr under Ottoman rule. Born George in the village of Megalo Chorio near Karpenisi (Carpenision) in central Greece, he fell away from the Christian faith as a youth while living in Constantinople, later repented, became a monk on Mount Athos, and returned to Constantinople to confess Christ openly, where he was put to death in 1812.

He is commemorated on July 3 and is counted among the New Martyrs who suffered during the centuries of Turkish rule over the Greek lands.

Kontakion & Troparion2 hymnsReadHide

KontakionTone 2

(Podoben: “Seeking the things on high...”) You were made manifest by your splendor as a bright star,
proclaiming Christ to the temporal world, O Martyr Gerasimos,
and by vanquishing the allurement of false gods,
you granted true light to the faithful,
always interceding on behalf of us all.

Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).

TroparionTone 3

(Podoben: “The entire world has found you to be a great champion in times of peril...”) O gift of honor to the Church,
divinely bright flame of Evrytania, and boast of the New Martyrs,
you longed for Christ through asceticism and confessed God by martrydom.
O Monastic Martyr Gerasimos,
through the intercessions of the Mother of God, entreat Him that our souls may be saved.

Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).

Timeline6 momentsReadHide

c. 1787Born George in Megalo ChorioBorn George in Megalo Chorio, near Karpenisi (Carpenision), in central Greece.
c. 1798At about eleven years of age heAt about eleven years of age he moves to Constantinople to live with a relative who was a grocer.
youthSheltered by a Muslim household after aSheltered by a Muslim household after a mishap at work, he is induced to accept circumcision and falls into apostasy, remaining in the household before being sent on to Bulgaria and Bosnia.
laterHe returns to Megalo ChorioHe returns to Megalo Chorio, repents of his apostasy, and attends church faithfully for three years.
before 1812He travels to Mount Athos and entersHe travels to Mount Athos and enters the Skete of Saint Panteleimon under the elder Cyril; a year later he is tonsured a monk with the name Gerasimus.
July 3, 1812Having returned to Constantinople to confess ChristHaving returned to Constantinople to confess Christ openly, he is arrested, imprisoned, and put to death for the faith.

Contributions & Legacy

5 contributionsReadHide

Early Life and Apostasy

According to the synaxarion, the saint was born George in Megalo Chorio, a village near Karpenisi (Carpenision) in central Greece. At about eleven years old he was sent to Constantinople to live with a relative who kept a grocery.

After an accident in which he broke goods belonging to his employer, a Muslim woman took him into her household. When the woman's husband was preparing his own sons for circumcision, George, out of gratitude to those who had sheltered him, agreed to be circumcised as well, and so fell away from the Christian faith. He is said to have remained in the household for two years before being handed over to a Muslim official and taken to Bulgaria and Bosnia.

Repentance and Monastic Life

The synaxarion relates that George eventually returned to his native Megalo Chorio, where he repented of his apostasy and attended church faithfully for three years.

He then joined a monk named Gerasimus who was traveling to Mount Athos, and entered the Skete of Saint Panteleimon under the spiritual direction of an elder named Cyril. A year later he was tonsured to the monastic life and given the name Gerasimus.

Confession and Martyrdom

By tradition, the monk Gerasimus returned to Constantinople and sought out the Muslim household of his earlier years, openly declaring that he had been born an Orthodox Christian and intended to die one. Refusing to conceal or renounce his faith, he was arrested and imprisoned.

The synaxarion records that he was subjected to torments during his imprisonment yet remained steadfast in his confession. He was put to death for the faith on July 3, 1812, in Constantinople, at the age of twenty-five.

Relics & Shrines

The synaxarion relates that the martyr's remains were first buried on the island of Proti, later transferred to the Holy Monastery of Prousos, and in 1971 brought to a church dedicated to his name in his native village of Megalo Chorio.

Portions of his relics are said to be distributed among several monasteries.

Miracles & Traditions

Historically Documented: The sources consulted record his veneration as a New Martyr, the July 3 commemoration, and the burial and successive transfers of his relics.

Traditional Accounts: The synaxarion preserves the account of his bearing at the place of execution, where he is said to have knelt and faced east, and when turned away by the executioner, turned again toward the east.

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Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Lives of the Saints