New MartyrUnknown

Martyr Christos of Preveza

17th century (martyred 1668)

Also known as Christos

A martyr of Preveza; few details of his life are preserved.

August 5New Calendar

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Commemorated as

The Holy New Martyr Christos of Preveza

Life

Christos of Preveza was a Greek New Martyr of the Ottoman period, a sailor from the town of Preveza in western Greece who suffered death for his Christian faith on the island of Kos on 5 August 1668. According to the surviving account he served aboard a frigate, and when janissaries in the harbour mocked and insulted his faith he answered boldly, making the sign of the cross and reciting the Creed aloud. Brought before the local pasha and commanded to renounce Christianity, he refused, and was beaten, stabbed, and burned outside the city.

For nearly three centuries his martyrdom was forgotten. The narration of his passion survived only in a manuscript codex preserved at the Monastery of Great Lavra on Mount Athos, recorded by an Athonite hieromonk who had heard the martyr's confession at Kos. The account was rediscovered in 1971, and his first solemn commemoration followed in 1972 — roughly three hundred years after his death. He is honoured especially in his birthplace of Preveza and is commemorated in the Orthodox Church on August 5.

Troparion & Kontakion2 hymnsReadHide

TroparionTone 3

Your holy martyr Christos, O Lord,
through his sufferings has received an incorruptible crown from You, our God.
For having Your strength, he laid low his adversaries,
and shattered the powerless boldness of demons.
Through his intercessions, save our souls!

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

KontakionTone 2

(Podoben: “You sought the heights...”) You appeared as a bright star announcing Christ with your radiance,
which is repulsive to this world, O Martyr Christos;
extinguishing the allure of false gods,
you enlighten the faithful,
always interceding for us all.

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

Timeline4 momentsReadHide

17th centuryOrigin in PrevezaChristos is born in Preveza, in western Greece, then under Ottoman rule, and becomes a sailor serving aboard a frigate.
August 5, 1668Martyrdom on KosWhile in the port of Kos, Christos is mocked by janissaries for his faith. He boldly confesses Christ and recites the Creed. Brought before the pasha and ordered to renounce Christianity, he refuses; he is stabbed and then burned outside the city.
1971Rediscovery of the accountThe narration of his martyrdom — written by an Athonite hieromonk who had confessed him at Kos — is rediscovered in the codex known as 'The Grammatika' at the Monastery of Great Lavra on Mount Athos.
1972First solemn commemorationAbout three centuries after his death, the saint is solemnly commemorated for the first time; an official copy of the martyrdom account from the abbot of Great Lavra is dated March 25, 1972.

Contributions & Legacy

3 contributionsReadHide

Historical Context

Christos belongs to the company of the New Martyrs — Orthodox Christians who suffered death under Ottoman rule for confessing Christ rather than embracing Islam. His confession before the janissaries and the pasha at Kos follows the characteristic pattern of these accounts: a public profession of faith, a demand to apostatize, refusal, and execution.

His occupation as a sailor places him among the seafaring populations of Ottoman-era Greece. The surviving account states that he served on a frigate; one source notes the vessel had come from Crete.

Relics & Shrines

According to the surviving account, the martyr's body remained unburied for thirty days, after which pious Christians obtained portions of his relics, which were distributed among the faithful, including the Athonite monk who recorded his passion.

He is honoured especially in his birthplace of Preveza.

Sources & Rediscovery

The Orthodox Church in America preserves only his name and feast day, giving no biographical detail. The fuller account of his life rests on a manuscript codex called 'The Grammatika', kept at the Monastery of Great Lavra on Mount Athos and written by a hieromonk who had heard the martyr's confession at Kos in 1668. This account was rediscovered in 1971, and an official copy from the abbot of Great Lavra is dated March 25, 1972; his first solemn commemoration followed that same year.

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