Posts in category: Μεταξύ των Αγίων 1 – Καρακάλλου

But soon afterward, the desire for martyrdom made Gedeon once again leave the Monastery, where he had lived for a total of thirty-five years. He returned to the villages of Zagora and Velestino, presented himself to the judge, and confessed his faith to Christ. Instead of receiving the judgement he desired, he was simply driven out of the area by force. He next arrived at the town of Agia, where he presented himself to an official and attacked his religion. The governor reported the events to Veli Pasha of Tirnavos, who had Gedeon arrested at Kanalia, where he was brought before the ruler and boldly confessed his faith.
The ruler initially tried to change Gedeon's mind, but his efforts were in vain. Gedeon was subjected to many tortures, after which his limbs are amputated and he was left to die slowly and painfully. On, Gedeon died on 30 December 1818, and received the crown of martyrdom. The Christians secretly removed and buried his body behind the church of the Holy Apostles of Tyrnavos, which soon became the site of miracles. His memory is venerated on 30 December, especially in the Karakallos Monastery, where he spent most of his life and where most of his relics are kept.
The excesses and provocations in St Gedeon's behaviour are reminiscent of the so-called Fools for Christ, such as St Simeon the Stylite of the 6th century, or St Andrew of the 10th. They were devoutly religious eccentrics who, through the public humiliation they brought upon themselves by their deliberate actions, focused attention on the salvation of the soul as having priority over social normalcy, and revealed the moral self-esteem and hypocrisy of many.

Two months later, Nikolaos regretted his decision and escaped. He found his father, who secretly helped him flee to the village of Keramidi. From there, along with some craftsmen, he travelled to Crete. The craftsmen mistreated him, and he left them. After wandering around in a forest, the young Nicholas met a priest living near a small chapel. The priest had recently lost his only son and adopted Nicholas. When the priest died three years later, Nicholas left for Mt Athos. Eventually he reached the Karakallos Monastery, where he confessed, repented, and became a monk two months later, taking the name Gedeon.
He became a trusted and respected member of the faith, and in 1797 was appointed, along with the elderly Abbot Gabriel, to a dependency of the Transfiguration (Metamorphosis) Monastery, in the area of Rethymno, Crete. He returned to the Karakallos Monastery six years later, where he continued his practice. He was constantly remorseful about the denial of his faith.

The first of eight brothers, Nikolaos was born to Avgerinos and Kyritsa in the village of Kapourna near Makrynitsa, on Mt Pelion, during the era of Ottoman rule. Due to financial necessity, the family moved to another village, and from there when he was 12 years old, Nikolaos went to the city of Velestino, to work in a store belonging to a relative. An Ottoman customer saw Nikolaos' intelligence and aptitude and wanted to take him to work in his harem. Nikolaos' uncle repeatedly refused, but finally the child was taken by force.
About a year later, Nikolaos' father went to get him back, but the Ottoman managed to keep Nicholas, saying that when his own son returned from the war, he would free Nicholas. When the Ottoman's son returned from the war, he proposed to convert Nicholas to Islam and keep him. They succeeded in convincing him, and he agreed to be circumcised; his name was changed to Ibrahim.