Today, Saturday, (16.8.2025) according to panelhonored the memory of St. Alkibiados Martyr, Saint Gerasimos Neo Askitos, St. Diomedos Martyr, finding Holy Relics of Saint Seraphim and Sarantis, St. Apostle of the New (Saint Lavrentios Pelion) and Agios Stamatios.
The names that celebrate today, according to the calendar, are:
- Alcibiades, Alkis, Altsos,
- Gerasimos, Makis, Mikes, Mikis, Gerasimoula*,
- Diomedes,
- Seraphim, Seraphimia, Seraphima, Seraphina, Seraphimi, Seraphimula, Seraphimitsa*,
- Sarantis, Sarantos, Saranto, Sarantoula*,
- Apostolos, Tolis, Apostolis, Lakis, Apostolia, Lia, Apostolina, Polina, Lina*,
- Stamatis, Stamatios, Stamos, Stamoulis, Stamelos, Stamelis, Stamelas, Stamatia, Mata, Matoula, Matina, Stamatina, Stamata, Stamela, Stamoula, Stamati, Mato, Stamatella*.
Saint Stamatios from Volos
Saint Neo -martyr Stamatios came from a village in Volos, Agios Georgios, Dimitriados province.
Sometimes it happened to come to their area to raise the tax of the Harachi. This Agas was very oppressive in the tax collection, arbitrary, abolished and unjustly Christians.
Desperate, the residents decided to send a delegation to Constantinople, to the High Gate, maybe they find their right.
Among the members of the delegation was Stamatius. So they appeared to Vizier and began to complain about the injustices of Aga.
But Veziris, because he was a friend of the tax collector, ordered them to throw them out by pushing them and hitting them. Some of the delegation, including the Saint, were strongly protesting and shouting at the injustice.
At that time some Turkish officials, friends of Aga, stood out and took him to Veziris, falsely martyred and slandered the saint that he had become a Turk and now appears as a Christian.
The Saint naturally denied the category in front of Vizier. But he sent him to these judges responsible for these cases, where the Saint again denied the accusation, saying he was slander.
The judge then says to him, “And if you didn’t, be now.” The Holy Witness in his great voice replied: “Don’t be so foolish and deny my Christ. Better to die and be with my Christ than to live in this world with myriad pleasures and glory. “
Seeing the stability of the witness, the judge sent him to Vezir, who tried in many ways, flattery, promises, honors and office to convince the witness. He even promised to do it.
The Saint for the second time with a loud voice consistently confessed his faith in Christ, saying: “I have wealth and glory and honor I have my Christ, who has a residence in heaven, glory and life eternal. Your prices and glory are perishable and futile and quickly get lost with those who seek them. “
Vizier ordered to be imprisoned and tortured. After a few days, he ordered him to bring him back in front of him, where he again tried with lures and scareds to persuade him. For the last time the witness replied: “Even with myrrh deaths to condemn me, I do not deny my Christ. I am ready to torment for his name all my life. “
Then Viziris was angry at the governor to kill him. He was beheaded on August 16, 1680 AD. Monday, in front of the Royal Palace, in Hagia Sophia.
*There are other dates that celebrate this name.