Memory of Saint Georgios (Karslidis) of Drama

Our Holy Church celebrates the memory of the modern Saint Georgios (Karslidis) of Drama. Saint Georgios Karslidis was born in Argyroupoli, Pontus, in 1901. While he was still an infant, his parents died on the same day. While still a child, he prayed constantly. At the age of seven, he went on a pilgrimage to venerate Panagia Soumela. He became a Novice monk there. In 1919, he was tonsured a monk. Soon afterwards, he was ordained a deacon. Because of the persecution against the Christians, he fled to Georgia.

During the days of the persecution of the Church in Georgia, the young deacon was arrested by the regime, imprisoned, and tortured. He was even sentenced to death by firing squad. He was shot, but survived miraculously!

In 1925, he was ordained a Presbyter. In 1929, Karslidis settled in the village of Taxiarches (Sipsa), in Drama, Northern Greece, where he lived the remaining thirty years of his life, displaced from his motherland, as were the rest of the Pontians.

He was condemned to death in 1941, but was again miraculously saved to continue his venerable life in Christ with patience and humiliation. He fell asleep in the Lord on November 4, 1959. Venerable Georgios…