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September 8: Saint Neomartyr Athanasios Koulakiotis celebrates in Thessalonikitranslated

September 8, 2026 · 1 min read

Today, September 8, our Church celebrates the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos and the memory of the Holy Neomartyr Athanasios of Koulakiotis.

By LAMBROS K. SKONTZOU, Theologian - Professor

Saint Neomartys Athanasios Koulakiotis in Thessaloniki The holy city of Thessaloniki, in addition to great Fathers of our Church, also produced many New Martyrs in the dark years of the Turkish occupation, who shed their precious blood for their faith in Christ and their love for the freedom of their country. One of them was the holy neomartyr Athanasios Koulakiotis.

He was born around 1749 in the village of Koulakia in Thessaloniki, today's Chalastra, to pious and wealthy parents, Polychron and Louloudos, who planted in his soul the saving seed of the Orthodox faith, the only faith, which alone leads to salvation. His father was the provost of the area and enjoyed the respect and esteem of the residents.

When Athanasios reached the age of apprenticeship he decided to study him, sending him to the best teachers in the area. At that time, the famous teacher Athanasios the Parius was teaching in Thessaloniki...

Source: Orthodoxia News Agency · Read the full story →

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Полина Киселёва

Thank you for reminding us about our saint. It is interesting that his father Polychron was the headman in Kulyakia and everyone respected him - this is probably why he was able to send his son to study with Athanasius of Paria himself. But the village is now called Halastra, very close to Thessaloniki.

Cristina López

Thanks for the article. It caught my attention that Saint Athanasius' father, Polychron, was the head of the town and that is why he was able to send him to study with the famous Athanasius of Paros. Today the town is called Halastra, as Polina says, and it is close to Thessaloniki. It is always good to remember these martyrs around here.