Agios Minas and Herakliontranslated

Heraklion, Crete, is directly connected to today's honored Saint Minas, as he has been the protector and patron of the city since the time of the Turkish occupation. But how did it become established that the Saint is honored as the patron saint of the city?

The miracle Agios Minas was established as the patron saint of Heraklion during the Turkish occupation. The different religion of Cretans and Turks was the main cause of violence by Muslims against Christians.

Tradition says that on Easter 1826, while the Christians were gathered in the church and watching the service of the Resurrection, a mob of Muslims prepared a massacre against them, which was prevented by the intervention of an elderly cavalry officer. This horseman looked like the first lad of the Turks, Ayan Aga, who calmed them down and prevented them from massacring the Christians. The Christians attributed this intervention of the mysterious horseman to a miracle of Saint Minas, believing that he was the one who presented himself to the Turks and not Ayan Agas.

But even if the Turks were right and Saint Minas was not the mounted officer, it was a miracle that the Turkish persecutor of the Christians (Ayan Agas) acted as…