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September: How, why and for whose sake were the Holy Apostles saved from the Turkish mobtranslated

September 6, 2026 · 1 min read

Editor: Stelios Koukos

Excerpt from a speech by Elder Dositheos at the Priestly Assembly of the Priests of the Holy Metropolis of Ierapytni and Sitia held at the Holy Cathedral of Agia Fotini Ierapetra, on Monday, March 12, 2012.

In Septembriana, all the churches of the City and neighboring Metropolises suffered riots, destruction and unimaginable sacrileges. One, however, escaped. Which one? The Holy Apostles in Ferikioi.

What would happen on that terrible night, the so-called (that is, the Turks) had been known for many days. It became a topic of discussion among the patrons of the cafe opposite the holy church. The Turks chat among themselves. Some for, others against.

Someone intervenes.

- We must protect the Roman church, because in it, you all know, there is a priest who helps us in our needs, in our illnesses, in our poverty.

– Stop it, hey! Fairy tales! say the naysayers.

– I'll prove it to you! Immediately. I don't have a pound on me, look me up! I'll go to papa's house and bring you 500 pounds!

So he goes and knocks on the door. He begs for the money, saying he has…

Source: Orthodoxia News Agency · Read the full story →

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Василий Петров

An interesting story about the Turk who went to the priest for 500 liras. It is clear that even among the crowd there were people who remembered the good. But the Church of the Holy Apostles in Feriköy really survived, that’s a fact. Thank you for this story.

Michael Young

That story about the Turk knocking on the priest’s door for the 500 liras really stuck with me. It shows how one man’s kindness in hard times can ripple out and save a whole church, even when the mob was already planning the worst. The church in Feriköy still standing after all that makes the whole thing hit different.

Максим Васильев

Yes, Vasily, that Turk clearly did not forget how the priest helped him in difficult times. It is interesting that even in such a crowd there were voices for protecting the church. Have you been to Feriköy or just read about this place?