September 8: Saint Neomartyr Athanasios Koulakiotis celebrates in Thessalonikitranslated

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...