Having learned in advance about his death, the saint gave his last instructions to the brethren. His body was buried in the narthex of the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity. When the tomb was opened several years later, the relics of the saint were found streaming myrrh and fragrant. Numerous miracles emanated from them, and the head, jaw and right hand were removed from the tomb and placed in special reliquaries so that they could be transferred to other places for worship.
In 1890, the honest head was stolen in the city of Nigrita, where it was temporarily located at the request of believers. Other parts of the relics are currently kept in the monastery compound of Skala (New Monastery of St. Dionysius of Olympia), 3 km from Litochoro.
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Holy Martyr Theodore of Mytilene († 1784, commemorated January 30)
Blessed Theodore was from Mytilene and had a wife and children. One day, angry about something, he denied Christ and accepted Mohammedanism, but then, when the darkness dissipated and he came to his senses, he repented of his foolish deed and, leaving his homeland, arrived at the Holy Mountain. Here he confessed his sin to one confessor and fulfilled the penance assigned to him; then he was anointed with the sacred myrrh and thus, being numbered among the verbal flock of Christ, began to strive in spiritual exploits, and had been struggling for quite some time. But his soul, not having complete peace, was not satisfied with these exploits: it always strived for another, higher feat, as if demanding that his criminal renunciation of Christ be washed away with blood. So, the blessed one, having been strengthened by the prayer of his spiritual father, returned to his fatherland, appeared before the judge of that place and asked him whether he who was offended or ridiculed could have the right to seek satisfaction.
“Of course it can,” answered the judge. The martyr said:
– I had the Christian faith, but, being darkened by the devil, I left it and accepted yours. Now I have come to my senses and see that my faith is genuine and good gold, and yours is an insignificant metal, - and with these words, taking off the bandage from my head, he throws it before the judge, and he himself puts on the black skufia that he had in his bosom.
-What are you doing, stupid? Are you crazy? - the wicked judge cried angrily.
“No,” answered the martyr, “I am conscious and full of reason.”
Seeing the passion-bearer firm and unshakable in his confession of the faith of Christ, the judge sentenced him to death. Having reached the place of execution, the martyr said a prayer and, having asked forgiveness from all the Christians who had happened there, he himself climbed onto a high stone, lovingly kissed the rope of the gallows, and in a few minutes his blessed soul appeared before the throne of Eternal Truth. The honest martyr's relics were thrown into the sea, but a few days later the sea washed them ashore, which is why the Christians, having taken permission from the judge, honestly buried them at the Church of St. John the Baptist. Then, however, they were not in their place: they looked for them, but in vain, they have not been found to this day, and no one knows what happened to them. But to the wondrous God in His saints be glory and dominion forever. Amen. St. Martyr Theodore suffered in 1784.
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Prmch. Ilia Ardunis († 1686, commemorated January 31)
The Venerable Martyr Elijah Ardunis was from Morea. He had prudence and was experienced in everyday affairs, for which he enjoyed the respect of the Turkish elders, who often consulted with him. Once, when in a conversation with Muslims it came to the exorbitant taxes levied on the Christian population, Elijah, in the heat of an argument, declared that the intolerable situation of Christians could lead to the adoption of Islam by all Greeks, and added that if he were offered a red fez, he would change his religion. One of the Turks, taking him at his word, bought a fez for Elijah, and he, coming to the judge, declared himself a Muslim.
After some time, the saint felt repentance, retired to the Holy Mountain, confessed his sin and, having fulfilled the penance imposed on him, was returned to the bosom of the Church through Chrismation. Then he took monastic vows and lived on Mount Athos for 8 years.
Despite his strict asceticism, remorse did not leave him. Having received the blessing of his confessor for martyrdom, Elijah went to Kalama. When the Turks who recognized him asked if he was Mustafa Ardunis, he replied that now he was not Mustafa, but the Christian Elijah, and began to denounce the Muslims. faith. Having beaten the saint, the Turks took him to the judge, saying that he had converted to Islam of his own free will, and now he was blaspheming him. The judge ordered Ardounis to be thrown into prison and tortured. After some time, he was again brought to trial, but he remained steadfast in his faith. Then the judge sentenced Elijah to be burned at the stake. On the way to the place of execution, one of the servants inflicted a deep wound on the saint, hitting him on the back with a saber. When the body of the venerable martyr was taken out of the fire, it, like the cassock, miraculously turned out to be untouched by the fire.
At night, a light was visible above the body of the holy martyr. Christians, having collected a significant amount of money, bought the relics of the saint from the Turks. The honest head of Elijah Ardunis is kept in the Vulcanu monastery, and healings occur from it.