Some time after his baptism, Konstantin began to ask the elder to go to the Iveron Monastery, venerate the icon of the Mother of God the Goalkeeper and, as promised, light a candle in front of Her holy icon. Having received the blessing, he went there with one monk from the monastery brethren. Having venerated the holy icon, on the way back they went to the Forerunner Skete, since even before this Constantine had heard that the great elder-confessor was silent there, who had recently sent to the Lord three of his disciples who had suffered for confessing the name of Jesus Christ, and that parts of their holy relics were in this skete. Seeing the holy relics, he reverently bowed and kissed them, and at that moment his heart beat joyfully and a desire was born to follow the path of these holy martyrs, to be jealous of their lives and then to suffer for the love of Jesus Christ, who led him from darkness to the light of true knowledge.
The confessor, talking with Constantine about spiritual benefits, among other things, told him about the suffering of the holy martyrs of his disciples, which made Constantine’s heart even warmer and the idea of suffering for Christ was confirmed. The elder appointed him to remain in seclusion in complete silence, fasting and prayer for forty days and rely on the will of God.
After this, Saint Constantine, having received a blessing, confessed his faith in Christ before the Turks. After many cruel tortures, the judge ordered him to be strangled. Saint Constantine began his suffering feat for the Lord Jesus Christ on April 23, and ended on June 2, 1819.
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Icons of the Mother of God “It is Worthy to Eat” or the Merciful One and the Monk of Karey, meritorious of the appearance of the Archangel Gabriel (X, commemorated June 11)
Troparion, Tone 4th All the Athonite multitudes of the Fathers, gather together, truly celebrating, today, rejoicing and brightly exclaiming all in joy, the Mother of God is now gloriously sung by the Angel. Moreover, like the Mother of God, we glorify Her evermore. (twice).
Troparion, the same voice of Glory, and now: Let us, faithfully, boldly approach the merciful Queen Theotokos and tenderly cry to Her: send down upon us Your rich mercies: Save our Church, Keep people in prosperity, deliver our land from every situation, grant peace to the world and salvation to our souls.