New Martyr 17th century

New-Martyr Angelis of Constantinople

died September 1, 1680

A new-martyr who confessed Christ at Constantinople (1680)

Feast Day

September 1

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Commemorated as

The Holy New-Martyr Angelis of Constantinople

Life

Angelis was a goldsmith of Constantinople who was martyred under Ottoman rule on September 1, 1680. According to the synaxarion he belonged to the parish of Saints Constantine and Helen in the Karaman quarter of the city and was married with six children. He is commemorated on September 1.

By tradition, his confession arose from an incident at a festive gathering at which Orthodox Christians and their Muslim neighbors drank together and playfully exchanged headgear. The following day a Muslim claimed that Angelis, by having worn a Turkish hat, had thereby converted to Islam. When Angelis denied any conversion, he was brought before the authorities and pressed to apostatize.

The accounts relate that, though he had shown little seriousness about his faith before this, Angelis boldly confessed Christ and refused to deny him despite offers of reward and threats of death. He was beheaded near the Church of Hagia Sophia, in front of the palace. His feast falls on September 1, the first day of the Orthodox ecclesiastical year.

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1680 Confession and martyrdom Accused of apostasy after exchanging headgear with Muslims, Angelis confessed Christ and was beheaded near Hagia Sophia on September 1.

Contributions & Legacy

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Martyrdom and Relics

One account names the official who pressed Angelis to apostatize as the Grand Vizier Kara Mustafa, who is said to have offered both rewards and threats before the saint was led to execution near Hagia Sophia.

The tradition relates that on the night following his death a mysterious light illumined his body, witnessed by both Orthodox Christians and Muslims. The Ottoman authorities are said to have ordered the body cast into the sea, but the Orthodox Furrier's Guild purchased it for three hundred grosia and conveyed it secretly by boat to the island of Proti (Kinaliada) in the Sea of Marmara, where it was buried at a monastery.

Sources: Synaxarion