Venerable-Martyr 15th century

Monastic Martyr Anthony of Karyes

second half of the 15th century – February 4, 1516

Also known as Anthony of Kareotis · Onouphrios

A man of the Ukrainian land, baptized Onouphrios, who in deep repentance for a killing embraced the monastic life at Karyes on Mount Athos and ended his days as a martyr before 1506.

Feast Day

February 4

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Commemorated as

The Holy Monastic Martyr Anthony of Karyes

Life

Anthony of Karyes was a Ruthenian monk of the Ukrainian land who, in repentance for a killing committed in his youth, embraced the monastic life and ultimately sought and received a martyr's death at Thessaloniki. Baptized Onouphrios by his Orthodox parents, he was a Galician Ruthenian from the region of western Ukraine, then within the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. According to his life, a grave sin in his youth — the killing of a man in a fight — awakened in him profound guilt and genuine repentance.

Seeking atonement, he entered the Annunciation Monastery at Supraśl, in Poland, where the hieromonk Paphnoutios tonsured him with the name Anthony. The memory of his sin drove him onward to Mount Athos, where he settled in the cell of Saint Savva of Serbia at Karyes, known as the Typikario, and lived in strict asceticism. His desire to atone through martyrdom eventually led him to Thessaloniki, where he openly confessed Christ in a church that had been converted into a mosque, and was put to death by fire.

Timeline 4 moments Read Hide

second half of the 15th century Birth in western Ukraine Born a Galician Ruthenian in the region of western Ukraine, then part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and baptized Onouphrios by his Orthodox parents.
before 1506 Tonsure at Supraśl After a killing committed in his youth and the repentance it provoked, he entered the Annunciation Monastery at Supraśl, where the hieromonk Paphnoutios tonsured him and gave him the name Anthony. The monastery had been established in 1498 and Paphnoutios reposed in 1510, placing his entry within those years.
early 16th century Ascetic life at Karyes on Mount Athos Directed to Mount Athos to continue his repentance, he settled in the cell of Saint Savva of Serbia at Karyes, known as the Typikario, and there practiced strict asceticism while seeking permission to pursue martyrdom abroad — a request that was initially denied.
February 4, 1516 Martyrdom at Thessaloniki He traveled to Thessaloniki and entered the Church of the Panagia Acheiropoietos, which the Turks had converted into a mosque, where he made the Sign of the Cross and prayed openly as a Christian. Brought before the city's ruler and refusing to deny Christ, he was tortured and then put to death by fire; his ashes were scattered to prevent Christian veneration.

Contributions & Legacy

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Repentance and Monastic Calling

The accounts of Anthony's life present him as a figure shaped by a single grave sin and the lifelong repentance it set in motion. By tradition he was of an angry temperament in youth, and the killing of a man — described as a fight or brawl — left him unable to find rest. His monastic path at Supraśl and then at Karyes is framed throughout as a deliberate answer to that guilt, culminating in his pursuit of martyrdom as a final act of atonement. His desire for a martyr's death is said to have been renewed by news of another contemporary martyr, the New Martyr George.

Confession and Death at Thessaloniki

Having been refused permission to seek martyrdom while on Athos, Anthony made his way to Thessaloniki, where he entered the Church of the Panagia Acheiropoietos — a Byzantine church converted to a mosque by Sultan Murad II in 1430. His open confession of Christ there provoked the Muslims of the city, and he was brought before the ruler, who sought to persuade him to apostatize. He refused, endured torture and, by one account, a prolonged fast in prison, and was finally given over to the flames. His remains were reduced to dust and scattered in the air so that they could not be venerated.

Veneration

Anthony is commemorated on February 4. The names by which he is known reflect his two stages of life, and the sources vary in assigning his baptismal and monastic names: the synaxarion tradition records Onouphrios as his baptismal name and Anthony as his monastic name. He is venerated among the saints of Mount Athos and of the Ukrainian and Ruthenian lands; the Polish Orthodox Church formally canonized him in 2005.

Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Feb 4