New Martyr 19th century

New Martyr Euthymius of Mount Athos

d. 1814

Also known as Eleutherius

A monk of Mount Athos, born in the Peloponnese, who after a fall returned in repentance and publicly confessed Christ at Constantinople, receiving the crown of martyrdom in 1814.

Feast Day

May 1

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Commemorated as

The Holy New Martyr Euthymius of Mount Athos

Life

Euthymius of Mount Athos was an Orthodox monk martyred at Constantinople in 1814. Born in the Peloponnese and baptized Eleutherius, he abandoned his intended monastic vocation while traveling abroad, embraced Islam under social pressure, and was renamed Reschid. Tormented by remorse, he escaped to Mount Athos, was received back into the Orthodox Church, and took monastic vows under the name Euthymius.

Resolving to atone for his apostasy through public confession, he returned to Constantinople, declared his Christian faith before the Ottoman authorities, and was beheaded on March 22, 1814. He is commemorated on May 1 together with two other Athonite new martyrs of the same era, Ignatius and Acacius.

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Early life Birth and upbringing in Demitsana Eleutherius was born in Demitsana in the Peloponnese to Panagiotes and Maria, the youngest of five children alongside George, Christos, John, and Katerina. After schooling in his hometown, he and his brother John traveled to Constantinople intending to study at the Patriarchal Academy, and later moved to Jassy in Romania, where their father conducted business.
Before 1814 Apostasy and return While at Bucharest awaiting passage to Mount Athos, with his journey delayed by conflict between Russia and Turkey, he abandoned his monastic plan. Traveling onward in the company of Muslims, he turned from Orthodoxy, embraced Islam, was circumcised, and was given the name Reschid. Conscience-stricken and eventually found wearing a cross, he escaped with the help of the Russian embassy to Mount Athos, where at the Great Lavra he was chrismated, received back into the Church, and tonsured a monk as Euthymius.
March 19, 1814 Return to Constantinople Inspired by reading the New Martyrologion of Saint Nikodemos the Hagiorite to seek martyrdom in expiation of his apostasy, Euthymius arrived in Constantinople in the company of the monk Gregory.
March 22, 1814 Confession and martyrdom After receiving Holy Communion on Palm Sunday, he set aside his monastic garb, dressed as a Muslim, and went to the palace of the Grand Vizier. There he openly confessed his Christian faith, denounced Mohammed, and trampled his turban underfoot. Refusing the Vizier's promises and threats to recant, he was beaten, imprisoned, and put to the sword around midday; when the first blows failed, the executioner cut his throat.

Contributions & Legacy

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Commemoration and Companions

Euthymius is commemorated on May 1 together with the New Martyrs Ignatius and Acacius, both also monks of Mount Athos who suffered in the same period, though the three were martyred separately and in different years. Their joint commemoration reflects a wider current of Athonite new-martyr witness during Ottoman rule, in which monks deliberately confessed Christ before the authorities, a practice encouraged by collections such as the New Martyrologion of Saint Nikodemos the Hagiorite.

Relics & Shrines

The head of Saint Euthymius is preserved at the Monastery of Saint Panteleimon on Mount Athos.

Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Lives of the Saints