New Martyrs Stamatios John, and Nicholas of Spetses

Stamatios, John, and Nicholas were three merchants martyred at Chios in 1822, during the early years of the Greek War of Independence. By tradition, Stamatios and John were brothers from the island of Spetses, sons of Theodoros Gkinis and his wife Anexos, while Nicholas was their business associate. The three are commemorated together as new martyrs on February 3.

According to the synaxarion accounts, the three were trading across the Aegean, carrying olive oil, when bad weather forced their vessel to put in near Tsesme (Cesme), on the Asia Minor coast opposite Chios. There they were seized by the Ottoman authorities. The sources relate that two members of their company were killed outright and two others drowned, while the three confessors were imprisoned in the castle of Chios.

Pressed for a week to embrace Islam, the three refused to renounce their faith. Nicholas, separated from the brothers, was taken first and beheaded after declaring that he had been born a Christian and would die a Christian. Stamatios and John, having received Holy Communion in prison, were led out to execution in the valley of Vounaki below the castle. The tradition records that John faltered at the sight of the swords and that Stamatios encouraged him to stand firm. Both were beheaded; Stamatios is remembered as eighteen years old and John as twenty-two.