Demetrius Tornaras

Holy New Martyr Demetrius Tornaras received the crown of martyrdom by beheading, in the time of Turkish rule. He is commemorated on 1 April. No information has been kept about his family or the place of his death. It is known that Demetrius Tornaras lived in the neighbourhood of the Turks and often spoke with them. Once the Turks began to force him to become a Muslim. Not wishing to renounce the Orthodox faith, they brought him to court and testified falsely that he had insulted Islam. The judge ordered him beaten and tortured until he would accept Mohammedanism. Seeing him unshaken, he gave the sentence of death, and Demetrius was beheaded.

Researchers disagree over the time of the saint's death. Archbishop Chrysostom of Athens mentions Demetrius Tornaras, killed on 19 March 1564, and a Demetrius Tournaras, who died a martyr on 14 March 1654. The Greek Religious and Christian Encyclopedia mentions Demetrius Tornaras, died on 19 March 1654. The New Martyrologion of Saint Nicodemus the Hagiorite and the Great Synaxaristes speak of Demetrius Tornaras, beheaded on 19 March 1564. It seems that it is the same saint, and as to the year, some researchers have erred. Because Chrysostom of Athens places the martyrdoms of Demetrius Tornaras and of John Koulikas side by side, who died a martyr in April 1564, the date to be reckoned correct for the death of Demetrius Tornaras is 19 March 1564.