New Martyr
George Psirikoulis
Deacon of Chios
A deacon of Chios, killed by the Ottomans on Chios in 1822; canonized in 2021 by the Church of Greece.
- Reposed
- 182219th century
- Place
- Chios
- Order
- Martyrs
Life
George Psirikoulis was a deacon on the island of Chios. He was killed by the Ottomans on Chios in 1822, and the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece numbered him among the saints on 15 July 2021, on the proposal of Metropolitan Markos of Chios. His commemoration, together with that of the other martyrs of Chios, is kept on the Sunday of the Paralytic, at the metropolitan church of Chios.
Chios was laid waste in the spring of 1822, when the Ottomans moved against the island: thousands were slaughtered, others sold as slaves, and monasteries and churches were burned or plundered. Our sources say no more about his earlier life or the circumstances of his death.