Gideon

Holy Venerable Martyr Gideon (Gideon of Karakallou) was born in the village of Kapourna in the region of Demetrias (Magnesia), with the lay name Nicholas, and died as a new martyr on 30 December 1818 at Tyrnavos. His pious parents were called Avgerinos and Kyratza, and he had brothers and sisters.

At twelve he came with his family to the village of Gierme, then to Velestino, where he worked with his uncle. A Turk, however, took him by force and made him a Muslim, with the name Ibrahim. After two months Nicholas succeeded in escaping and returned to his family. His father sent him secretly to Keramidi, from where, with some builders, he went to Crete. There he confessed to a priest and found shelter in his chapel. After the priest's death he went to the Holy Mountain. There too he confessed and communed of the Immaculate Mysteries, then was tonsured a monk with the name Gideon at Karakallou Monastery, where the Fathers entrusted him with the obedience of sacristan.

With a longing for martyrdom, he came to Velestino, to the place where he had denied the faith, and boldly confessed Christ in the marketplace. Pursued by the Turks, he reached Agia, where he was seized. The Turks mocked him in the streets of Tyrnavos, then cut off his feet and hands and threw him into a latrine. There, in terrible pain, he gave up his spirit on 30 December 1818. His honoured head was placed on the Holy Table of the metropolitan church of Tyrnavos, the Panagia Phaneromeni.