John of Kulakia

Holy New Martyr John of Kulakia (John the Koulakiotis) came from Kulakia, now Chalastra (Pyrgos) near Thessalonica, and was a teacher. He was hanged at Thessalonica on 15 February 1776. The Church commemorates him on 15 February.

For a time he lived on the Holy Mountain, without it being known whether he received the monastic habit or remained a layman; he had a disciple named Argyris. While at Thessalonica, during a banquet with Turks, they claimed that he had told them he wished to become a Muslim too. John categorically rejected the claim, so he was led to the marketplace, probably the central market of the city, and executed without trial by hanging, on a Tuesday, at four in the morning, in the year 1776. After the hanging, the martyr's body was thrown into the sea. The service in his honour was composed by Saint Gerasimos Mikragiannanites and Archimandrite Joel Frangakos, now bishop of Edessa.