Matthew

Holy New Martyr Matthew was born around 1670 in Gerakari, in the Amari district belonging to the diocese of Lampi and Sphakia in Crete, and received the crown of martyrdom at Rethymno on 18 August 1697. Crete was then subject to the Turks, who persecuted and tortured Christians. Matthew's father was a priest, which helped the young man to be raised in Christian values and virtues.

The devil, envious of these virtues, led him into a grave fault: those of other faiths chose him to marry the Ottoman woman Ayse, so that he would embrace Islam. After a short time he realised his terrible mistake, repented deeply and returned to his faith and Church as a secret Christian. But he could not hide his faith: morning and evening he made the sign of the cross, and his Ottoman wife, angered, denounced him to the Turkish judge of Rethymno, who summoned him to answer. The saint stood boldly before the judges and openly confessed his love for Christ. The court sentenced him to death by beheading, and Matthew departed to the Lord on 18 August 1697.

His martyred body was carried to his native village of Gerakari, where Christians buried it with honour at a place still called "Mathios's grave". A church was built on the same spot in his honour. Matthew is a pride of Crete: though he had changed his faith, he returned repentant to Orthodoxy. He is commemorated on 18 August, in the calendar of the Church of Greece (new style).