Nicholas Karaman of Smyrna

Holy Martyr Nicholas Karaman of Smyrna, also called Nicholas Kasseti, was a pious layman of Smyrna in the seventeenth century (1623-1657), hanged by the Turks on 19 March 1657 for not renouncing Christ.

In a quarrel, in the heat of the moment, he cried out that he would rather become a Turk than yield. The Turks who were present took him at once to the judge, demanding the fulfilment of his word. Nicholas, coming to himself, said firmly: "God forbid that I should ever deny my Lord Jesus Christ, the true God, who will come to judge the living and the dead." The judge, angered, ordered him beaten with staves and tormented in other ways, but the martyr went on confessing the faith of Christ, heedless even of the lamenting and entreaties of his mother and wife.

After thirty-⁠six days of torment he was hanged on 19 March 1657, at nine in the morning. To the end he strengthened the Christians of Smyrna in the faith of their fathers, and his steadfastness aroused the admiration even of the Latin foreigners who were in the city then. Some sailors among them drew from the sea the martyr's body, thrown there by the Turks, and carried it to Europe.

The Greek Church commemorates him twice: on the day of his death and on his name day. His memory is kept on 19 December, according to the Greek calendar, and on 1 April, according to the Greek calendar. Nicholas is not included in the present calendar of the Russian Orthodox Church.