Nicholas of Metsovo

Holy New Martyr Nicholas of Metsovo, called Nicholas Basdanis, was born at Metsovo in Epirus to poor but devout Orthodox parents. As a young man he went to Trikkala in Thessaly, where he worked as an assistant to a Muslim baker. There some Turks tried to convert him, and yielding to their persistent efforts he embraced Islam. Later, realizing the gravity of his sin, he returned to Metsovo and to the Orthodox Church.

He earned some extra money by taking wood to Trikkala and selling it. This went on for some time, until a Muslim barber, a friend of the baker, recognized him and wondered why he was no longer dressed as a Turk. Stricken with fear, Nicholas gave him the load of wood, promising to bring him more every year if he kept his secret. The barber agreed, and things continued that way for a long time. But Nicholas was troubled by his conscience and believed that the only way to atone for denying Christ was to become a martyr. He spoke of this to his spiritual father at the monastery of Meteora, who advised him not to be hasty, lest he be unable to endure the torture and deny Christ again. Seeing Nicholas determined, the priest strengthened him spiritually for the contest.

When he felt ready, Nicholas returned to Trikkala to see the barber. The man asked about the wood he had promised, and Nicholas told him he had none and would bring none in future. The barber became angry and denounced him to the authorities as having rejected Islam, and summoned other Turks to take him to the kadi. In answer to the kadi's questions Nicholas freely admitted that he had converted to Islam but then repented and returned to his Christian faith. Fearlessly he told the Muslims that he was born a Christian and intended to die a Christian, no matter how they might torture him. The kadi tried flattery and promises of riches, and when this failed, threatened him with horrible torments and death. Nicholas refused, was beaten and thrown into prison, where he received nothing to eat or drink for some time. Twice more he was brought before the kadi with the same result, and the kadi sentenced him to death. A large fire was lit in the marketplace, and the holy martyr was thrown into it on 16 May 1617. By enduring this fire he escaped the fire of Gehenna.

Later a pious Christian went to that place hoping to obtain relics. Since the saint's body was being guarded, he had to pay a large sum for the skull. He took it home and hid it inside a wall so that the Muslims would not find it. In time an Orthodox Christian named Melandros bought the house. On the night of 17 May 1618 he noticed a bright light shining from the wall of one of the rooms. In the morning he opened the wall and found the skull of the New Martyr Nicholas. He brought it to Barlaam Monastery at Meteora, where his brother was a monk, and donated the relic to the monastery in remembrance of himself and his family. The New Martyr Nicholas, also known as Nicholas the Vlach, is commemorated on 17 May in Greek usage. The OCA calendar lists him on 16 May (new style; 29 May on the old calendar).