Panagos

Holy New Martyr Panagos was from Gastouni in Elis in the Peloponnese and died a martyr by beheading on 1 March 1716, together with Holy Hieromartyr Christos. Their commemoration is on 9 March (new style).

His parents had converted to Islam under Turkish pressure, but Panagos grew up in the fear of God. Under Venetian rule he had been elected several times a councillor of Gastouni. In 1715, when the Turks reconquered the Peloponnese, the governor Osman summoned him to renounce the faith, and Panagos answered without fear that he had been raised a Christian and that Christ was his breath, boast and joy. The pasha advised him to go to Corfu, but Panagos fell ill. Summoned again, he confessed firmly before Murat Agha and went gladly of his own will to the place of execution.

He was beheaded. His body lay unburied for two days and was not touched by dogs or birds; the executioners cut off his head, roasted it and threw it away, but even so it was not touched. On the fourth day the Christians buried him in the church of Saint Nicholas at Gastouni.