Simeon the New Martyr

Holy Simeon the New Martyr was born in Trebizond but lived in Constantinople, where he worked as a goldsmith. Once he found himself in a scuffle between Christians and Turkish Jews and was slandered as having stabbed a Turkish Jew. He was seized and imprisoned for forty days. When the injured man's condition improved, Simeon was obliged to pay him 280 grosia for his care. Ten days after Simeon's release, the Turkish Jew died of his wounds, though he had seemed to improve. Simeon was arrested again, and the judge pressed him to become a Muslim in order to escape the death sentence. The martyr answered boldly: "Even if you give me ten thousand deaths, I will not be parted from the faith and love of Jesus Christ, my Lord and my God."

On 14 August 1653 they hanged him beneath a plane tree in Constantinople. His martyrdom was written by John Caryophyllis. He is commemorated on 14 August.