Thomas of Zographou

Holy Venerable Martyr Thomas of Zographou, an abbot, received the crown of martyrdom on the Holy Mountain of Athos on 10 October, between the years 1274 and 1284, together with twenty-⁠five of his brethren of the Zographou Monastery.

In the year 1274 the emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos concluded the union with Rome, but most of the Athonite monasteries firmly refused to betray Orthodoxy and rebuked those who had strayed. For this the Holy Mountain was attacked by Latin troops and mercenaries, who tormented many monks. The Zographou Monastery, inhabited by Bulgarians, was especially vulnerable, because the emperor did not wish to estrange the Greeks and preferred to pour out his anger on monasteries of another people.

Learning by a miracle of the approach of the soldiers, the abbot Thomas told the brotherhood that those who wished to survive must flee the monastery, and those who desired martyrdom should stay. Twenty-⁠six stayed: the abbot Thomas, the monks Barsanuphius, Cyril, Michael, Simon, Hilarion, James, a second James, Job, Cyprian, Sabbas, Martinian, Cosmas, Sergius, Mina, Joasaph, Joannicius, Paul, Anthony, Euthymius, Domentian, Parthenius and four lay workers whose names are not known. They shut themselves in the tower of the monastery. When they arrived, the Latin soldiers set fire to the tower. While it burned, the martyrs of Christ sang psalms and the akathist to the Most Holy Mother of God, and so gave their souls to God.

Venerable Thomas is commemorated with the other martyrs of Zographou and in the Synaxis of the Athonite Fathers, on 4 July, a movable day.