Asia Minor was the cradle of Saints of the ancient Church, but also the birthplace of New Martyrs in more recent times. A multitude of heroic men and women exchanged their lives for martyrdom and death for the love of Christ. One of them was Saint Neomartyr Nicholas of Karamanos from Izmir.
Born in Smyrna of Asia Minor about 1623 by pious Christian parents. He lived a quiet life with his family and had never given anyone the right to speak ill of him. It seems that he was distinguished by a deep faith in God and was a pious and faithful Christian. But one day a very unfortunate incident occurred. For some reason he became very angry and in his anger he uttered the phrase: "I will become a Turk", meaning that he will become furious, beside himself with his stubbornness.
His reckless speech was also heard by some Turks present, who interpreted his words as a confession of faith in Islam, as an assurance that he would become a Turk. They grabbed him and forcibly took him to the Turkish judge, the kat, to whom they reported the incident, that he had converted to Islam and accepted to become a Turkish citizen. They asked the kat to formalize his alleged wish, as the only competent person, according to Ottoman justice.
Here we must point out that it was a tactic of the Turks to fabricate false accusations against enslaved Christians, on trivial grounds, with the aim, on the one hand, of terrorizing them, so that they would not raise their heads, and on the other hand, in this way they forced the cowards to convert to Islam, so that they would avoid martyrdom and death.
The judge asked him if the testimony of the Turkish witnesses was true and he answered with courage and boldness: «"Far be it from me to deny my Creator and Savior, my Lord Jesus Christ, the true God, who is coming to judge the living and the dead, and to render to each one according to his works."! He denied with disgust the slander, which he attributed to a conspiracy against him. Then the governor became angry and gave the order to beat him mercilessly. He was taken by some peasant soldiers who mercilessly whipped him for a long time. Nicholas bravely endured the terrible pains of the whipping, without uttering the slightest cry. His only words were prayers and invocations to Christ to strengthen him in his ordeal.
Seeing that Nicholas remained steadfast in his faith, the judge ordered him to be locked up in prison, without food and water and beaten twice a day. They brought his mother and wife to prison, who tried to convince him to say yes temporarily, to escape torture and death and then we'll see. But the Martyr did not want to hear such a proposal, because he considered it a betrayal, even if it was false. Not even torture, hunger and unbearable thirst could make him give in to the pagan tyrants.
After a few days, the judge believed that he had been "corrected." The strong daily flogging, thirst and hunger would have broken all his resistance. So he ordered him to be taken out of prison and taken to court, where, as he believed, he would confess his faith in Islam and accept becoming a Turkish citizen. The judge asked him again if he had decided to convert to Islam. In fact, he began to beat him. He promised him that if he said the
Yes, he would be given riches and honors. And he threatened him that if he did not accept, torture and certain death awaited him.
He stood proud, with a high heroic spirit and gave the answer: "Whether you throw me into the sea, burn me in the fire, or cut me into small pieces, I will not deny my sweetest Jesus Christ"! And he began to repeat it continuously and loudly for everyone to hear. This angered the judge and the Turks present. The judge tried for the last time to convince him, with new flattery and threats. But seeing that he was unconvinced, he handed him over to the soldiers to be circumcised by force. They tied him hand and foot to a pillar and circumcised him. The Witness shouted with all his might: "No matter what you cut me off? I do not deny my Christ. I believe in Him as the true God. I am not going to become a Turk."!
After this, and seeing that the circumcision had no effect, the judge ordered him to be taken to prison and subjected to harsher tortures, which shocked even the foreigners who were in Smyrna. The tortures lasted more than a month and the Martyr endured them with heroism and fortitude. His face shone with joy and gladness and he constantly glorified God for the great honor given to him to suffer for His name and His love.
Seeing that any further attempt to persuade him was futile, the judge issued the order: death by hanging. He was hanged on the morning of Maundy Thursday, March 19, 1657, At the age 34-year-old. His sacred relic remained hanging, as provided by Turkish laws, for three days as an example. Then they unhung it and ordered some Christians to drag it and throw it into the sea. However, some Frankish sailors, paying the Turks, put it in a net and took it to their country where they buried it with the honors of a Martyr.
His memory is commemorated on December 6.
photo United Romanians – https://enromiosini.gr/biografies/ag-neomartys-nikolaos-1/
