Holy Martyr John Kalphas (+1575)

The holy Martyr John Kalphas (the architect) lived in a suburb of Constantinople. By profession he was an architect, and he attained such mastery in his art that distinguished noblemen gave him commissions. He was also charged with finishing the inner façade of the sultan’s palace.

Saint John was distinguished by Christian compassion: he cared for orphans and prisoners, and many turned to him for help. Once a nobleman asked the saint to take his nephew as an apprentice. John agreed, and soon with his help the young man obtained an honourable post in the palace. Once the former apprentice met his master and asked him, among other things: “What is said in the Christian books about the ‘prophet’ Muhammad?” The saint did not want to answer, but the young man insisted, and John explained to him the falsehood and groundlessness of the Muslim faith. The faithful servant of Islam told his co-religionists that the architect had blasphemed Muhammad. John was seized, brought before the tribunal, and ordered to deny Christ, but the saint boldly confessed the Orthodox faith. After torture the blessed martyr was sent to hard labour, where for six months he was worked to exhaustion; then he was thrown into prison and beaten, and at last, on 26 February 1575, he was taken to the market square and beheaded. Saint John’s struggle was described by Andrew, oikonomos of the Patriarch of Constantinople, who gave him the Holy Mysteries in prison.