Holy Martyr Constantine the Athonite (+1819)

The holy Martyr Constantine was born on the island of Mytilene. His parents were Muslims. In his youth the future saint caught smallpox. Mortally ill, he lost his sight and his strength failed him completely. A Christian woman brought the blessed one to an Orthodox church and healed him with holy water. A little later Saint Constantine went to Mount Athos, was baptised, and conceived the desire to meet a martyr’s end for Christ. His spiritual father advised him to go into seclusion, spend forty days in complete silence, fasting and prayer, and entrust himself to God.

With the Lord’s blessing the martyr confessed Christ before the Turks, for which he was first cruelly tortured and then strangled. Saint Constantine began his struggle of martyrdom for Christ on 23 April 1819 and finished it on 2 June.