Saint Theocharis

Saint

Theocharis of Neapolis
Saint; Theocharis of Neapolis
	Eastern Orthodox icon of Saint Theocharis
New Martyr
Died	August 20, 1740; Nevşehir, Nevşehir Province, Turkey
Venerated in	Eastern Orthodoxy
Feast	August 20
Attributes	Usually depicted wearing a fez and holding a crucifix in his right hand.

Theocharis of Neapolis (Greek: Θεοχάρης ὁ Νεαπολίτης) is a saint of the Greek Orthodox Church. He is considered a new martyr as he chose death over converting to Islam. His feast day is on August 20.^[1]

Biography

Saint Theocharis was a Cappadocian Greek. He was orphaned at a young age. With the Ottoman State at war, young Theocharis was taken to a concentration camp for Christian boys. There, he was spotted by the governor of Nevşehir who took a liking to the boy. The governor took Theocharis out of the camp and took him back to work on his estate.^[2]

The governor and his wife liked Theocharis so much that they decided to offer their daughter to him, upon the condition that he convert to Islam. Theocharis refused. This caused the Governor great offence and so he threatened Theocharis with hunger, torture and death. He was stoned and then hanged at noon on 20 August 1740.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Θεοχάρης ὁ Μάρτυρας ὁ Νεαπολίτης. 20 Αυγούστου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
^ "Holy New Martyr Theokhares at Neopolis in Asia Minor", OCA

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[SYNAX-1] Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Θεοχάρης ὁ Μάρτυρας ὁ Νεαπολίτης. 20 Αυγούστου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.

[2] "Holy New Martyr Theokhares at Neopolis in Asia Minor", OCA

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