Difference between revisions of "Aggelis the Physician"

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(New page: The Physician Neomartyr St. Aggelis was originally from Argos. He was a devout Christian and a physician practicing in New Ephesus in Asia Minor. He had the admiration and respect of every...)
 
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The Physician Neomartyr St. Aggelis was originally from Argos. He was a devout Christian and a physician practicing in New Ephesus in Asia Minor. He had the admiration and respect of everyone. His compassion to the sick and suffering revealed his spiritual thirst to achieve Christian Perfection. As it is reported St Aggelis had some personal eccentricities.
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The Neomartyr St. '''Aggelis the Physician''', in the early nineteenth century, was a physician from New Ephesus in Asia Minor who was admired and respected as a compassionate healer to those who were ill, yet he displayed some personal eccentricities. It was these eccentricities that led to his [[martyr]]dom.
  
In working toward perfection St. Aggelis he had many unusual struggles due to his unconventional nature. On one occasion he actually challenged an atheist Frenchman to a duel when the Frenchman began slandering the Saint during a discussion on Christian Faith. St. Aggelis went to his spiritual father for confession and to receive a blessing for the upcoming contest. His confessor urged him to withdraw from the duel but due to St. Aggelis’ persistence felt compelled to give St. Aggelis this blessing. St. Aggelis went into all night prayer and after receiving communion proceeded to the designated dueling site. At the last moment the atheist Frenchman lost his nerve and fled the scene.
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==Life==
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Aggelis was originally from Argos. He was a devout Christian and became practicing a physician in New Ephesus in Turkey. In his path toward perfection, he experienced many unusual struggles due to his unconventional nature. On one occasion he actually challenged an [[atheism|atheist]] Frenchman to a duel when the Frenchman began slandering him during a discussion on the Christian Faith. Aggelis went to his spiritual father for [[confession]] and to receive a blessing for the upcoming contest. His confessor urged him to withdraw from the duel, but due to Aggelis’ persistence he felt compelled to give Aggelis his blessing. Aggelis spent all night in [[prayer]] and, after receiving [[communion]], proceeded to the designated dueling site. At the last moment the Frenchman lost his nerve and fled the scene.
  
From that moment on the eccentric tendencies of St. Aggelis became hard for people to comprehend. He gave up his profession and withdrew to his home.   He stopped speaking to people with the exception of two close friends. He confided to them that his path would be one of Martyrdom.
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From that moment the eccentric tendencies of Aggelis became hard for people to comprehend. He gave up his profession as a physician and withdrew to his home. He stopped speaking to people with the exception of two close friends, one of whom he confided that his path in life would be one of martyrdom.
  
On the Saturday of Lazarus 1813 without explanation St. Aggelis announced he would become a Muslim. By his expressions towards the Turkish Muslims it was obvious that he could easily return to Orthodoxy.
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On the [[Lazarus Saturday]] in 1813, Aggelis, without explanation, announced he would become a [[muslim]]. By his attitude and expressions towards the muslim Turks it was obvious that he would easily return to Orthodox Christianity. After living on the island of Chios for six months, Aggelis shaved his beard and went to the local customs office. The customs workers asked him what was the purpose of such an act, only to receive an answer, “while I was a Turk I had my beard. Now that I am once again a Christian, I am shaved.” The authorities naturally attempted to have Aggelis reconsider his change of faith. When he did not he was incarcerated and tortured.
  
It was not uncommon for the Saint to use harsh language and angrily threaten the non-Christian citizens. The authorities, in order to avoid civil disturbances from such actions, sent him to the island of Chios. In Chios, he was commonly found in Orthodox Churches weeping. The Saint would ask his fellow Christians to pray on his behalf that God may give an end to St. Aggelis’s struggles.  
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Failing to convince Aggelis to denounce his Christianity, the Turkish authorities took him to a place called “Small Mountain” (Βουνάκι) and beheaded him on [[December 3]], 1813. His body was thrown into the sea at a depth of 25 leagues. Despite the efforts of the faithful to recover the [[Saint]]’s [[relics]], they were never found.
  
In Chios St. Aggelis met and would associate with a man of some spiritual advancement. St. Aggelis would enter into a spiritual state and when his companion would ask to share his spiritual knowledge, St. Aggelis would change the subject matter.
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==Source==
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*Religious and Ethical Encyclopedia (Θρησκευτική και Ηθική Εγκυκλοπαίδεια), Volume 1,166-167
  
Living on Chios for 6 months St. Aggelis shaved his beard and went to the local customs office. The customs workers asked the Saint the purpose of such an act only to be answered, “while I was a Turk I had my beard. Now that I am once again a Christian, I have shaven.”
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[[Category: Saints]]
 
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[[Category: Greek Saints]]
The authorities naturally attempted to have St. Aggelis reconsider his faith. When he did not he was incarcerated and tortured.
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[[Category:19th-century saints]]
 
 
Having failed to convince St. Aggelis to denounce Christianity the Turkish authorities took him to a place called “Small Mountain” (Βουνάκι) and beheaded him on December 3rd. His body was tossed into the sea at a depth of 25 leagues. Despite the efforts of the faithful to recover the Saint’s Relics they were never found.
 
 
 
From the Religious and Ethical Encyclopedia (Θρησκευτική και Ηθική Εγκυκλοπαίδεια), Volume 1,166-167
 

Latest revision as of 18:43, October 24, 2012

The Neomartyr St. Aggelis the Physician, in the early nineteenth century, was a physician from New Ephesus in Asia Minor who was admired and respected as a compassionate healer to those who were ill, yet he displayed some personal eccentricities. It was these eccentricities that led to his martyrdom.

Life

Aggelis was originally from Argos. He was a devout Christian and became practicing a physician in New Ephesus in Turkey. In his path toward perfection, he experienced many unusual struggles due to his unconventional nature. On one occasion he actually challenged an atheist Frenchman to a duel when the Frenchman began slandering him during a discussion on the Christian Faith. Aggelis went to his spiritual father for confession and to receive a blessing for the upcoming contest. His confessor urged him to withdraw from the duel, but due to Aggelis’ persistence he felt compelled to give Aggelis his blessing. Aggelis spent all night in prayer and, after receiving communion, proceeded to the designated dueling site. At the last moment the Frenchman lost his nerve and fled the scene.

From that moment the eccentric tendencies of Aggelis became hard for people to comprehend. He gave up his profession as a physician and withdrew to his home. He stopped speaking to people with the exception of two close friends, one of whom he confided that his path in life would be one of martyrdom.

On the Lazarus Saturday in 1813, Aggelis, without explanation, announced he would become a muslim. By his attitude and expressions towards the muslim Turks it was obvious that he would easily return to Orthodox Christianity. After living on the island of Chios for six months, Aggelis shaved his beard and went to the local customs office. The customs workers asked him what was the purpose of such an act, only to receive an answer, “while I was a Turk I had my beard. Now that I am once again a Christian, I am shaved.” The authorities naturally attempted to have Aggelis reconsider his change of faith. When he did not he was incarcerated and tortured.

Failing to convince Aggelis to denounce his Christianity, the Turkish authorities took him to a place called “Small Mountain” (Βουνάκι) and beheaded him on December 3, 1813. His body was thrown into the sea at a depth of 25 leagues. Despite the efforts of the faithful to recover the Saint’s relics, they were never found.

Source

  • Religious and Ethical Encyclopedia (Θρησκευτική και Ηθική Εγκυκλοπαίδεια), Volume 1,166-167