SAINTS RAPHAEL, NICHOLAS & IRENE
THEIR STORY
Having suffered martyrdom at the hands of the Turks that invaded the Island of Lesvos (Mytilene) on Bright Tuesday in 1463, Saints Raphael, Nicholas and Irene are rightfully named Holy and Glorious New Martyrs on account of their torture, death and revelation of their relics.
During the excavations for the foundations of the monastery, a grave was found, containing a human skeleton with a sweet fragrance. Since this finding, a series of magnificent, spiritual occurrences ensued. The digger, Mr. Doukas Tsolakis collected the bones he dug underground, placed them into a sack which became too heavy to lift, with a numb sensation running through the arm of those who tried.
During the night, the Priest, who was called for a Trisagion of the found remains, dreamt of a Saint - who appeared as a priest, revealing his name to be Raphael, born on the Island of Ithika.
He appeared to many nearby villagers through their dreams. A clergyman would appear in vestments, telling them “I am the Holy Martyr Raphael, the remains found at Karyes belong to me.”
The story that was revealed, told of Saint Raphael who, having been blessed with education and his rank in the Church, was sent on a mission to France, where he met with a young student named Nicholas. Nicholas, having been revealed the spiritual life, abandoned his worldly life and joined Saint Raphael, who then ordained him as a deacon. Upon their return, the Turks invaded, forcing Saint Raphael and Saint Nicholas to flee to the island of Lesvos, joining a small brotherhood at the Monastery of the Nativity of the Theotokos, where they lived for 9 years.
Saint Raphael performed the final Divine Liturgy on Holy Thursday, when the Turks invaded the monastery, capturing the Saints, as well as the community chief and teacher. The Community Chief’s 12 year old daughter, righteous and holy Irene was torturously burnt to death in an earthen pot, with her parents as witness. Saint Raphael was savagely beaten, his mouth sawed and his jaw cut off. They tied Saint Nicholas to a walnut tree, who endured continuous beatings and stabbings, having seen his priest endure such a horrifying death, died of heart failure.
Having their relics divinely discovered, the continual blessings and miracles that occurred also led to their icons being written, which portrayed their memory in a realistic manner by those that reached a consensus on their physical identity. They also requested a Church to be built in their honour.
“How much splendour comes out from the gigantic spiritual statue of Saint Raphael and his Holy Companions! Here one finds himself in the area of divine beauty, as if he were living in the harmony of the infinite and he is burning with the divine yearning”
During the excavations for the foundations of the monastery, a grave was found, containing a human skeleton with a sweet fragrance. Since this finding, a series of magnificent, spiritual occurrences ensued. The digger, Mr. Doukas Tsolakis collected the bones he dug underground, placed them into a sack which became too heavy to lift, with a numb sensation running through the arm of those who tried.
During the night, the Priest, who was called for a Trisagion of the found remains, dreamt of a Saint - who appeared as a priest, revealing his name to be Raphael, born on the Island of Ithika.
He appeared to many nearby villagers through their dreams. A clergyman would appear in vestments, telling them “I am the Holy Martyr Raphael, the remains found at Karyes belong to me.”
The story that was revealed, told of Saint Raphael who, having been blessed with education and his rank in the Church, was sent on a mission to France, where he met with a young student named Nicholas. Nicholas, having been revealed the spiritual life, abandoned his worldly life and joined Saint Raphael, who then ordained him as a deacon. Upon their return, the Turks invaded, forcing Saint Raphael and Saint Nicholas to flee to the island of Lesvos, joining a small brotherhood at the Monastery of the Nativity of the Theotokos, where they lived for 9 years.
Saint Raphael performed the final Divine Liturgy on Holy Thursday, when the Turks invaded the monastery, capturing the Saints, as well as the community chief and teacher. The Community Chief’s 12 year old daughter, righteous and holy Irene was torturously burnt to death in an earthen pot, with her parents as witness. Saint Raphael was savagely beaten, his mouth sawed and his jaw cut off. They tied Saint Nicholas to a walnut tree, who endured continuous beatings and stabbings, having seen his priest endure such a horrifying death, died of heart failure.
Having their relics divinely discovered, the continual blessings and miracles that occurred also led to their icons being written, which portrayed their memory in a realistic manner by those that reached a consensus on their physical identity. They also requested a Church to be built in their honour.
“How much splendour comes out from the gigantic spiritual statue of Saint Raphael and his Holy Companions! Here one finds himself in the area of divine beauty, as if he were living in the harmony of the infinite and he is burning with the divine yearning”