Saint Agathaggelos of Esfigmenou

Saint Agathangelos the Esphigmenite (1799–1818) is a saint of the Orthodox Church, canonized as a new martyr. Born in Thrace, he was forcibly converted to Islam at the age of 15. Later, however, he went to Mount Athos, where the abbot of the Esphigmenou Monastery accepted his repentance and tonsured him as a novice monk. Wishing to confess his faith, he traveled from Mount Athos to Smyrna, where he publicly renounced Islam. For this reason, he was arrested and beheaded at the age of 19. The Christians of Smyrna ransomed his remains and buried them. In 1844, a portion of his relics was transferred to the Esphigmenou Monastery. The Orthodox Church proclaimed Agathangelos a saint, and his feast day is celebrated on April 19.