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| Hieromartyr Platon Aivazides |
On the 3rd of October 2019, under the presidency of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate made the decision to include in the list of Saints of the Orthodox Church seven New Martyrs who were either born, martyred or served in Kastoria. This was done at the proposal of Metropolitan Seraphim of Kastoria.
The seven New Martyrs are as follows:
1. New Martyr Mark Peter Markoulis of Kleisoura who was born in Argos Orestiko and martyred by the Turks in 1598 by being hanged at the Cathedral Church of Saint Paraskevi.
2-4. New Martyr John Noultzos who was born and martyred in Kastoria with his brother and brother-in-law in 1696.
5. New Martyr George who was once a Hagarene who was martyred in the area of Acarnania.
6. New Hieromartyr Basil Kalapalikes who was shot to death by Turks on June 21, 1902 while serving Vespers alone in the Church of Saint Demetrios in Chiliodendrou.
7. New Hieromartyr Platon Aivazides who was born on the island of Patmos, where there is a church dedicated to him, but served as the Chancellor to Metropolitan Germanos Karavangelis of Kastoria for a time. On September 21, 1921 he was martyred by being hanged off a bridge in Pontus.
