On Friday 14 February 2020 the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate listed among the saints of the Orthodox Church seven New Martyrs of Kastoria. This was done at the proposal of Metropolitan Seraphim of Kastoria. Though this canonization was announced by the Holy Synod on October 3, 2019, the Act itself was not signed until now.Their common annual commemoration is on the Sunday of the Blind Man.
The Seven New Martyrs of Kastoria are as follows:
1. New Martyr Mark Peter Markoulis of Kleisoura (Nov. 12) 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 (Apr. 21) 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 (Aug. 18) who was martyred in the area of Acarnania.
6. New Hieromartyr Basil Kalapalikes (June 21) 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 Aivazidis (Sept. 21) 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.
Apolytikion in the First Tone
By the spilling of your blood, and your divine contests, victorious martyrs of Christ, you showed yourselves to be undefiled, sacred George and Platon, wondrous Basil and Mark, John together with your brother and brother-in-law, and we cry out to you: Rejoice guardians of Kastoria, rejoice their boast, rejoice all-revered intercessors before the holy God.
