Kosmas the New Hieromartyr & Equal-to-the Apostles of Aetolia
Commemorated: 24 August
About the Saint
Born in 1714, St Kosmas was from the town of Mega Dendron (Great Tree) of Aitolia, Greece. Baptised Konstas, he attended public schools but was tutored by a family friend, Archdeacon Ananias. After teaching for a while, at the age of twenty he went to study at the Monastery of Vatopedi on the HolyMountain. Later, he went to the Athonite Monastery of Philotheou where he was tonsured and given the name Kosmas. He quickly became a deacon then a priest.
After a while, the Saint had a calling to do missionary work in Greece, especially in the remote areas where there was a lack of churches and priests. This was due to the fact Greece was under the occupation of the Ottoman Empire, which would last for over 400 years. But with the blessing of his abbot, the Saint departed for Constantinople where Patriarch Seraphim II gave St Kosmas his blessing to carry out his mission. St Kosmas began to preach throughout Greece, the Ionian Islands, but especially in Albania for the Christian people there were in great ignorance of the faith because of the oppression and cruelty of the Muslims. St Kosmas was to breathe life back into Christianity in Greece.
For over 25 years St Kosmas preached and strengthened the people’s faith. He founded over 200 schools, including charities and rural churches. When he would arrive at a village, St Kosmas would plant a large wooden cross in the village square and preach from a bench. This was done to remind the people that someone cared about them and that God had not forsaken them. St. Kosmas also received from God the gift of prophecy and was known to have prophesied of the telephone, airplanes and aerial bombings.
However, the influence of St Kosmas was a major concern to the oppressors of Greece. After having strengthened and enlightened the faithful and worked many miracles, St Kosmas was accused of conspiracy, found guilty and hanged on 24 August 1779.
Our need for St Kosmas
St Kosmas serves as an example that it is possible to maintain the Faith despite living in a world which oppresses us with cynicism, materialism and secularism.
St Kosmas shows in order to grow one’s faith, one needs to learn as much as they can about God and incorporate charitable works into their life.
Born in 1714, St Kosmas was from the town of