Christos of Preveza was a Greek New Martyr of the Ottoman period, a sailor from the town of Preveza in western Greece who suffered death for his Christian faith on the island of Kos on 5 August 1668. According to the surviving account he served aboard a frigate, and when janissaries in the harbour mocked and insulted his faith he answered boldly, making the sign of the cross and reciting the Creed aloud. Brought before the local pasha and commanded to renounce Christianity, he refused, and was beaten, stabbed, and burned outside the city.
For nearly three centuries his martyrdom was forgotten. The narration of his passion survived only in a manuscript codex preserved at the Monastery of Great Lavra on Mount Athos, recorded by an Athonite hieromonk who had heard the martyr's confession at Kos. The account was rediscovered in 1971, and his first solemn commemoration followed in 1972 — roughly three hundred years after his death. He is honoured especially in his birthplace of Preveza and is commemorated in the Orthodox Church on August 5.
Timeline 4 moments
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17th centuryOrigin in PrevezaChristos is born in Preveza, in western Greece, then under Ottoman rule, and becomes a sailor serving aboard a frigate.
August 5, 1668Martyrdom on KosWhile in the port of Kos, Christos is mocked by janissaries for his faith. He boldly confesses Christ and recites the Creed. Brought before the pasha and ordered to renounce Christianity, he refuses; he is stabbed and then burned outside the city.
1971Rediscovery of the accountThe narration of his martyrdom — written by an Athonite hieromonk who had confessed him at Kos — is rediscovered in the codex known as 'The Grammatika' at the Monastery of Great Lavra on Mount Athos.
1972First solemn commemorationAbout three centuries after his death, the saint is solemnly commemorated for the first time; an official copy of the martyrdom account from the abbot of Great Lavra is dated March 25, 1972.
Contributions & Legacy
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Historical Context
Christos belongs to the company of the New Martyrs — Orthodox Christians who suffered death under Ottoman rule for confessing Christ rather than embracing Islam. His confession before the janissaries and the pasha at Kos follows the characteristic pattern of these accounts: a public profession of faith, a demand to apostatize, refusal, and execution.
His occupation as a sailor places him among the seafaring populations of Ottoman-era Greece. The surviving account states that he served on a frigate; one source notes the vessel had come from Crete.
Relics & Shrines
According to the surviving account, the martyr's body remained unburied for thirty days, after which pious Christians obtained portions of his relics, which were distributed among the faithful, including the Athonite monk who recorded his passion.
He is honoured especially in his birthplace of Preveza.
Sources & Rediscovery
The Orthodox Church in America preserves only his name and feast day, giving no biographical detail. The fuller account of his life rests on a manuscript codex called 'The Grammatika', kept at the Monastery of Great Lavra on Mount Athos and written by a hieromonk who had heard the martyr's confession at Kos in 1668. This account was rediscovered in 1971, and an official copy from the abbot of Great Lavra is dated March 25, 1972; his first solemn commemoration followed that same year.
