Michael the Athenian martyr

From a poor but pious Athenian family. He did not go to school. His job was to carry manure to the fields on his donkey. One day, he returned to the city after touring the villages. The guards accused him of carrying gunpowder to the rebels hiding in the mountains. Without any proof, they threw him in prison and beat him. Then for thirty days the Turks came to him every day trying to persuade him to accept Islam and threatening him with death if he did not.

A pious Christian named George was able to reach him in prison and encouraged him to persevere in his faith in Christ so that he could receive the crown of martyrdom.

عُرض على القاضي فحاول هذا الاخير كسبه بالوعود الخدّاعة. جواب ميخائيل كان “أنا مسيحي، ولن اصبح أبداً مسلمًا”. نقل الى باشا فأبدى ميخائيل تصميمًا وثباتًا في الإيمان بيسوع المسيح رغم العروض بإخلاء سبيله مقابل ارتباط لفظي بالإسلام. أُخضع للاستجواب فردّد الكلام الاول عينه فصدر في حقه حكم الموت.

When he reached the place of execution, he knelt, crossed his face, and bent his neck. The executioner struck him with his sword and cut off his neck, and thus Michael attained the crown of martyrdom. He was eighteen years old.

The date of his martyrdom is June 30, 1770 AD, which is his feast day in the church.