Hieromartyr Seraphim Archbishop of Phanarion and Neochorion

Saint Seraphim (Σεραφεὶμ) was born in the village of Bezoulia in the province of Agrapha, and was raised by his devout parents, Sophronios and Maria, who raised him to be pious as well. He loved the monastic life and entered the Monastery of the Most Holy Theotokos, the so-called Crown or Krya Vrysi (Cold Spring) and contested in the struggle (podvig) for virtue. He was distinguished for his asceticism, and so he became the Igoumen of the Monastery. Later he was consecrated as Archbishop of Phanarion and Neochorion.

Accused of taking part in the revolution of Metropolitan Dionysios the Philosopher of Larissa (October 10), he was arrested by the Turks, who tried in vain to convert him to Islam. The Hagarenes¹ were furious at steadfastness of the Holy Martyr's faith, so they subjected him to horrible tortures, which were increased, since Saint Seraphim constantly refused to deny the Orthodox Faith. After his nose was cut off, and he was repeatedly brought before the judge, but he still refused to convert. Thus, he was executed on December 4, 1601 by being impaled.

The wise teacher Christophoros of the Monastery of the Forerunner composed Canons for Saint Seraphim in all eight Tones, with the prosómoia and idiómela, which were printed together with his Akolouthia (Church Service).

The Saint's incorrupt head is found in the Monastery of Panagia Korona in Karditsa.

The honorable head of Saint Seraphim, which was placed in the Monastery of Krya Vrysi, where the Saint had been a monk, despite the abuses and hardships he suffered. This is a miracle, since the head "is covered by the skin, which in some places has been removed by the faithful, as an amulet, and it bears the signs of martyrdom. While the Saint's left eye is serenely closed, the right eye bears visible traces of abuse, and the cutting of his nose is quite obvious."

¹ Hagarenes (Moslems) were the descendants of Abraham's concubine Hagar.