Holy Hieromartyr Cosmas of Aetolia

Born in 1714 to devout parents in Mega Dendron, Saint Cosmas became a monk and then a priest at Philotheou monastery on Mount Athos. Concerned by the ignorance of the Gospel that had fallen on the Greek people after 400 years of Turkish oppression, he became a missionary. He received the blessing of Patriarch Seraphim II to travel and preach independently. He evangelized throughout Greece, Macedonia, Serbia and Albania for 25 years, planting large wooden crosses in village squares and teaching the Faith to huge crowds. He founded 200 schools and 50 churches. He worked many miracles and was known for his prophecies. His strong condemnations of dishonest businesses angered some Christians and he was hated by Jews, who falsely accused him and offered money for his death. He was martyred by the Turks in 1779 and thrown into a river but his wonderworking relics were recovered and preserved. Saint Cosmas was glorified by the Church in 1961 and is considered Equal to the Apostles.