The Venerable Martyr Nicodemus

Life

By origin from Elbasan. He was married and had children. Deceived by the Turks, he accepted Islam and forcibly converted his children to Islam as well, except for one son who fled to the Holy Mountain and became a monk. Nicodemus went to the Holy Mountain to bring his son back, but the Holy Mountain made such an impression upon him that he repented, returned to the faith of Christ, and became a monk. For three years he mourned his apostasy, and finally resolved to return to Albania to atone for his sin there where he had committed it. He returned, therefore, and declared before the Turks that he was a Christian, and was beheaded on July 11, 1722. His wonderworking relics lie whole and healing to this day.