NM Gideon, monk of Karakallou +12-30 A perfect martyr for our time

Monk martyr Gideon is a perfect saint for our time. When he was yet a boy, he was dealt a terrible blow; he was kidnapped by a Moslem master and forced to convert to Islam. He eventually was a monk on Mount Athos for 35 years and longed for martyrdom. During this time, he read the lives of saints and especially focused on the martyrs who had formerly apostatized like he had. Gideon eventually was able to proclaim his Christianity before the Moslem and endure horrible martyrdom, which he bore without any distress.

Through his holy prayers we be delivered from our infirmities, and our lapses and our cowardice. See the list of Holy martyrs that I pray to daily, with a prostration and who formerly apostasized, but by God’s grace came back to a full confession of the faith. (http://www.orthodox.net/trebnic/saints-pray-for-us+former-apostates-sinners-secret-christians.docx, http://www.orthodox.net/trebnic/saints-pray-for-us+former-apostates-sinners-secret-christians.pdf )