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Saint Kosmas Aitolos

Saint Kosmas the Aitolian (+1779), is a figure in both church and national Greek history who in the 18th century cast his light upon the path which the Greeks would follow a little before the outbreak of the Struggle for Liberation. His aptitude for learning took him to the school run by the Vatopedi Monastery on the Holy Mountain, where he studied under teachers famed for their learning. St. Kosmas had a burning desire to be of service to his brothers in Christ who were suffering so many hardships. The enslavement of many years with the subsequent degradation of life, ignorance, and the decline into barbarity in behavior were the scourges of Christians. The reflections of St. Kosmas on this situation led him to go out to the people and begin a series of preaching tours. His words were simple, but filled with the Holy Spirit. He would speak to them about the services of the Church, explain to them the value of repentance and confession, warning them against sin and urging them to lead lives of goodness. The Saint was admired and even feared by many Turks, and hated by many Jews. They spread unfounded accusations against him and slandered him. On the pretext that the Pasha wished to see him, they took the Saint to a remote spot and hung him on August 24th, 1779. [source]

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