The Holy Martyr Paul
Commemorated on April 3
The Holy Martyr
Paul was a Russian and accepted death under the Turks in 1683.
In his youthful years
he was taken into captivity by Tatars in the Crimea, and then was taken to
Constantinople. After harsh labour the saint received his freedom and married a
Russian woman, also situated in captivity. From his harsh slave labour the
saint fell ill with epilepsy. His wife and neighbours – Christians, decided to
take him to the church of the MostHoly Mother of God of Mugluneia, where
certain of the sick had received healing. Saint Paul in an attack of his
illness resisted and shouted: "I am an hagarite, and shall remain an
hagarite". The Turks, angered that Christians had forcefully taken into a
church a man accepting Islam, rushed off to report this to the vizier. The
vizier summoned Saint Paul, who came to him al ready healed. Upon interrogation
the saint confessed himself a Christian and, encouraged by his spouse, did not
yield to the threats of the Muslims. On Great Friday 1683 Saint Paul was
beheaded for his belief in Christ. His wife also was subjected to torture, but
after a ransom bribe she was released from prison.