10/07/2026
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🔸 July 9 - Saint Michael Paknanas the Gardener 👨🌾 🔸
Today, we also commemorate the Holy New-Martyr Saint Michael Paknanas the Gardener of Athens. St Michael was born to very poor but pious and faithful parents in the city of Athens, Greece in 1753 near Thisseio. Consequently, he did not go to school but instead learned gardening. A devout Orthodox Christian, Michael attended the church of Panagia Vlassarou, which is today in ruins in Ancient Agora near Thisseio.
One day during the harvest season, while the 18 year-old Michael was transporting products on his donkey through the villages of Athens, he was seized by some Muslims who falsely accused him of transporting gunpowder to some rebel Greeks (klefts) who had become allies of the Russians during the Russian-Ottoman War of 1768-1774. The Muslims beat him and brought him before the kadi who had him imprisoned. There, he was visited by other Muslims who threatened him to convert to Islam.
Fearing thar the young Michael might deny his faith to spare his life, a pious Christian named George bribed the guards and came to his prison cell, encouraging him to make firm his faith for martyrdom. After 30 days in prison, Michael was again brought before the kadi who began to flatter him and promise him rewards if only he would embrace Islam. Michael however refused saying:
“I will not become a Muslim! I will not become a Turk!”
He was then sent to the so-called “kalopasha” (good pasha) from loannina to decide his fate. Again rejecting all the pasha’s threats and promises, St Michael refused to deny his faith in Christ, and was finally sentenced to be executed at the Temple of Olympian Zeus in Athens. At the site of his ex*****on Michael knelt and bent his head, being tied to one of the pillars of the Temple. The ex*****oner, to threaten and cause the Saint to weaken at the last minute, hit him with the blunt edge of the sword asking him to reconsider, but the martyr responded:
“I told you, I am a Christian. I refuse to become a Muslim.”
The ex*****oner then struck off St Michael’s head with one fatal swing of the sword. Thus, St Michael the Gardner of Athens delivered his soul on July 9, 1771.
