Monk
Saint Agathaggelos from the Esphigmenou Monastery was originally coming from the city of Aino. He was raised in an orthodox, pious family. After the death of his parents, he joined the navy, where he was forcibly converted to Islam. In Smyrna, facing threats, he promised to become a Muslim, but soon repented and left the city, heading to Mount Athos. In the Monastery of Esphigmenou, he was tonsured a monk and took the name Agathaggelos.
Saint Nicholas of Myra appeared to him in a dream and promised to help him keep his faith. The abbot blessed the saint and gave him strength to confess christian faith while he was in Smyrna. At a trial, he publicly renounced Islam and confessed himself to be a christian, despite threats and tortures. Saint Agathaggelos was imprisoned and prepared himself for the martyrdom.
By the Divine Grace he was informed about the exact hour of his execution.He was beheaded on April 19, 1819. The faithful who knew him recovered his relics and buried them in Smyrna, in the Church of Saint George the Great Martyr. In 1844, a part of his relics was transferred to Mount Athos, to the Monastery of Esphigmenou.
