He was born in a locality near Varna from pious Christians. At the age of twenty, he decided to dedicate himself to monasticism and withdrew to the Holy Mount Athos, where he initially lived as a wanderer and then chose a harsh hermitic life under the guidance of Elder Dionysius. Having taken on the angelic form, he diligently labored in fasting, prayer, and patience, but soon faced temptations from the devil, who instilled thoughts of returning to the world.
Leaving the Holy Mountain, Procopius went to Smyrna, where, troubled, he decided to renounce Christ and accept the Muslim faith. After circumcision, he realized his mistake and came to a spiritual father, wishing to restore his faith and accept a martyr's death for Christ. The spiritual father, seeing his firm intention, did not dissuade him.
Preparing for martyrdom, Procopius appeared before the court, where he confessed the Christian faith and cursed the Muslim one. The judge, unable to make him change his mind, ordered his head to be cut off. At the place of execution, despite the astonishment of the Muslims, one who had renounced Christ fulfilled the sentence. Thus, on June 25, 1810, the soul of Saint Procopius, cleansed by blood, departed from the body.
