Saint Michael the Mavroudis, came from the village of Granitsa in Agrafa. His parents were the pious Demetrios and the virtuous Stateria, who brought up Michael “in the education and guidance of the Lord”. After his father’s death, he left for Thessaloniki, where he practiced the profession of the baker. However, he gave all his money to the poor and weak. When he tried to talk and proselytize a Turkish boy to the Christian faith, the boy spoke about this to the authorities and Michael was violently taken to court. At the interrogation, he answered the questions of the judges with sincerity and deep theological knowledge, and he even tried to convert these judges to the Christian faith. With emotion and tremendous courage, he pointed out to the judges: “Do not waste any time but deliver me to God as soon as possible that I long to be a sacrifice to my Lord, to be baked as a bread of holiness, to be placed at the Table of the Holy Trinity and to be offered as a fragrant incense to him.” Finally, he was condemned to death and burned alive in Thessaloniki on 21 March 1547 AD, on Thursday, at the ninth hour, in the courtyard of the Holy Church of the Presentation of the Lord which is located on Egnatia Street just a few meters from the arch of Galerios.
From the Lives of the Saints
Translated by Dr. Nick Stergiou
