Introduction
In October 2026, the relics identified by the Holy Metropolis of Edessa, Pella, and Almopia as those of Saint Chryse, the New Martyr of Almopia, were received at the church dedicated to her in the village of Chryse, in the regional unit of Pella, northern Greece. The event followed a process that had begun seventeen years earlier, when human remains were discovered near the ruins of an old church within the Byzantine castle area of the village.
According to the Metropolis, the remains underwent medical and forensic examinations, including examinations by the Forensic Medicine Service of Thessaloniki and two specialized laboratories in Germany. The findings were reported as consistent with the remains belonging to a young woman approximately seventeen years old who died in 1795, the traditional date of Saint Chryse’s martyrdom. The ecclesiastical account also draws attention to signs of severe injury, particularly around the ribs and skull, which it associates with the tortures described in the Saint’s Life.
The discovery and translation of the relics have drawn considerable interest among the faithful in Greece and abroad. They also renewed attention to the life of the young Orthodox Christian woman whose steadfastness in the faith has been preserved in the Orthodox Church’s hagiographical tradition.
In October 2026, the relics identified by the Holy Metropolis of Edessa, Pella, and Almopia as those of Saint Chryse, the New Martyr of Almopia, were received at the church dedicated to her in the village of Chryse, in the regional unit of Pella, northern Greece. The event followed a process that had begun seventeen years earlier, when human remains were discovered near the ruins of an old church within the Byzantine castle area of the village.
According to the Metropolis, the remains underwent medical and forensic examinations, including examinations by the Forensic Medicine Service of Thessaloniki and two specialized laboratories in Germany. The findings were reported as consistent with the remains belonging to a young woman approximately seventeen years old who died in 1795, the traditional date of Saint Chryse’s martyrdom. The ecclesiastical account also draws attention to signs of severe injury, particularly around the ribs and skull, which it associates with the tortures described in the Saint’s Life.
The discovery and translation of the relics have drawn considerable interest among the faithful in Greece and abroad. They also renewed attention to the life of the young Orthodox Christian woman whose steadfastness in the faith has been preserved in the Orthodox Church’s hagiographical tradition.
The Life and Martyrdom of Saint Chryse
Saint Chryse, commemorated on October 13, was a New Martyr associated with the village of Chryse, formerly known as Slatena, in the region of Almopia. She is also known as Saint Zlata of Meglen; both names mean “golden.” Her life is recorded in the New Martyrology of Saint Nikodemos the Hagiorite.
According to the traditional account, Chryse came from a poor Christian family. During the Ottoman period, she was abducted by a Turkish man who sought to force her to abandon her Christian faith. For nearly six months, attempts were made to persuade her to accept Islam. Her parents and sisters were also brought to her and urged her to yield, but she remained steadfast in her confession of Christ.
Her refusal led to prolonged and severe torture which lasted around six months. The account of her martyrdom emphasizes her steadfastness throughout these ordeals and her determination to remain faithful to Christ rather than deny her faith. She ultimately suffered martyrdom in 1795.
The Church remembers Saint Chryse as an example of courage and constancy in the face of persecution. Her feast is celebrated on October 13, the date associated with her martyrdom. Her memory continued to be honored in the region, and her veneration received renewed attention following the discovery of the remains attributed to her.
Saint Chryse, commemorated on October 13, was a New Martyr associated with the village of Chryse, formerly known as Slatena, in the region of Almopia. She is also known as Saint Zlata of Meglen; both names mean “golden.” Her life is recorded in the New Martyrology of Saint Nikodemos the Hagiorite.
According to the traditional account, Chryse came from a poor Christian family. During the Ottoman period, she was abducted by a Turkish man who sought to force her to abandon her Christian faith. For nearly six months, attempts were made to persuade her to accept Islam. Her parents and sisters were also brought to her and urged her to yield, but she remained steadfast in her confession of Christ.
Her refusal led to prolonged and severe torture which lasted around six months. The account of her martyrdom emphasizes her steadfastness throughout these ordeals and her determination to remain faithful to Christ rather than deny her faith. She ultimately suffered martyrdom in 1795.
The Church remembers Saint Chryse as an example of courage and constancy in the face of persecution. Her feast is celebrated on October 13, the date associated with her martyrdom. Her memory continued to be honored in the region, and her veneration received renewed attention following the discovery of the remains attributed to her.
The Discovery of the Remains in 2009
The discovery took place in October 2009. According to an account published by the Holy Metropolis of Edessa, Pella, and Almopia, Father Konstantinos Kodzambouikis first visited the Byzantine castle area of Chryse on October 19. There, he noticed yellow narcissus flowers growing at a particular location and subsequently experienced what he described as a persistent inner prompting to search for the relics of Saint Chryse.
He returned on October 27 and excavated near the ruins of the old Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos. The remains were reportedly found on his first attempt.
The account of the discovery also includes reports of a fragrance emanating from the remains and their amber-like coloration. These details were understood by the ecclesiastical authorities as spiritual signs associated with the relics of saints.
Following the discovery, the remains were examined by physicians and subsequently by the Forensic Medicine Service of Thessaloniki and two specialized laboratories in Germany. According to the Metropolis, the examinations indicated that the bones belonged to a young woman approximately seventeen years old and that the death occurred in 1795, corresponding to the traditional date of Saint Chryse’s martyrdom.
The discovery took place in October 2009. According to an account published by the Holy Metropolis of Edessa, Pella, and Almopia, Father Konstantinos Kodzambouikis first visited the Byzantine castle area of Chryse on October 19. There, he noticed yellow narcissus flowers growing at a particular location and subsequently experienced what he described as a persistent inner prompting to search for the relics of Saint Chryse.
He returned on October 27 and excavated near the ruins of the old Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos. The remains were reportedly found on his first attempt.
The account of the discovery also includes reports of a fragrance emanating from the remains and their amber-like coloration. These details were understood by the ecclesiastical authorities as spiritual signs associated with the relics of saints.
Following the discovery, the remains were examined by physicians and subsequently by the Forensic Medicine Service of Thessaloniki and two specialized laboratories in Germany. According to the Metropolis, the examinations indicated that the bones belonged to a young woman approximately seventeen years old and that the death occurred in 1795, corresponding to the traditional date of Saint Chryse’s martyrdom.
The scientific examinations also revealed signs of the severe torture endured by the young woman. The surviving bones showed significant damage, particularly around the ribs and skull, including puncture marks on the skull. These injuries correspond to the tortures described in the traditional Life of Saint Chryse and provide a striking point of correspondence between the physical remains and the account of her martyrdom.
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| Father Konstantinos Kodzambouikis |
The Announcement and Translation of the Relics in October 2026
Although the remains were discovered in 2009, the Metropolis did not announce their identification publicly until September 2026. In an interview published on October 9, Protopresbyter Eleftherios Haralambidis, press officer of the Metropolis, explained that Metropolitan Joel of Edessa, Pella, and Almopia did not wish to make a premature announcement.
According to Haralambidis, the Metropolitan waited for what the Church regarded as spiritual confirmation, alongside the medical and scientific examinations. The Metropolis had received accounts from faithful who reported appearances of Saint Chryse and miracles associated with her, although they allegedly had no knowledge that the remains had been discovered. According to the interview, many such accounts were incorporated into the 2019 edition of the Saint’s Life and liturgical services.
The remains had been kept for years in the chapel of the Metropolitan Residence. Following the public announcement, arrangements were made for their transfer to the Church of Saint Chryse in the village, where they would be available for veneration.
The reception took place on October 12, 2026, at 6 p.m. Nuns from convents of the ecclesiastical district accompanied the relics in procession to the entrance of the church, where Metropolitan Joel and other hierarchs received them. A hierarchical festal Vespers followed.
The next day, October 13, the Church celebrated the feast of Saint Chryse with Matins and a hierarchical concelebration of the Divine Liturgy. Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou presided, joined by several other hierarchs, clergy, and Archimandrite Gabriel, abbot of the Holy Monastery of Zographou on Mount Athos.
During the celebration, Metropolitan Paul of Servia and Kozani preached on the biblical exhortation, “Be holy, for I am holy,” presenting Saint Chryse’s steadfast confession of Christ as an example of holiness and fidelity under persecution.
The report also noted an interesting historical detail: a depiction of Saint Chryse exists in the Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos at Velventos in Kozani, a church built in 1804, only nine years after her martyrdom in 1795. Metropolitan Paul cited this as evidence that the Saint was already recognized and honored in the region soon after her death.
The celebrations attracted a large number of faithful, who had the opportunity to venerate the relics following their translation to the church. Local reporting described a particularly large turnout, including people of different ages and families with children. According to the published festal program, the church was to remain open throughout the day, with the Divine Liturgy and other sacred services celebrated daily during the following week.
The ceremonies marked the culmination of the transfer announced by the Metropolis. The relics were placed at the Church of Saint Chryse in Chryse, where the faithful could venerate them.
Although the remains were discovered in 2009, the Metropolis did not announce their identification publicly until September 2026. In an interview published on October 9, Protopresbyter Eleftherios Haralambidis, press officer of the Metropolis, explained that Metropolitan Joel of Edessa, Pella, and Almopia did not wish to make a premature announcement.
According to Haralambidis, the Metropolitan waited for what the Church regarded as spiritual confirmation, alongside the medical and scientific examinations. The Metropolis had received accounts from faithful who reported appearances of Saint Chryse and miracles associated with her, although they allegedly had no knowledge that the remains had been discovered. According to the interview, many such accounts were incorporated into the 2019 edition of the Saint’s Life and liturgical services.
The remains had been kept for years in the chapel of the Metropolitan Residence. Following the public announcement, arrangements were made for their transfer to the Church of Saint Chryse in the village, where they would be available for veneration.
The reception took place on October 12, 2026, at 6 p.m. Nuns from convents of the ecclesiastical district accompanied the relics in procession to the entrance of the church, where Metropolitan Joel and other hierarchs received them. A hierarchical festal Vespers followed.
The next day, October 13, the Church celebrated the feast of Saint Chryse with Matins and a hierarchical concelebration of the Divine Liturgy. Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou presided, joined by several other hierarchs, clergy, and Archimandrite Gabriel, abbot of the Holy Monastery of Zographou on Mount Athos.
During the celebration, Metropolitan Paul of Servia and Kozani preached on the biblical exhortation, “Be holy, for I am holy,” presenting Saint Chryse’s steadfast confession of Christ as an example of holiness and fidelity under persecution.
The report also noted an interesting historical detail: a depiction of Saint Chryse exists in the Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos at Velventos in Kozani, a church built in 1804, only nine years after her martyrdom in 1795. Metropolitan Paul cited this as evidence that the Saint was already recognized and honored in the region soon after her death.
The celebrations attracted a large number of faithful, who had the opportunity to venerate the relics following their translation to the church. Local reporting described a particularly large turnout, including people of different ages and families with children. According to the published festal program, the church was to remain open throughout the day, with the Divine Liturgy and other sacred services celebrated daily during the following week.
The ceremonies marked the culmination of the transfer announced by the Metropolis. The relics were placed at the Church of Saint Chryse in Chryse, where the faithful could venerate them.
The Significance of the Discovery
The discovery and translation of the relics represent an important event for the village of Chryse and the wider region of Almopia. The village is associated with the life and martyrdom of Saint Chryse, whose memory had been preserved through the Church’s hagiographical and liturgical tradition. The presence of the relics in the church dedicated to her provides a new focus for the local community’s veneration.
The events bring together three distinct moments in the history of her commemoration: the traditional date of her martyrdom in 1795, the discovery of the remains in 2009, and their public reception in October 2026. The depiction of Saint Chryse in the Church of the Dormition at Velventos, built in 1804, offers an additional historical indication of the early commemoration of the Saint in the region.
The Metropolis has presented the reported scientific findings as consistent with the traditional account of the Saint’s gender, age and time of death. The reported injuries to the ribs and skull have also been associated by the ecclesiastical authorities with the tortures described in her Life. Although the full scientific reports are not publicly available, the Metropolis has identified the remains as those of Saint Chryse and made them available for veneration.
For the Orthodox faithful, the event is more than the discovery of old human remains. It is an occasion to renew the memory of a young woman remembered for refusing to deny Christ despite severe persecution. The reports of spiritual experiences associated with the discovery, the historical evidence of her commemoration, and the solemn reception of the relics have all contributed to renewed attention to her witness.
The discovery and translation of the relics represent an important event for the village of Chryse and the wider region of Almopia. The village is associated with the life and martyrdom of Saint Chryse, whose memory had been preserved through the Church’s hagiographical and liturgical tradition. The presence of the relics in the church dedicated to her provides a new focus for the local community’s veneration.
The events bring together three distinct moments in the history of her commemoration: the traditional date of her martyrdom in 1795, the discovery of the remains in 2009, and their public reception in October 2026. The depiction of Saint Chryse in the Church of the Dormition at Velventos, built in 1804, offers an additional historical indication of the early commemoration of the Saint in the region.
The Metropolis has presented the reported scientific findings as consistent with the traditional account of the Saint’s gender, age and time of death. The reported injuries to the ribs and skull have also been associated by the ecclesiastical authorities with the tortures described in her Life. Although the full scientific reports are not publicly available, the Metropolis has identified the remains as those of Saint Chryse and made them available for veneration.
For the Orthodox faithful, the event is more than the discovery of old human remains. It is an occasion to renew the memory of a young woman remembered for refusing to deny Christ despite severe persecution. The reports of spiritual experiences associated with the discovery, the historical evidence of her commemoration, and the solemn reception of the relics have all contributed to renewed attention to her witness.
