Saint Seraphim, Bishop of Phanari
Hieromartyr and bishop of Phanari in Thessaly.
Biography
Seraphim was born in the village of Bezoulia in the Agrafa region and became a monk at the Monastery of the Panagia Korona (Krya Vrysi), where he was noted for his asceticism and became abbot. He was later ordained archbishop of Phanari and Neochori.
He was accused of taking part in the revolt of Dionysius the Philosopher and was arrested by the Ottomans, who tried in vain to convert him to Islam. Because he refused to change his faith, he was tortured, his nose was cut off, and he was executed on 4 December 1601.
His skull is kept at the monastery where he had been a monk, still bearing, according to tradition, the marks of his martyrdom.