Mount Athos lithography (icon) of Saints Raphael, Nicholas and Irene on natural wood carved by hand.

Saints Raphael, Nicholas and Irene are Newly-revealed Saints who were martyred after the fall of Constantinople. Raphael, known as George Laskaris or Laskaridis, was born in 1410 AD. in the Mills of Ithaca. At the age of 35 he renounced the world and became a monk. He was later ordained presbyter and archimandrite. In 1450 AD was found in Macedonia to consecrate. There, he had as his subordinate Nicholas who grew up in Thessaloniki and was ordained a deacon.

After the fall of Constantinople, Raphael and Nicholas found themselves in Mytilene and settled in the old monastery of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary. In 1463 AD the Turks occupied Lesvos and as a result the Saints were arrested, tortured and finally died with martyrdom. Two minor children, 12-year-old Irene and 5-year-old Raphael, also martyred with them. The relics of Saints Raphael, Nicholas and Irene are found in the Holy Monastery of Saint Raphael in Thermi of Lesvos. Their memory is honored by the Orthodox Christian Church 2 days after Easter.

Apolytikion of Saints Raphael, Nicholas and Irene of Lesvos

Fourth Tone

On Lesbos, ye strove in contest for the sake of Christ God; ye also have hallowed her with the discovery of your relics, O blessed ones. O God-bearer Raphael, with thee, we all honour Nicholas the deacon and Irene the chaste virgin, as our divine protectors, who now intercede with the Lord.