Grigorios Orologas

Saint Gregory (Orologas) of Kydonies the Ethno-Hieromartyr, also Gregory of Cydoniae ( Gregorios Orologas), 1864–1922, was a Greek Orthodox metropolitan bishop in the early 20th century in northwest Anatolia, in the Ottoman Empire.

He was initially the Metropolitan of Strumica, in the region of Macedonia (October 12, 1902 – July 22, 1908), and then became the Metropolitan of Kydonies (modern Ayvalık), in northwestern Anatolia (July 22, 1908 – October 3, 1922). He was executed by the Turkish Army at the end of the Greco-Turkish War (1919–1922).

He is commemorated by the Greek Orthodox Church as an Ethno-Hieromartyr ; his feast day is celebrated on the Sunday before the Exaltation of the Holy Cross each year (September 7–13).

Early life Gregory was born in Manisa (Magnesia), Ottoman Empire in 1864. His secular name was Anastasios Orologas or Saatsoglou.

In 1882, he was admitted to the Theological School of Halki, supported by the Metropolitan of Ephesus, Agathangelos. When he entered the Theological School, he translated his surname from Saatsoglou to Orologas.

He was a brilliant student and successfully completed his studies in 1889 by submitting his dissertation titled "The Holy Evangelists never disagreed over the Lord’s last Passover (Easter)". In the last year of his studies, according to the old custom, he became a priest, becoming first ordained a deacon and changing his name to Gregorios. According to witnesses, Metropolitan Gregory died of a heart attack before when the Turkish troops attempted to bury him alive.

Ten years later, in 1932, on the initiative of the Metropolitan of Mytilene, Iakovos of Dyrrachion, Metropolitan Gregory’s statue was put up in Mytilene. Many surviving members of Metropolitan Gregory's congregation had escaped to this island. The inscription on the statue reads: "Metropolitan of Cydoniae, Gregorios. Martyred in 1922. The good shepherd laid down his life for the sheep (John 10:11)." (1899–1900) title = Metropolitan of Tiberiopolis and Stromnitsa years = October 12, 1902 – July 22, 1908 after = Germanos (Anastasiadis) (1908–1910)