In the nineteenth century, the Orthodox Christian Serbs were the first people in the Balkans to rise up against the Ottoman Muslims. This uprising, dated in 1804 and known among the Westerners as Janciceva Buna (Jancic's Uprising) - against the tyranny of the Janissaries stationed in Belgrade and the surrounding areas - was led by Karadjordje. The rising was not successful and was suppressed brutally. Many Orthodox Christians had to flee Serbia and take refuge in Croatia and Slavonia. It was in the atmosphere created by these events that Avakum would grow up.
Avakum, baptized Lepoje (handsome), was born in 1794 in the village of Knez Polje below the Kozara Mountains in Bosnia. His parents, named Gavrilo (Gabriel) and Bozana, brought him up in an Orthodox Christian manner. Later his mother took Lepoje to the Mostnica Monastery so he might receive an education. There Lepoje was very anxious to learn, and he soon acquired a good education, mastering church music as well.
At the monastery, Lepoje met his uncle, Father Genadije (Gennadios), who was a parish priest until his wife died and then became a monk. Father Genadije also brought his son Stojan with him to the monastery. He was the same age as Lepoje. Meanwhile Lepoje's mother also went to the monastery because she could not bear being far from her only son. In the monastery she performed manual labor of various kinds.
By age eighteen Lepoje had completed his education and had advanced sufficiently in the spiritual life to be ordained a deacon. His ordination was conducted by the metropolitan of Pakarac, Josif Jovanovic.
In 1811, as a consequence of another uprising, which also failed, led by various Orthodox Christians, in which Hegoumenos Genadije also participated, Avakum and his mother were forced to flee to Slavonia with the hegoumenos, his son, and a number of others. About half a year later they decided to seek another home. This brought them to the Annunciation Monastery in the village of Trnava, near the town of Cacak, Serbia. There they were greeted by Hegoumenos Pajsije who lived in the monastery with his mother Sindjelija and his seventeen-year-old brother, Stevan.
Hegoumenos Pajsije was happy to have the additional clergy added to those of the monastery. This contributed to the renewal of the monastery, for it was now possible to conduct services very frequently. But the peaceful and happy days soon ended for there was another uprising in Serbia in 1813. As a result, the Ottoman Muslims began an offensive to recapture towns and villages that had been liberated as a result of the Karadjorej uprising and even to move into other areas they had never occupied until then. This offensive included the capture and execution of many Orthodox Christians, some of whom had participated in the rebellion and some who had not.
As part of their pacification program, the Ottoman Muslims demanded that all Orthodox Christian leaders turn themselves in to the authorities. Some of the leaders were later set free, one of which was Hatze Prodan Grigorijevic, who settled in the Trnava Monastery. Grigorijevic, however, could not rest seeing the Muslims return to areas that were once freed of them. He therefore organized another rebellion from the Stejenik Monastery with the involvement of various Serbian leaders who included Hegoumenos Pajsije, Father Genadije and other clergymen from the area surrounding Pozega. The rebellion was to take place on the Feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross, September 14, under the leadership of Prince (Knez) Milos Obrenovic with Hatzi Prodan as his aide. They all took an oath administered by Hegoumenos Pajsije, who was chosen to give the signal for the start of the uprising.
The rebellion began with an attack upon the Muslims of Latif Aga in Trnava, who were taken prisoners by Hadzi Prodan and his men, accompanied by Father Pajsije. Although this uprising spread to other areas of Serbia, it did not have the invaluable support of Knez Milos, who felt that the Orthodox Christians were not strong enough to take on the Muslims at that time. In fact Milos joined the Muslims to suppress the rebellion at the battle of Gruza, near Knic, during which Hatzi Prodan had to flee. This was followed by a systematic round-up of Orthodox Christian leaders, who were placed in irons and brought before Vali Suleiman Skopljak Pasha in Belgrade. In the column of 115 prisoners were Hegoumenos Pajsije and his young Deacon Avakum. Also in the same column of prisoners were their mothers, Bizana and Sindjelija. In Belgrade the prisoners were closed within the walls of the Nebojsa-kula (Nebosja Tower) prison.
Suleiman Skopljak Pasha was determined to teach all Orthodox Christians a lesson by torturing his prisoners and then putting them to death in the cruelest possible manner. For Hegoumenos Pajsije he had special plans.
On December 17, 1814, Suleiman Skpljak Pasha called for his attendant and made inquiries about Hegoumenos Pajsije. When he found out that he was well, despite the mistreatment, and was being fed a small ration of bread and water each day, he immediately ordered that no food be given to Pajsije. Instead, he ordered the preparation of a large oak stake, to be set up at the Neboja Tower Gate where he intended to have Pajsije impaled.
Meanwhile in prison, both Pajsije and Avakum knew it was unlikely they would be spared. Both spent much of their time in prayer and in giving encouragement to the other prisoners. Avakum sang from the Psalms, "God is with us, understand O you nations," while Pajsije prayed,
O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, I bless the day when, in the Church of the Annunciation of Your most pure Mother, in which I served You and Your people, I bestowed me blessing on all the suffering people to rise against the enemy, which has trampled over our sanctuaries and destroyed and burned them. I believe, O Lord, that my unworthy blessing will be to Your Serbian people according to Your mercy, good news of freedom, which You will give and bring, and in which they will glorify You, O Lord.
You saw and You knew that my heart was far from earthly treasures for which I did not care. And You, Lord, saw and You knew that my heart was tied only to my people as the greatest treasure after You. Help, O Lord, Your people. Help me, O Lord, for you made me worthy of your angelic habit and the priestly office. Help me, O Lord, to preserve that honor which is, according to Your angels, unto the glory and for the honor and benefit of my people and Your inheritance. Take away from the hesitancy and confusion and let it be Your will, O Lord.
Lord, don't put me into the hands of the enemy so that they triumph because of my weakness, but through me, Your servant, glorify Your people, my children and the entire Serbian people.
Lord, I voluntarily accept the suffering in Your name and for my people, as Your biggest and most precious gift. Make it as sweet as nectar in my heart. And to my soul, which is thirsting for You, let it [the suffering] be as balm, healing and bearing salvation.
Make me worthy, O Lord, of the second and greatest baptism through blood and martyrdom, which You gave to Your chosen ones. I beg You for one thing, O Lord: that the blood of this baptism be on the enemies of Your holy Church and the Serbian people...
When Deacon Avakum finished singing this triumphant song, he came closer to Hegoumenos Pajsije, and hearing his last word, he added, "Amen. Grant it O God." At that very moment the prison door opened and a soldier asked for Hegoumenos Pajsije. Before leaving, Avakum asked and received his blessing for the last time.
As Pajsije walked toward the Stambol Gate, the execution site, he was made to carry the two meter post with a sharpened end which was to be used for his own impalement. But Pajsije marched along unafraid because his faith and the spiritual power that God had granted him filled his heard and he felt joy instead of fear, for he knew that he was about to die for Jesus Christ, His Church and His people.
When Pajsije arrived at Stambol Gate, he put down the post he had been carrying and calmly watched as a Muslim dug a hole to plant it in. When the hole was completed, the vizier gave a signal and the impaling of Hegoumenos Pajsije began. The pain was excruciating and unbearable, which caused him to groan throughout this most cruel ordeal. When they completed their bloody task, the impalers raised Father Pajsije in a vertical position to be seen by all. It was then that Pajsije proclaimed, "Glory to God" (Slava Bogu). A little later, he was heard saying softly, "G-o-o-od," while the vizier nearby looked on with a pleased smile on his face.
The vizier, however, was not done. He immediately clapped his hands and , at this signal, the other prisoners who had been brought to the same site were attacked by Muslim soldiers wielding swords. This resulted in the massacre of forty-eight people, whose bodies were then raised up on posts; a gruesome sight meant to discourage any further opposition to the Muslims.
On that very same day, prisoners from Jagodina arrived in a long column. Father Genadije was among them. As he approached the Stambul Gate, he recognized his superior, Hegoumenos Pajsije, impaled and hanging from a post. He froze momentarily. It was then that he and the others with him realized what their own fate would be.
On that very same day, Sindjelija was on her way to the Nebojsa Tower to visit her sons. Before she arrived there, she stopped in front of the Stambul Gate and recognized her son Pajsije. She immediately began pounding her chest and crying out bitterly. She then hurried on to find out the fate of her other son, Dimitrije.
Similar scenes would be repeated many times on a daily basis for more than a month. Belgrade became a very sad and melancholy place because Orthodox Christians were being executed in all parts of the city as well as in its environs.
One eyewitness is reported to have said, "On Vracar, from Tsmajdan all the way to Stambul Gate stands a parade of men impaled on posts." There were sixty to seventy bodies, not counting those impaled on posts." There were sixty to seventy bodies, not counting those impaled in Jagodina and Cuprija on both sides of the road. Among these [the victims] were many priests and monks whose bodies were being eaten by dogs when they were able to reach them. It seems that the Muslims made certain to include at least one priest in every group they executed. Among those treated in this fashion were Fathers Simo Sjenicanin, Radovan Vujovic from Trnava, Mijailo (Michael) from Ljutovnica, and others. We do not know if these clergymen were offered an opportunity to become Muslims.
Meanwhile, Father Genadije, on his way to the prison to inquire about the fate of his son Stojan, passed by the impaled Hegoumenos Pajsije and saw what agony he was experiencing. Father Genadije was overwhelmed with fear in anticipation of his own son's death. He therefore decided to become a Muslim and would try to convince his son to do the same and thus avoid death.
Father Genadije disclosed his decision to his son, adding that he was doing it for him. Later, when things got better and quieted down, he explained, they would return to Orthodoxy.
In response, Stojan said, "Father, they [Muslims] are preparing an oak post for Lejoje [Deacon Avakum]."
To this Genadije replied, "we are all condemned, my son, to carry it [the post], some sooner, and some of us later. There is no salvation from anywhere, but perhaps that innocent young man [Avakum] will accept that dog's faith [Islam] in order to avoid the post [death],"
Stojan replied, "He will not, I swear to God, my father. I know him well. His faith is firm. He is not afraid of death. He knows how to love God and this holy land [Serbia]."
Father Genadije answered, "I know, my child, but think of what I am saying to you. The suffering will be great and one ought to be steady. I have nothing to gain from this. For me it is all the same when I will carry that post, but I fear for you, your youth and your beauty. Listen to your father. Don't be stubborn. The time of the Muslims [Turks] is almost over, and our country will need young people."
"I know, Father," said Stojan, "but what will people say?"
"There is no but," was Father Genadije's reply. "We will accept the dirty faith [Islam] for a short time, and when the slaughtering is finished we will, in God's name, become what we were."
Stojan countered, "But Father, how will we pass by our brethren?"
To this Genadije said, "Simply, my son, we will let the Muslims do theirs, and we will do ours. We will carry our faith in our hearts. And Lepoje [Avakum] will also convert."
To this Stojan said, "Let it be as you say."
Father Genadije informed Deacon Avakum of the decision to convert to Islam. But Avakum would not listen to such talk, on the contrary he tried to talk father and son out of converting, citing Genadije's ecclesiastical office and his Serbian national pride, but Genadije was determined and soon afterwards he informed the Muslims officials of his decision. Thus, both he and his son, renamed Mulla Salija and Redzep respectively, became Muslims in formal ceremonies.
The Muslims tried to convince Pajsije's brother Dimitrije to accept Islam, but he refused. Later he was taken out of prison and beheaded outside the city walls. His head was displayed on a high pole for all to see.
Among all those whom the Muslims apprehended they singled out Avakum, whose youth and handsome features made him a prize for conversion. But Deacon Avakum rejected and resisted all attempts to convert him. Neither the threats nor the offers of honors and prizes had any effect on him. He responded with a prayer to Jesus Christ from whom he drew strength. Even the recent converts to the Muslim faith, Mulla Salija and his son Redzep, joined in the effort to convert Avakum, but he would not respond even to them.
Mulla Salija said to Avakum, "My son, let God help you. Convert to Islam. Don't die in vain. Look at Stojan and me."
To these statements Avakum replied by saying, "No, Father, I am Christ's soldier. Death is relief for me. Let me rejoice in death."
In the end, the Muslims gave up trying, and Avakum was led toward Kalemegdan, carrying his post with which he would be impaled. The procession went forth with the Muslims rejoicing and the Christians mourning.
Avakums's desperate mother followed crying and begging her son to convert and save himself. But Avakum walked ahead instead with a song on his lips, "There is no father better than the Orthodox Christian faith! The Serb belongs to Christ and rejoices at death. The dreadful judgment of God also awaits the Muslims! You may do as you like! But soon the Muslims will be exposed. God is a witness and justice and righteousness are also His."
At Kalomegdan, Avakum's mother tried once more to convince her son to save himself by abandoning Orthodox Christianity. "My son," she said, "God will forgive you, for we are living in troubled times."
To this Avakum said, "To you, mother, I owe thanks for my nursing. But no thanks for your teaching. Soon you will rejoice for your son when we come before the face of God. Death releases from all grief."
At the place of execution, it was the Muslims who made a last minute effort to change Avakum's mind. In response Avakum replied, "Indeed, do Muslims ever die?"
"Of course they do," was the answer.
"Then it is all the same, sooner of later. The sooner I die, the fewer sins I have," replied Avakum.
The Muslims then gave up and turned to the gruesome task of impaling Avakum. But before they completed their task, a compassionate Muslim pierced Avakum's heart with his sword and thus ended Avakum's suffering.
Avakum's mother remained by her son for a long time. She kissed and caressed his hands and feet until she fell to the ground, which was soaked with blood. Some time after midnight she awoke, made the sign of the cross, and disappeared in the darkness.
Avakum's last words were, "You may do as you like, Muslims," which were the same words spoken some ten years earlier on the same spot by Archimandrite Hatze Ruvin who also was martyred there.
Pajsije the hegoumenos, and his brother Dimitrije gave up their lives in Belgrade, Serbia for the love of Jesus Christ on December 17, 1814, while Avakum the deacon was martyred for the same reason and in the same city on January 17, 1815.
Source: Witnesses for Christ: Orthodox Christian Neomartyrs of the Ottoman Period 1437-1860 by Nomikos Michael Vaporis