In June 1821, Turks murdered Bishop Gerasimos Pardalis together with bishops, abbots, clerics and members of the congregation who were in the church and the churchyard.

On Easter night 1826, when the Christians were attending mass inside the church, the Turks decided to attack and massacre them. But at the very moment they were about to commit this outrage, a military officer brandishing a drawn sword rode up, blocked their way and drove them from the church. Thinking that it was Ayan Agha, their fiercest warrior, the Turks fled in terror. The Christians saw this as a miracle, believing that the man on horseback was Agios Minas himself, patron saint of the city and guardian of its citizens.