Written by: Catechist Branislav Ilić
Saint Demetrius the Great-Martyr, the glorious and victorious witness of Christ, struggled at the end of the third century, at a time when a fierce persecution had been raised against Christians. From his Life, written by John, Archbishop of Thessaloniki, we learn that Demetrius came from noble and prominent parents. His father, the military commander of the city of Thessaloniki, was a secret Christian who kept icons of Christ the Saviour and the Mother of God before which he prayed daily. Owing to this ethos of true and genuine piety, the young Demetrius learned from his parents the first lessons of the life in Christ. The faith that took a central place in his life, Saint Demetrius preserved until the very end and sealed it with his martyrdom.
After the death of his father, Emperor Maximian appointed Demetrius as commander of Thessaloniki because of the nobility and courage of his soul, and instructed him to persecute and eradicate all Christians in that city. However, Saint Demetrius did not carry out the emperor’s command; instead, he showed attention and love towards Christians, granting them full freedom, and beyond that, he publicly confessed Christ both in word and deed. As Maximian returned from war and came to Thessaloniki, upon learning that Saint Demetrius was a true Christian, he removed him from his military office, and ordered that he be imprisoned. In prison the saint was pierced with spears. Thus he received a glorious martyr’s death for confessing the Christian faith. His martyrdom is magnified by the Church’s hymnographer with the following words: “O wondrous miracle surpassing understanding: pierced three times for Christ, O blessed Demetrius, you appeared to enemies and adversaries as a weapon sharpened on both sides, destroying the strongholds of the foe and shattering the cruelty of demons; therefore we cry to you: Holy Demetrius, protect us who faithfully honour you in love at all times.”
Saint Demetrius could neither in heart nor soul renounce his Creator and Saviour. The Thessalonian Wonderworker is a saint who sealed his fidelity to God with his life—that is, with his love for Him, for His Church, and for his neighbours. This saint teaches us through his example the eternal and imperishable truths of our faith; he teaches us that true faith implies concrete deeds, and even readiness for sacrifice that is crowned with martyrdom. Saint Demetrius reminds us that all holy martyrs are the most radiant witnesses of the faith of the Cross and Resurrection.
In the saint’s Life we find the testimony that at the time of Saint Demetrius’ execution his faithful servant Lupus was present. Lupus took the robe and ring of his master, stained with the saint’s holy blood, and carried them with him, fervently praying to the saint that by his holy prayers he would help him and those around him. Then a great miracle occurred, bearing witness to the boundless love of God. Namely, all the sick who touched these holy objects with unwavering faith and trust in God were healed of their illnesses and infirmities. This miracle aroused the wrath of Emperor Maximian, who then ordered that Lupus also be put to death.
The prayerful protection and love of Saint Demetrius for the inhabitants of the city of Thessaloniki remain active and present to this day. Throughout the centuries past, the saint has not permitted anyone to take particles of his holy relics, which remain whole in Thessaloniki. The people of Thessaloniki, now as through all past centuries, know and feel that Saint Demetrius the Myrrh-Streamer continues to guard his God-protected city.
Many conquerors hastened towards the great and beautiful city of Thessaloniki, but the sword of Saint Demetrius of Thessaloniki drove them away from his native city.
Saint Demetrius the Great-Martyr is widely known to the faithful as the myrrh-streaming saint. The Basilica of Saint Demetrius in Thessaloniki, where the relics of this servant of God are kept, was according to preserved historical records and chronicles the most visited church during the Middle Ages, which is confirmed by Domentijan’s Life of Saint Sava in the following words: “Saint Sava came to the city of Thessaloniki, venerated Saint Demetrius the Great-Martyr, and kissed his honourable tomb.” Thessaloniki, the second-largest city in Greece, has throughout its history been of great importance, immediately after Constantinople. It was there that the holy Apostle Paul wrote his famous Epistle to the Thessalonians. In this city were born Saints Cyril and Methodius, and from it they set forth on their mission of bringing Christianity and literacy to the Slavic peoples. The city itself today remains a vast archaeological site, and throughout its existence it has had more than 365 churches.
Saint Demetrius is, indeed, the wondrous protector of Thessaloniki. In the time when the Serbs were still pagans, they too attacked this city hoping to conquer it. The miraculous deliverance of Thessaloniki at that time contributed greatly to the fact that even the invaders accepted the faith of its inhabitants. We should not forget that Saint Demetrius is today the heavenly patron of two important cities in Serbia: Sremska Mitrovica and Kosovska Mitrovica.
During a great famine, when the people of Thessaloniki were threatened by mortal danger, Saint Demetrius appeared to the captain of a merchant ship and asked him to bring to Thessaloniki the grain he had intended to export to Europe, where it was urgently needed. He even gave him three coins as earnest money, assuring him that he would receive the remainder upon arrival. And indeed, when the ship reached the harbour of Thessaloniki, the astonished inhabitants ran to buy the wheat. The captain told them of the miracle that had occurred, and all glorified God and thanked the saint for his saving intervention. Numerous such miracles have been performed through the love of God by Saint Demetrius the Great-Martyr over the centuries, as he continues to shelter his city in prayer.
The hymnographic texts in the service of Saint Demetrius the Great-Martyr were written by many well-known hymnographers, among whom the most distinguished are: Emperor Leo VI the Wise, who wrote the Glory at “Lord, I have cried.” The litiya stichera were composed by Anatolios, George the Sicilian, and Germanos. The first canon was written by Theophanes, while the second canon is the work of Philotheos, Patriarch of Constantinople.
The Church’s hymnographer calls Saint Demetrius the crowned one among the martyrs. Thus in the festal troparion we glorify God’s saint, Saint Demetrius the Great-Martyr, wonderworker and myrrh-streamer of Thessaloniki, with the following words: “In afflictions the whole world found in you a great protector, O martyr who overcomes the multitudes of idolaters. As you destroyed Lyaios’ pride and strengthened Nestor for the contest, so pray, O Saint Demetrius, to Christ our God that He may grant us great mercy.”