At 7 AM *Stay at home* obeying the “Shelter in Place,” and pray with us via our parish live-stream on our FaceBook page and our YouTube page. Read along with the service by clicking here.

St. Demetrius (285-310) was born in Thessalonica to devout parents. They had been childless a long time and prayed for a child and were given Demetrius. Growing up, Demetrius was known for his wisdom, virtue, and noble birth. Demetrius’ father was a commander under the Emperor, and died a while after Galerius Maximilian became emperor. And so Demetrius then took his father’s place as commander in Thessalonica. Emperor Maximilian gave orders Demetrius to persecute the Christians. But Demetrius was a Christian. So, instead he went and preached the gospel in Thessalonica. When Maximilian came back from a war, he went to Thessalonica to bring tiding of his victories and to receive praise from the peoples. So he brought some gladiators with him, including the mighty Lyaeus (sometimes written Lyeios). Lyaeus was a gladiator whose strength and victories made him the pride of the emperor Maximilian. Lyaeus also was known for mocking Christians.

Persecuted
Once Maximilian arrived in Thessalonica, he received reports from the pagans about how Demetrius was using his post to convert other pagans to Christianity. Maximilian called Demetrius to find out if this was true. Demetrius came, and openly rebuked the emperor for his idolatry and proclaimed the truth of Christianity.

And so, Demetrius was thrown in prison.
Now at that time there was a young man named Nestor (St. Nestor of Thessalonica). Nestor felt called by God to prove the power of the Lyaeus to be worthless. So, Nestor went to visit Demetrius in prison. There, Nestor asked for Demetrius’ for God’s protection against Lyaeus. The saint granted this blessing on Nestor, who went off to battle with Lyaeus. In the arena, Lyaeus rushed at Nestor. Nestor sidestepped Lyaeus’ blow, and with a small dagger inflicted Lyaeus with a mortal wound. So the “small boy” amazed the crowd by defeating the “giant Lyaeus.” (Sounds familiar, right?). And Nestor proclaimed that his victory came from Christ.

Martyred
Emperor Maximillian was furious! So he sent his soldiers after Nestor, who was chased and martyred outside the stadium. (Nestor is commemorated October 27th). The soldiers were then sent to kill Demetrius without trial. The soldiers came into the prison cell and pierced his body with lances. So Christians came and collected his body, which had been left for wild animals to eat. And when they went to bury him, a myrrh proceeded from the saints’ body. All who were anointed with it were healed.

Demetrius had a servant named Lupus, who was present at the saint’s death. So Lupus collected some relics from his master’s body, and distributed the saint’s property to the poor (as he was instructed to do by Saint Demetrius before his martyrdom).

A church was built over Demetrius’ burial site after Constantine the Great became emperor.