10/26/2026
Blessed Feast of Holy, Glorious Demetrios the Myrrhstreamer of Thessaloniki! ☦️ The son of a Roman governor, Demetrios was baptized and raised in the Christian Faith in a secret church in his father’s home during an intense period of paganism. When he became an adult, Emperor Galerius Maximian appointed Demitrios to his father’s position as proconsul of the Thessaloniki district, confident in his education as well as his administrative and military abilities.
Despite the Emperor's policy regarding the Christianity, Demetrios began to teach the Christian Faith openly to the people of the city and encouraged them to overthrow pagan customs and the worship of idols, instead of persecuting and executing them. Because of his teaching zeal, he became “a second Apostle Paul” for Thessaloniki. When the emperor had learned of this, he ordered Demetrios to be thrown into prison.
A brave Christian named Nestor went to the prison to visit Demetrios, asking for his blessing to fight the barbarian Lyaeos. With the blessing and prayers of the saint, Nestor defeated the fierce barbarian and hurled him from the platform onto the spears of the soldiers. The enraged commander ordered the ex*****on of the holy Martyr Nestor and sent a guard to the prison to kill Demetrios. The body of the holy saint was cast out for wild animals to devour, but some Christians took it and secretly buried it in the earth. Since the seventh century, a miraculous flow of fragrant myrrh has been found beneath the crypt of the Great Martyr Demetrios. (oca.org)
🎵 "The entire world has found you to be a great champion in times of peril; for you put the heathen to flight, O victorious one. As you brought to naught the boasts of Lyaeus, and gave courage to Nestor in the stadium, in the same way, O Holy Great Martyr Demetrios, entreat Christ God, that He grant us great mercy." Troparion — Tone 3
