THE FEAST OF THE HOLY GREAT MARTYR DEMETRIUS THE MYRRH-GUSHER AT THE PATRIARCHATE

On Wednesday, October 26/November 8, 2023, the feast of the holy glorious martyr Demetrius the myrrh-gusher was celebrated by the Patriarchate.

On this feast, the Church renews in its memory that Saint Demetrius came from Thessaloniki, of which he is also the patron saint and lived in it during the times of the emperor Maximian. He was the son of pious parents and a fervent teacher of the faith.

His sermons disturbed Maximian, who, coming to Thessaloniki, ordered his imprisonment. At the end of the games in Thessaloniki, Lyaeus, arrogantly full of himself provoked the athletes to a fight. A Christian named Nestor came to the prison, and received the blessing of Saint Demetrius, to fight against Lyaios. Saint Demetrius answered, “You shall both defeat Lyaios and bear witness for Christ”. As the saint prophesied, Nestor fought in the stadium and managed to strike Lyaios and killed him. Upon learning the reason, Maximianus sent him to prison and killed Saint Demetrius with spears and decapitated Nestor with a sword at the sight of him.

In honour of Saint Demetrius, Vespers was held in the afternoon and the Divine Liturgy in the morning in the chapel of Saint Demetrius in the Central Monastery, officiated by the Most Reverend Metropolitan Demetrius of Lydda, along with the Typicon Keeper Archimandrite Alexios, the Archimandrites Makarios, Amfilochios, Christodoulos, Priest Nectarios and Archdeacon Mark. The Secretary of the Holy Synod, Hierodeacon Simeon delivered the chanting with the help of Archimandrite Niphon and the Patriarchal School Students. The Liturgy was attended by faithful Christians and the teachers of the adjacent School of Saint Demetrius, praying to the Saint for the cessation of the war and the relief of its innocent victims.

During the Divine Liturgy, H.H.B. our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos and Holy Sepulchre Fathers came for veneration.

After the end of the Divine Liturgy, a festive treat was served in the forecourt of the Holy Church, by those serving at the Central Monastery of Saint Constantine, Father Byron and Father Seraphim.

From Secretariat-General