Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessalonica

Great Martyr Demetrius was born in the city of Thessalonica to a secret Christian — a Roman proconsul. After his father's death, St. Demetrius inherited his office and, contrary to the expectations of Emperor Maximian Galerius, not only did not persecute the Christians of the province entrusted to him but openly confessed and preached the faith of Christ, for which he was imprisoned. While in confinement, St. Demetrius blessed and strengthened the youth Nestor, who went out to duel the emperor's favorite gladiator, Lyaeus, and won, for which he was executed together with Nestor. Enraged by this, the emperor ordered soldiers to pierce St. Demetrius with spears in prison, which was carried out around 306. The martyr's body was thrown to wild beasts but remained untouched and was buried by Christians. A basilica was later erected over his burial place in Thessalonica, and the Great Martyr Demetrius came to be venerated as the heavenly patron and protector of the city. The myrrh-streaming relics of the saint glorified him as one of the most venerated warrior-saints of the Orthodox world. His memory is kept on October 26/November 8.