St. Demetrios of Thessaloniki: Martyrdom, Myrrh, and City Protector

The post presents the life of St. Demetrios of Thessaloniki as told in the Ohrid Prologue of St. Nikolai Velimirovich. Born to noble, pious parents in Thessaloniki, he was their only child after years of childlessness. His father served as the city's commander; after his death, Emperor Maximian appointed Demetrios to the same post.

The emperor ordered him to persecute Christians, but Demetrios openly confessed Christ and preached the faith. When Maximian returned from war against the Sarmatians, he stopped in Thessaloniki to test Demetrios. The saint confessed his faith and denounced idolatry, leading to his imprisonment.

Before his arrest, Demetrios gave his possessions to his servant Lupus to distribute to the poor and went to prison joyfully. An angel appeared to him, saying, 'Peace to you, sufferer for Christ, be brave and strong!' Soldiers later found him praying and killed him with spears. Christians secretly buried his body, from which healing myrrh flowed.

A small church was built over his relics. An Illyrian nobleman, Leontius, suffering from an incurable illness, was healed at the relics and built a larger church in gratitude; the saint appeared to him twice. Emperor Justinian later attempted to transfer the relics to Constantinople, but flames erupted from the tomb and a voice commanded, 'Stop, do not touch!' The relics remained in Thessaloniki.

As the city's protector, St. Demetrios appeared many times and saved it from great calamities. The text notes that his miracles are innumerable. It also states that Russians regard him as the patron of Siberia, which was conquered and annexed to Russia on October 26, 1581.