November 8/October 26 – memory of the Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessaloniki, Myrrh-Streamertranslated

The Great Martyr Demetrius was born in the city of Soluni in Greece (otherwise - Thessaloniki, now - Thessaloniki) during the reign of the wicked god-fighting kings Diocletian and Maximian. His parents, secret Christians, had no children for a long time. They earnestly prayed to the Lord to give them an heir. The all-merciful Lord heeded their prayers and gave them a son, whom they named Demetrius. When the boy grew up, they called a priest, secretly baptized him in their secret home church and constantly instructed him in the faith. His father, the Roman proconsul, died when Demetrius reached adulthood. Emperor Maximian Galerius, who ascended the throne in 305, appointed Demetrius in his father’s place as ruler and governor of the Thessalonian region. Demetrius's main duty was to defend his region from external enemies, but the emperor also demanded that he exterminate Christians. Demetrius instead began to eradicate pagan customs and convert pagans to the faith of Christ. Of course, the emperor was soon informed that Proconsul Demetrius was a Christian.

Returning from a campaign against the Sarmatians (tribes inhabiting the Black Sea steppes), Maximian stopped in Thessaloniki. Preparing for death, Demetrius distributed his property to the poor, and he himself...