Orthodox calendar: November 8 is the day of remembrance of the Holy Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessalonicatranslated

23rd Sunday after Pentecost.

Today, November 8, 2026, the Orthodox Church honors the memory of the Great Martyr. Demetrius of Thessalonica (c. 306); memory of the great and terrible shaking (earthquake) that took place in Constantinople (740); martyr Luppa (c. 306); St. Athanasius of Midice (c. 814); St. Theophilus of Pechersk, Archbishop. Novgorodsky (1482); St. Demetrius of Basarbovsky, Bulgarian (1685).

There is no post.

Today, November 8, the Church celebrates the memory of the Holy Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessalonica, whose name in Rus' has since ancient times been associated with military feats, patriotism and defense of the Fatherland.

The saint is depicted on icons as a warrior in feathered armor, with a spear and sword in his hands. On the scroll (in later images) they wrote a prayer with which Saint Demetrius addressed God for the salvation of his native Thessaloniki: “Lord, do not destroy the city and the people. If you save the city and the people, I will be saved with them; if you destroy them, I will die with them.”

Great Martyr Demetrius was born in the city of Thessaloniki in Greece. His parents, secret Christians, baptized him and 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...