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†Holy Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessalonica St. was born Demetrius in the city of Thessaloniki from the parents of Christians, who, however, secretly professed a faith that was subjected to frequent and severe persecution in their time - in the 2nd half of the 3rd century. Nevertheless, they tried their best to raise their son in Christian concepts. After the death of his father, who was the head of the city, Demetrius was also made ruler of Thessaloniki. At the same time, he was charged with the main duty of persecuting and destroying all followers of Christ. But Demetrius not only did not fulfill this imperial command, but used his influence as a powerful and rich man to patronize Christians with all his might, and even openly professed faith in Christ. This, of course, was brought to the attention of the emperor. Returning at this time from a long campaign, the emperor had to pass through Thessaloniki. While waiting for him, Demetrius, knowing what he was subjected to as a disseminator of the faith, which he was obliged to pursue tirelessly, handed over his estate to his faithful servant Luppus, saying to him: “Give earthly wealth to the poor, and we will look for heavenly wealth,” and, truly putting aside all concern for earthly things, began to prepare for death. Arriving in Thessaloniki, the emperor demanded Demetrius to come to him. The courageous Christian did not deviate from the truth and boldly confessed his faith in Jesus Christ, while denouncing the false concepts of the pagans. For this he was imprisoned. While he was languishing here in chains, strengthened and delighted by inhuman consolations, the emperor amused himself with the entertainment games arranged for him in the city. By the way, a brutal battle took place, in which one of his favorite fighters, terrible with his strength, Liy, almost killed those who came out to compete with him, throwing them from a height onto sharp spears. Its victims, for the most part, were Christians, who were forcibly brought to the battle. “One young Christian named Nestor could not stand this sight; he decided to enter into a fight with the bestial gladiator, who had already killed many Christians. But before embarking on this dangerous task, he went to Demetrius in prison to ask for his prayers and blessings. – You will defeat Leah, but you will be tortured for Christ... the martyr predicted to the young man and released him with a blessing to deliver Christians from the cruel executioner... Indeed, calling on “God Dimitriev” for help, Nestor overpowered the strongman and threw him on top of the spears, as he himself had thrown others before. But for this he was immediately put to death by order of the emperor, angry for the death of his favorite at the hands of a hated Christian. Then, having learned that it was Demetrius who blessed young Nestor for victory, the emperor ordered him to be subjected to the same death from which the famous gladiator Leah died. And so, early in the morning, October 26th, the soldiers were sent to prison to kill Demetrius; They found him praying and, mercilessly rushing at him with spears, martyred him. At night, Christians secretly took the body of St. martyr and gave him burial. Saint Demetrius of Thessalonica suffered in 306. Soon after him, his faithful servant Lupp was put to death, who, having been at the death of his master, cleaned up and preserved the clothes stained with his martyr’s blood, and, laying them on the sick, saw that miraculous healings were being accomplished from them. This influenced the conversion of many to faith in God as a Christian martyr, but drew the attention of the persecutors to Luppus, who was thus spreading the conversion of pagans to Christianity, and he was martyred. When the persecution ended, through the zeal of the believers, a small church was built over the grave of the Great Martyr Demetrius, at which many miraculous healings from illnesses took place. When, by the way, one Illyrian governor, named Leonty, received healing, he wished to build a large and magnificently decorated church instead of the former small one; While digging ditches, the relics of St. Demetrius incorruptible and placed in an ark decorated with gold and silver. Land and vineyards were acquired for the maintenance of the church, the construction of which dates back to the beginning of the 5th century. And from that time on, the inhabitants of Thessaloniki did not cease to honor the memory of their great martyr, who indeed many times showed undoubted signs of his intercession and his protection of the place of his earthly life, like many other saints who, having moved to blissful eternity, do not leave their earthly fatherland, continue to take part in the needs and sorrows of their earthly compatriots and do not lack in intercession for them before God and in showing They often receive truly miraculous, unexpected help, which they could not even count on based on human, natural considerations alone... So is St. Demetrius often saved his hometown of Thessaloniki from hunger and from enemy attacks: “one day there was a shortage of bread in the city and the surrounding area, so many began to die of hunger. So what? Suddenly, ships with bread from distant countries began to arrive at the city, and the shipmen explained that they had intended to take the bread to other countries, but were sent to Thessaloniki by the appearance of St. Demetrius... Also, when the Arabians besieged Thessaloniki, and the citizens asked for protection from St. Demetrius, then one pious man named Illustria had a vision testifying that, through intercession with God, St. Demetrius, the city will be freed from enemies. And indeed, the enemies unexpectedly lifted the siege in the morning and left”... 312. In general, about the miracles of St. the Great Martyr Demetrius, three lengthy books were compiled by John, Archbishop of Thessalonica in the 7th century - based on reliable evidence or on the basis of his own observation. Then in the acts of St. later miracles are spoken of. Information about the expiration of the world from his relics is found in John Kameniata in the 10th century 313. Reverent veneration of St. of the Great Martyr Demetrius is also common in Russia. His name, according to the Russian Chronicles, precedes the names of all saints; it is mentioned by Nestor in the story of the capture of Constantinople by Grand Duke Oleg. When the Slavic warriors defeated the Byzantines, “they were afraid of Greece,” says St. Nestor, - and rekosha: behold Oleg, but St. Demetrius was sent to us from God” (Nest. years. 18 p.). Since the 12th century, and perhaps earlier, Russian princes, in order to elevate their inheritance, to protect themselves from attacks on their cities by enemies, began to acquire something from the relics of the “fatherland lover” St. Dimitri. Euphrosyne of Polotsk from Palestine brought a cross in which, between various shrines, there was a particle of the relics of St. Dimitri. “In 1198, on January 10, 314 a plaque of St. was brought to the Grand Duke (Vsevolod Yuryevich in Vladimir) from Thessalonica. Demetrius 315, namely, the icon of St. Great Martyr, written on his coffin board, and this joyful event, as important, was included as a holiday in the ancient calendar. At first this icon was in Kyiv, then moved to Vladimir, and in 1380 to Moscow, and placed in the Assumption Cathedral, where the chapel of St. Demetrius, who was important for the Russian princes and tsars. – Rich monasteries and magnificent churches were built by Russian princes in honor of St. Demetrius of Thessalonica, and they often named their eldest sons after him. In the old days, his memory day throughout Russia was considered one of the major holidays, and the Divine service on this holiday was distinguished by special solemnity 316. “Great will you find in troubles, the champion of the universe, passion-bearing, conquering tongues,” sings St. Church of the Great Martyr Demetrius, - just as you brought down Liev’s pride, and boldly created Nestor for the feat: thus, Saint Demetrius, prayed to Christ God to grant us great mercy.” “With streams of your blood, Demetrius, God stained the Church, giving you an invincible fortress, and keeping your city unharmed, for that you are the affirmation!” (Trop. and cond.). “Resurrect. Conversations", 1882, p. 171. “Monthly. East." archim. Serg., vol. II, part 2, pp. 340–341. Thessalonica - in Greek, Thessaloniki - in the common language, Thessaloniki - in Slavic. See Months of the Saints, ed. at “Tamb. diocesan Vedom.”, month. October, pp. 127–133.