Holy and glorious Great Martyr of Christ Demetrius, quick helper and warm intercessor of those who flow to you with faith! Standing boldly before the Heavenly King, ask Him for forgiveness of our sins, so that we may be delivered from the all-destructive plague, cowardice, flood, fire, sword and eternal punishment. Pray for His goodness to take care of this city, this monastery and every Christian country. Ask the Tsar of those who reign in our Russian country for peace, silence, firmness in faith and advancement in piety; For us, who honor your honorable memory, ask for grace-filled strengthening for good deeds, so that what is pleasing to our Lord Christ God, who works here, may be worthy to inherit through your prayers The Kingdom of Heaven is for His eternal glorification, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, forever and ever. Amen.
Holy Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessalonica is a Greek commander who was killed for his faith after monstrous torture by Emperor Diocletian in 306. Heavenly patron of the blessed Prince Dimitri Donskoy, assistant to the Russian army in the victory over Mamai. After the Battle of Kulikovo, in 1380, the noble prince Dimitry Donskoy established the commemoration of the killed Russian soldiers on Dimitrievskaya Saturday (closest before October 26). From then until now, every year on this day the Church commemorates all the soldiers “who laid down their lives in battle.”