Icon Saint Demetrius

Saint Demetrius was born around 280 AD or 284 AD and died as a martyr under the emperors Diocletian and Maximianus in 303 AD or 305 AD.

Saint Demetrios came from an aristocratic family in Thessaloniki. He chose the profession of a soldier in the Roman army and at the age of 22 he attained the rank of a kiliarch. While he was a chiliarch under the command of Galerius Maximianus,who later became emperor and while he was when Diocletian was emperor, he became a Christian and was imprisoned in Thessalonica in 303 AD. Ignoring Diocletian’s decree of persecution of Christians, St. Demetrius was arrested and imprisoned.

In prison with him was a young Christian, Nestor, who was in isolation with the fearsome gladiator of the time, Lyaius. The young Christian asked Demetrius for help and advice before the duel. St. Demetrius told him, you will defeat him and not to be afraid, and Nestor defeated Lyameus. This provoked the emperor’s wrath. He then ordered both Nestor and Demetrius to be put to death.

The writers who wrote about him afterwards, say that the body of the Saint remained in the place of martyrdom, and the tomb was transformed into a deep well that gushed myrrh, hence the name of the Myrrh-bearer.

In Byzantine icons and in our hagiography, Saint Demetrius is presented as a rider on a red horse, trampling the unbelieving Lycian, while Saint George is a rider on a white horse, killing the dragon.

Saint Demetrios is the patron saint of Thessaloniki.