The Holy Relics of St. Demetrios pouring forth myrrh (2020)

The Holy Relics of St. Demetrios the Great Martyr and Myrrhstreamer, being moved to the center of his church for the "Holy Week" services in his honor, but pouring forth much myrrh inside and in front of its glass case (source)

The blog author remarks:

"Now that we are in need, the Saint is beside us."

A Fr. Euthemios, whose robes are being drenched from the myrrh coming from the Holy Relics of St. Demetrios as he is helping to carry them (source)

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

"This child you should name Demetri."

St. Demetrios the Great Martyr and Myrrh-streamer (source)

  
The following miracle which occurred and which you will read below will give you goose bumps. It is an astonishing miracle of St. Demetrios, which comes from the book: "The Myrrh of St. Demetrios - History and Modern Miracles".

"My name is X.A. and I am from Naousa, Imathias, and I have 4 children and have been living in Germany for 48 years. In 1975, I was 2 months pregnant and was in bed very sick, when St. Demetrios came to me on horseback riding on a cloud and stopped at my bed while I was awake and told me:
"This child you should name Demetri."

"And after this, I came to and was feeling better, and I went into the kitchen and told my husband about St. Demetrios, and during my nine months, he protected me, until my time came [to go into labor], when I heard St. Demetrios again tell me:
"Name him Demetri, do you hear?"

"My son saw him as well with his horse and his ancient clothes and the fragrance of myrrh, at which point he vanished. We later went to Greece to the Church of St. Demetrios and to his tomb and his prison and we received some of his myrrh. Today, Demetri is 38 years old. I chant Paraklesis to St. Demetrios and I thank him greatly for protecting me and for helping me give birth to Demetri.

On March 10th, 2013, I suffered 2 strokes, and I died and was found in vast plain. I saw a demon far away buzzing around, but he could not come near me. The German doctor with machines brought me back and now I am much better. I want to come to Greece but the doctor doesn't let me travel. Please pray for us...
(source)
  

Sts. George and Demetrios the Great Martyrs (source)

     

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

"Rejoice in the Lord, O city of Thessaloniki..."

St. Demetrios the Great Martyr and Myrrhstreamer (Source)

Rejoice in the Lord, O city of Thessaloniki, exalt and dance, shining forth with faith, for Demetrios, the all-glorious Champion and Martyr of the truth holds you as a treasure in his bosom, and, beholding the receiving of wondrous healings, and seeing the casting down of the audacity of the Barbarians, give thanks to the Savior, crying out: Glory to You, O Lord.
-Idiomelon of the Litia in the First Tone, by George Sikeliotos

(source)
   

St. Demetrios the Great Martyr and Myrrhstreamer (source)

   

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

St. Demetrios: How much love he had for Christ!

St. Demetrios the Great Martyr and Myrrh-streamer (source)

  
"St. Demetrios was an only child and remained an orphan from a young age. He did not commit any sins of the flesh and never shed his seed upon the earth! Do you understand what a good disposition he had and how much love he had for Christ!


Even though he was a military governor of Thessaloniki, he lived humbly with utter asceticism. He was taught by God, he had the gift of prophecy, and is the greatest myrrh-streamer of Orthodoxy!


Scientists in Paris did a chemical analysis of the myrrh which streams from St. Demetrios, and revealed that the myrrh is made up from 33 components which do not exist anywhere else on the planet Earth!!! The myrrh is a heavenly "essence", and is a gift of the Holy Spirit.


St. Demetrios had revealed that, when he stops to stream forth myrrh, then the sins of the people of Thessaloniki will have exceeded every limit..."
-Elder Ephraim of St. Andrew Skete
(source)
   

St. Demetrios the Great Martyr and Myrrhstreamer, before his home city of Thessaloniki that he protects (source)

      

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

Excerpt from the Homily on St. Demetrios by St. Gregory Palamas

St. Demetrios the Great Martyr and Myrrh-streamer (source)

  
"This Demetrios was a teacher and an apostle, a wise man, a virgin, a venerable one, and as was said, all-comely and all-spotless in nature and greatly radiant with grace. And of this Demetrios, as was said of [the Prophet] Job, there was no one like him upon the earth among men. He was blameless, therefore, righteous and pious. And as Job was beforehand, Demetrios was later, though Job did not have the praise of virginity. For virginity the young [Demetrios] was crowned, for overcoming nature, he was shown to be equal to the Angels according to God. And his body was wounded greatly, by contending with the ancient enemy. He, therefore, withstood to the end even [the shedding] of his blood to fight against evil…
  
"And therefore this divine Demetrios became spoken of as a wonder for the whole world, the fragrance of Christ, according to St. Paul, for those who are being saved and for those who are redeemed, for the smell of death is death, but that of life is life. This incomparable fragrance I do not have words to speak of, of the myrrh and wonders granted by God from the body of the Great Martyr..."
-Excerpt from the Homily on St. Demetrios by St. Gregory Palamas
  
(amateur translation of text from source)
   
See here for the full translations of the homilies of St. Gregory Palamas.

Sts. Gregory Palamas and Demetrios the Myrrh-streamer, the great protectors of Thessaloniki (source)

  

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

"Your spirit, O wise Martyr Demetrios..."

St. Demetrios the Great Martyr and Myrrh-streamer (source)

  
Your spirit, O wise Martyr Demetrios, was taken up by God unto the heavenly mansions, for you became the defender of the Trinity, and manfully struggled as steadfast as a diamond in the stadium, and your spotless side was pierced, O all-honored one, imitating Him Who was pierced upon the Cross for the salvation of the whole world. And you were granted the power of working wonders, endlessly bestowing healings for those who suffer. Therefore, we who celebrate your repose today, rightly glorify you, who was glorified by the Lord.
-Doxastikon of the Litia for St. Demetrios the Great Martyr and Myrrh-streamer
  
(source)
  

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

"That you might be arrayed, O Demetrios..."

St. Demetrios the Great Martyr and Myrrh-streamer (source)

 
That you might be arrayed, O Demetrios, in the garment which the former Adam was stripped of, you put on the new Adam [Christ], and you put off the skin of the flesh, therefore because of this, myrrh and crowns of the Kingdom were radiantly betrothed to you.
-from the Matins Canon of St. Demetrios
 
(source)
 

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

"Having the myrrh of Christ within your soul, O Demetrios..."

St. Demetrios the Great Martyr and Myrrh-streamer (source)

  
Having the myrrh of Christ within your soul, O Demetrios, you poured forth noetically from your members as if from your lips, a free-flowing spring of myrrh, showing you to be a sacred dwelling-place of the grace of the Spirit.

As the divine David cries in the Spirit, the joyous unity of the brethren is as myrrh*, O Glorious One, for your myrrh which is greater, O wise one, the new creation, has gathered into unity

O blessed one, the thirsty Christ picked you, the ripe grape cluster, from the divine vine, and having placed you within wine vat of Martyrdom, you were trampled upon, as he made the divine spring of your myrrh to be as new, sweet wine.
-Excerpts from the Canons of the Matins from the feast of St. Demetrios
  
(source)
  
*"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments" Psalm 133:1-2
  

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

Metropolitan Avgoustinos: "O God of Demetrios, help us!"

St. Demetrios the Great Martyr and Myrrh-streamer (source)

  
Homily of Metropolitan Avgoustinos Kantiotes on St. Demetrios the Great Martyr and Myrrh-streamer: “O God of Demetrios, help us!”

Today is the feast of St. Demetrios, and thousands of people celebrate. Many villages and cities celebrate, because the name Demetrios is one of the most common and beloved names in the Orthodox Church.
  

St. Demetrios is honored in all places where there is Orthodoxy. If we were to go to Serbia, we would meet the name of St. Demetrios, and in Bulgaria and Romania and even in Russia, the name of St. Demetrios is loved, honored and venerated.
  

What was St. Demetrios? A monk? Did he get up and leave his house and go into the mountains and crags to live in asceticism? No. What was he? A priest or a bishop? No. He was a layman. He was a soldier. And however, he became holy. What does this mean? That there is no career that hinders one from becoming a Christian and becoming holy. The farmer who works the soil, and the shepherd who keeps sheep, and the artist who directs, and the teacher, and professor, and soldier and general, small and great, all can become holy. We see, in other words, that the Saints come from all careers.
  

Demetrios was therefore a Saint. But what does “Saint” mean? A Saint means to be a hero. Not in the small and humble way that the world perceives. The world calls a hero him who takes up weapons, ascends into the mountains, and fights and kills. These are the heroes that the world perceives and honors. But above those heroes, who are victorious in battles, there are other heroes, who are a rarer kind of hero.
  

Alexander the Great, who conquered the whole world, complained and said: “I, who conquered the whole world, have been conquered by my passions.” Because of this, our ancient forebearers said that “to conquer one's self, that is the highest victory.” Someone could subjugate the whole world, like Alexander the Great, but still, however, be a slave to his passions. A hero, therefore, is he who conquers his weaknesses, conquers his passions, his evil deeds, the sinful world that resides within his heart. A hero is he who conquers, as the Fathers say, “the world, the flesh and the devil”. This is the higher form of heroism.
  

From this perspective, St. Demetrios was a hero. And why was he a Saint? First of all, because he believed in Christ, and he did not hide his faith, he was not a crypto-Christian. Whoever has deep feelings does not hide them, but reveals them, relates them, preaches them. This is what St. Demetrios did. He did not just hide within his heart the name of Christ, but revealed it, preached it everywhere, wherever he went.

  

St. Demetrios preaching the faith (source)

  

Within the city of Thessaloniki, he tried to make other people Christians. He was not at peace until he made the idolaters Christians. Especially, he showed care to children and young people. He tried to win them over for Christ, and he regularly preached to them about Christ. Whereas today a catechist might ring the bell to call the children to Sunday School, something similar we could say was done by St. Demetrios. He was a radiant catechist, a radiant preacher of the truth. Within Thessaloniki, he had gathered children, adolescents and young people, whom he catechized. A special phalax gathered near to St. Demetrios. Besides the soldiers, whom he trained like a general in the barracks, he had another army, a peaceful one, trusting in the name of Christ, and these were the children that he catechized.
  

For this Christian ministry which St. Demetrios undertook, the arms of the idolaters were raised against him. They condemned him, they seized him, they removed his rank, and they threw him in prison.
  

Among those whom St. Demetrios catechized, the brightest, most heroic child was Nestor. In those days, in the great stadium of Thessaloniki, games were occurring. And those games would gather thousands of people to watch them. There were also the kings and rulers and the soldiers. There appeared Lyaios, a huge man, three meters high, a gigantic wrestler. He was a beast, with terrifying power, and he endangered the whole people. He was a barbarian who blasphemed Christ, and no one would dare bother him. Like when a lion escapes from his cage, and everyone begins to tremble and hide out of hear, the same thing happened with Lyaios, who traumatized all of the athletes and no one would dare to go before him.
  

Nestor, however, a 17 year old child, said: “I will go battle with Lyaios, and I will beat him!” Futily they told him: “What are you doing? Do you want your death? He is wholly like a lion. Whom could you take with you?”
  

Nestor went to the cell of his teacher, St. Demetrios, who was bound in prison for his faith of Christ, and knelt before him. He sought for his prayer. St. Demetrios made the sign of the Cross over him, in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and told him these famous words: “You will both conquer Lyaios and be martyred for Christ, my child.”

  

St. Nestor receiving St. Demetrios' blessing in prison (source)

     

In reality, Nestor went to the stadium and began the fight. When Lyaios saw him, he laughed... But Nestor, full of boldness, made the sign of the Cross and cried out: “O God of Demetrios, help me.” And like lightning, he fell upon the giant, and threw him down and conquered him. King Maximian became greatly angered at the defeat of Lyaios. He did not want to accept this wondrous result.
  

He ordered them to put Nestor to death. Thus, Nestor was martyred for Christ.
  

And St. Demetrios? His end was also martyrical. As Nestor was martyred, he was martyred as well. Not only with his mouth, but with his blood. This “I believe...” [i.e. the Creed] which we hear in the Divine Liturgy, is not written with ink and pen. This “I believe...” is, my brethren, written with the blood of the martyrs. This “I believe...” St. Demetrios also signed with his blood.
  

They went to the prison where he was, and the soldiers ran him through with spears, like Christ was pierced in His spotless side, when blood and water poured forth. Thus similarly, from the side of St. Demetrios, was poured forth myrrh, eternal myrrh.
  

This in a few words, my beloved, is the life of St. Demetrios, whose name is honored by all of the towns and cities from Dounavi to Crete, from Kerkyra to Cyprus, and from Australia to America and everywhere. A great Saint.
  

There where they buried St. Demetrios in Thessaloniki—this is not a myth—thousands of people would go to his tomb, men and women, widows and orphans, poor and sick people who had lost hope in physicians and medicines of this world. And all of them became well. Thousands of miracles occurred and continue to occur through St. Demetrios. And the greatest miracle occurred in our days.
  

How many years passed since then? In his holy church, the Turks had built a mosque. The hodja ascended and said the “allah, allah”. For 500 years the Turks were there. But in 1912, on a holy day when the Saint was being celebrated, the Turks fled, and instead of the crescent moon which they had on the mosque, they raised a blue flag, the sign on the Cross.
  

On that holy day, Turkey had no longer any position in the holy city of Thessaloniki. On that holy day, the children of our fatherland, with the voice of Nestor cried out: “O God of Demetrios, help us”, as the new Nestors who believed in God, conquered the Lyaios of the East. Because the Turk was a Lyaios, and continues to be.*
  

And today in the Balkans, Lyaios again has returned. And he is being supported, unfortunately, by powerful people. As for us? O God of Demetrios, help us! We are small and insignificant, disregarded Nestors. But these small and insignificant people, if we are men of God, faithful men, will be granted again by God to conquer the modern Lyaios once again. And then our mountains and crags and the bodies and graves of our forebearers will cry out: “You will conquer Lyaios and be martyred for Christ. Amen”
  

+Bishop Avgoustinos
  

(homily of Metropolitan of Florina Avgoustinos Kantiotes, which was delivered in the holy church of St. Demetrios, K. Kallinikis, Florina, 10/26/1976, source)

  
*Note: Metropolitan Avgoustinos is not at all being racist or implying that every citizen of Turkey is the same. By the term "Turk", he refers to those muslims who worked great oppression and atrocities against Christians for hundreds of years. While we are always called to love and forgive our enemies, God often even in this life, grants us deliverance from our oppressors and the freedom to follow Him.
  

St. Demetrios the Great Martyr and Myrrh-streamer (source)

  

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

"Ablaze with divine glory and grace..."

St. Demetrios the Great Martyr and Myrrh-streamer (source)

  

Ablaze with divine glory and grace, Martyr and Champion, you shine as though formed of light, and you enlighten those who cry: Blessed are you, Lord, in the temple of your glory.
  
Adorned with your own blood as with royal purple, having the Cross for a sceptre, glorious martyr, you now reign with Christ, crying: Blessed are you, my God and Lord.
  
The multitude beyond understanding of the wonders that Christ granted you freely, glorious Martyr, you display for all; and grace of healings beyond reason that is clearly yours, proclaims grace to us who cry: All you his works, praise the Lord!
-Hymns from the Canon of St. Demetrios
  
(source)

  

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

Akathist to St. Demetrios the Great Martyr and Myrrh-streamer

St. Demetrios the Great Martyr and Myrrh-streamer (source)

  
Please note that the meter of this translation is not set to match the original music.
  

Akathist to St. Demetrios the Great Martyr and Myrrh-streamer

written by the former bishop of Thessaloniki, St. Athanasios Patelarios, of Crete

  
Kontakion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone

O faithful, let us praise  with hymns and divine praises the Myrrhstreamer, who deposed the cruelty of the tyrant, and conquered the audacity of Lyaios, and preached Christ as God clearly, and let us cry out to him: Rejoice, O Martyr Demetrios.

  

Angels were astonished in heaven, beholding the godless rage of the tyrant (3), and as you were put to death by his decree, O Demetrios, we cry out to you thus:

Rejoice, the sacred pinnacle of martyrs,

Rejoice, the joyous radiance of Saints.

Rejoice, for you were placed in a pit as one condemned,

Rejoice, for you ascended to Heaven as one without a body.

Rejoice, dweller in the ranks of the Angels,

Rejoice you who bore the tortures of the tyrant.

Rejoice, for you despised the wiles of the enemies,

Rejoice, for your soul now dwells in Heaven.

Rejoice, O Martyr Demetrios.

  

The divine Nestor, beholding himself in manliness, approached the king with boldness: “Your exceeding danger appears as an abomination to my soul. For I will put to death the godless Lyaios, crying out: Alleluia.
  

Having godly knowledge, O Demetrios the boast of martyrs, you said to the tyrant: “From soulless matter [i.e. idols], how is possible to give birth to God? Speak to me.” To [the Martyr], the faithful who honor God cry out with fear:

Rejoice, the most-radiant lamp of Thessaloniki,

Rejoice, for you overcame Lyaios in victory.

Rejoice, you who pours forth divine myrrh from your grave,

Rejoice, you who bears divine zeal in your heart.

Rejoice, for your blood was a purifying bath,

Rejoice, for through you there is blotting out of sins.

Rejoice, you who deposed the delusion of the idols,

Rejoice, you who censured the mania of tyrants.

Rejoice, for you healed the passion of hemorrhage,

Rejoice, you who offered your soul from its depths.

Rejoice, for you delivered Marinon from leprosy,

Rejoice, for your beloved Istron you sent.

Rejoice, O Martyr Demetrios.

  

Power from heaven then strengthened Nestor to fight, and he took up arms against the utterly strong Lyaios, and with swift hand, he struck him down as dead, and therefore cried out to the Savior, chanting: Alleluia.

  

Having the divine desire to obtain the body of Demetrios, the pious Emperor [Justinian] went., but as [St. Demetrios] did not desire this, fire came forth from his grave threatening death. And he said to him such words in fear:

Rejoice, the unemptying river of wonders,

Rejoice, the irrevocable icon of traumas.

Rejoice, for you did not offer your Relic to him who sought it,

Rejoice, for you grant sanctification to those who venerate you.

Rejoice, for you summoned fire from your divine grave,

Rejoice, for you censured the mania of the tyrant.

Rejoice, for you deposed the worship of the idols,

Rejoice, for your body was pierced with spears.

Rejoice, for your blood was given as drink to the godless,

Rejoice, for you sanctified the whole world with your body.

Rejoice, O Martyr Demetrios.

  

Having godless confusion and evil thoughts, the senseless king was enraged, beholding the Martyr not preaching the delusion of the idols. We, beholding the unjust slaughter of the Saint at his hands, cry out: Alleluia.
  

St. Demetrios the Great Martyr and Myrrhstreamer (source)

  
The ends of the world heard of the murder of Demetrios at the hands of the senseless tyrant, and beholding him dead, they hastened to him, seeing the sacred wonders that he pours forth throughout the whole world, as they honor him, saying:

Rejoice, he who traded the corruptible things for the heavenly,

Rejoice he who deposed the counsels of the evil ones.

Rejoice, you who joined chorus with the bodiless Angels,

Rejoice, you who entered the land of the greatly-suffering Saints.

Rejoice, you who serve together with the spotless Cherubim,

Rejoice, you who walk together with the pure Seraphim.

Rejoice, for you served the Lord of lords,

Rejoice, for you bore within the seat of divine thrones.

Rejoice, the most-fervent fellow servant with the Angels,

Rejoice, the most-wise fellow counselor with the Archangels.

Rejoice, the sacred adornment of the Venerable,

Rejoice, the radiant rejoicing of the Martyrs.

Rejoice, O Martyr Demetrios.

  

Perceiving Demetrios to be a God-bearer, the most fervent man hastened to be delivered through him from the terrible demon. And having touched his deliverance, he rejoiced in the Lord, crying out: Alleluia.

  

Leontios, the son of the Orthodox, formerly saw the unspeakable might of the Martyr, and desiring to come to him, he sought for Istron to hasten to pass by him with his robe, and cried out to him:

Rejoice, he who through his robe worked awesome wonders,

Rejoice, he who did not bear stains of offenses.

Rejoice, for your streams have become our own.

Rejoice, for you drove back the campaigns of barbarians,

Rejoice, for you dwell in the thrones of the Martyrs.

Rejoice, you who drove away the plague from Thessaloniki,

Rejoice, our sun which shines upon the faithful.

Rejoice, he who delivered from idol-mania,

Rejoice, he who delivers all from the bonds of slavery.

Rejoice, he who grants grace to all those who approach him,

Rejoice for you ever dwell with those who praise you.

Rejoice, O Martyr Demetrios.

  

The deluded became preachers of corruption of souls, as they hastened through Thessaloniki, performing idolatry and preaching atheism everywhere, as the Martyr left the tyrant like a mule, as he said: Alleluia.

  

The divine Nestor, shining together with the sacred Demetrios, drove away the darkness of error, for they anathematized the idols steadfastly, and cast them down, while the faithful who were saved cries out to those strugglers:

Rejoice, O Demetrios, the firm support,

Rejoice, O Nestor, the splendid pride.

Rejoice, you who granted strength to Nestor,

Rejoice, you who granted corruption to Lyaios.

Rejoice, you who firstly censured the blind tyrant,

Rejoice, you who secondly kept [St. Demetrios'] example.

Rejoice, he who received death by spears,

Rejoice, he who received incorruptible life through the sword.

Rejoice, he who was murdered in prison like a convict,

Rejoice, he who was preached throughout the world as one immortal.

Rejoice, he who before death worked awesome deeds,

Rejoice, he who after death works wonders.

Rejoice, O Martyr Demetrios.

  

The holy dyad of Martyrs then passed on from this world, as the sacred Martyrs had greatly endured lawless murder. Therefore, those who behold this are astonished, and cry out to the Lord: Alleluia.
  

St. Demetrios the Great Martyr and Myrrh-streamer (source)

  

A new song was found, as we bitterly sing the funeral hymn to Demetrios, for he was slaughtered by a godless tyrant, and did not sacrifice to the idols. We therefore hymn him and fervently cry out:

Rejoice, you who were placed dead in a grave,

Rejoice, you who ride throughout the world as one alive.

Rejoice, for your blood was shown to be a new cleansing bath,

Rejoice, for your soul is mixing with the Angels.

Rejoice, for you are hymned from the ends of the earth,

Rejoice for they draw forth from your fragrant myrrh.

Rejoice, lamp amidst the Martyrs,

Rejoice, ray of godly graces.

Rejoice, you who were dyed with your holy blood,

Rejoice, you who were sanctified in your divine body.

Rejoice, you who received diamond crowns,

Rejoice, for you now dwell in the halls of the ever-memorable.

Rejoice, O Martyr Demetrios.

  

Beholding a strange wonder, the idols were moved by the bravery of the martyrs. Therefore, he who now dwells on high gives bravery to those who dwell on the earth to take courage, and aim their arrows at the idols. To him we now cry out: Alleluia.

  

Having his mind wholly on things above without departing from earth, was the most-pure Martyr, for he clearly conquered the delusion of the idols, and preached Christ with boldness, hearing thus:

Rejoice, for you were killed on behalf of Christ your God,

Rejoice, for you desired the joyous things of Paradise.

Rejoice, for you traveled the upper road to Heaven,

Rejoice, for you inhabit the dwelling-places of the pure.

Rejoice, for you now travel with the Angels,

Rejoice, for you have come to dwell with the Saints.

Rejoice, for you preached your Christ like a holy trumpet,

Rejoice, for you dwell in the spotless mansions of Paradise.

Rejoice, you who put forth myrrh from your godly body,

Rejoice, you who scoffed and the rubbish of the godless,

Rejoice, for you broke asunder the intrigues of rulers,

Rejoice, for you trampled upon the delusion of the idols.

Rejoice, O Martyr Demetrios.

  

You received every grace from heaven, O Martyr Demetrios, and preached paradoxically that the inaccessible God became man, being the Son of God. Therefore, to Him let us cry: Alleluia.

  

O Martyr Demetrios, you showed the many words of the orators of the tyrants to be foolish, for they were astonished at how you strongly condemned the delusion of the idols. We, being astonished at this paradox, cry out to you:

Rejoice, the rose of virginity,

Rejoice, the pinnacle of continence.

Rejoice, you who lived purely before you were killed,

Rejoice, you who after you were killed were led towards God.

Rejoice, in whom the light of God was planted,

Rejoice, in whom the grace of the Trinity made its dwelling.

Rejoice, the length and breadth of the pious,

Rejoice, the sharp sword against the faithless.

Rejoice, you who shine with the rays of the sun,

Rejoice, you who drive away the mania of the tyrant.

Rejoice, tree bearing the fruits of many graces,

Rejoice, for you bore the shoots of many victories.

Rejoice, O Martyr Demetrios.

  

Saving the Orthodox from the delusion of the godless idols, you came straightaway, O Martyr, and you preached the Lord as perfect God to the deluded and idiotic tyrant, crying out to him: Alleluia.

  

St. Demetrios the Great Martyr and Myrrhstreamer (source)

  

You are the shelter of the Martyrs, O Champion and Martyr, and all those who take refuge in you, for you revealed the Maker of heaven and earth to all, and deposed the tyrant and the idols. We therefore cry out to you:

Rejoice, the deliverance for those in sickness,

Rejoice the savior of the continuously hemorrhaged.

Rejoice, you who sow grace among all those who hymn you,

Rejoice, for you are a pillar of graces.

Rejoice, divine power, the casting-down of idols.

Rejoice, pure dwelling-place of God,

Rejoice, chaste type of Christ.

Rejoice, for your blood became as a new baptism,

Rejoice, for your body received death.

Rejoice, bridge leaving those who die from earth to heaven,

Rejoice, for you are a guide to the faithful.

Rejoice, O Martyr Demetrios.

  

We your servants all offer funeral hymns at your grave, O Martyr, shedding tears and offering odes and psalms to you, for we are not at all worthy of what has been accomplished through, as befits your grave, but we cry out to the Savior: Alleluia.

  

Your grave, O Martyr, has been shown to be light-bearing, shining forth with grace like light. For all those who approach are suddenly granted joy and health, while we who approach you cry out these:

Rejoice, you who preserved your Church unharmed,

Rejoice, you who trampled upon the wiles of the evil one.

Rejoice, for you drove back the nation of the Slavs,

Rejoice, for you trampled upon the rule of the idols.

Rejoice, you who uprooted the pride of the barbarians,

Rejoice, you who cast out the conceit of the tyrants.

Rejoice, you who preserved your city unharmed,

Rejoice, you who shook up the delusion of the godless one.

Rejoice, you who punished Onesiphoros for his theft,

Rejoice you who uprooted the danger of the idols from the earth.

Rejoice, the sure consolation of those who take refuge in you,

Rejoice, the salvation of the souls of those who approach you.

Rejoice, O Martyr Demetrios.

  

Bearing grace from above, O Demetrios, you drove out all the campaigns of the enemies. You preached Christ upon the heard as a steadfast hoplite of grace, and you cast down the idols, as you chant along with everyone: Alleluia.

  

We hymn the wonder that you worked, O Martyr, as your city was preserved victorious, as you appeared as a god to the faithless, sending forth Angels speedily, saying: “Drive them far away from the city”, therefore we cry out:

Rejoice, for at your will your city was saved,

Rejoice, for through your strength the enemy was cast down.

Rejoice, you who met Achilleos in your flight,

Rejoice, you who sent out Nestor with your strength.

Rejoice, you who drown Lyaios in blood,

Rejoice, you who raged against the faithless in spirit.

Rejoice, you who strengthens your city through your presence,

Rejoice, for if you left her, your city would be lost.

Rejoice, you whose grave is beloved by hymnologists,

Rejoice, you who put to death falsehood through your might.

Rejoice, you who grants to us a sea of graces,

Rejoice, you who sows the mercy of your myrrh within all.

Rejoice, O Martyr Demetrios.

  

O pair of Martyrs, who preached Christ as the surpassing Word before all, (3) receive these funeral hymn and odes, and deliver us from every danger, and the coming trial through your prayers, those who cry out to the Lord: Alleluia.

And again the Kontakion.

(source)
  

St. Demetrios the Great Martyr and Myrrhstreamer (source)

   

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

Video of the Service of the Holy Myrrh of St. Demetrios the Great Martyr, 2014

This is a live video of the 2014 service of the Myrrh of St. Demetrios in the Church where his holy relics are treasured by the city of Thessaloniki. This service, which is the ninth day after his holy feast day (October 26th), serves several purposes. One, this serves as an "Apodosis" or Leave-taking of the Saint's feast, which began one week before his feast, with the so-called "Holy Week" of St. Demetrios. Second, there is an official service, calling upon the Holy Spirit to bless this myrrh, granting it the power to heal the infirmities of body and soul. And finally, it is an opportunity for the clergy and the faithful to open the reliquary of the Saint and gather the fragrant myrrh which still wondrously exudes from the Saint's Relics to this day. As the Metropolitan of Thessaloniki chants at the end of the service: "Who is so great a God as our God? You are the God Who alone works wonders!" May we have the Saint's intercessions and protection, especially for all those who suffer or are in danger throughout the world! Amen!
  

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

St. Nicholas Cabasilas on St. Demetrios as an Imitator of Christ

St. Demetrios the Great Martyr and Myrrhstreamer, depicted with his disciples, Sts. Nestor and Loupos the Martyrs (source)

  

"Like He Who bore witness with a good confession before Pontius Pilate, [St. Demetrios] also gave a good confession. Learn that he was also given up to be bound. The Master received the wound in the side, and you, also received wounds in this place. He was seized and died on behalf of men, and on behalf of Him, and [his fellow] men, was he also killed. O you who are another Christ, having become an imitator of Christ! Therefore, the whole city receives boldness with reverence on behalf of the martyrdom of the Great Demetrios, and takes boast in him."

-St. Nicholas Cabasilas of Thessaloniki

  

(amateur translation of text from source)

  

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

A prayer to Christ and St. Demetrios the Myrrh-streamer

 

Christ strengthening St. Demetrios, and he in turn, St. Nestor (source)

   
A prayer to Christ and St. Demetrios the Myrrh-streamer (amateur translation)
O Lord Jesus Christ our God, the Pre-eternal Word of God and the Father, Who through Your grace endowed endurance in the soul of the glorious Martyr Demetrios, to withstand manfully, in a body of clay, the great tortures of tyrants, on behalf of Your name, strengthen us also, we pray, that we may bravely endure the temptations brought about because of our sins, and all forms of dangers of the devil. And as You then scattered the schemes of the lawless through Your power, granting the ranks of the Angels, also now, through his intercessions, gladden our hearts, delivering us from this bitter tyrany that has been laid upon us, that we also, Your humble entreaters, may go forth with peace in life, and commemorate his annual memory, that we may be made worthy of Your mercy, for which You are well-pleased. For You are ever blessed, unto the ages of ages. Amen.
(source)
  

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

A sign at the gathering of the myrrh of St. Demetrios in 2012?

The Sacred Reliquary of the Wonderworking and Myrrhstreaming Relics of St. Demetrios the Great Martyr (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCWpw4AH-zqu_vQkWbYzemfJm-jzZKPoOrnkiz2Wx1dWnHFBucRJpKzMgIv4p38S2ZooCgOheM-YWrwse7eESAyoxesipZ8nE83dcHX8dmGw1loUuhPjkSQc9NONyLRKr7ThNwx4enjg/s1600/P8230010.JPG)

 
About a week after the feast of St. Demetrios the Great Martyr and Myrrhstreamer, the Metropolitan of Thessaloniki, the Clergy and the Faithful hasten to the Saint's Church to gather the Myrrh of the Saint to distribute to the world for the healing and sanctification of all.
 
This was written of this service in November 2011:
"This afternoon, the copy of the icon of Panagia Tricherousa left from the Church of St. Demetrios to return to the Metropolis of Thessaloniki, where it belongs. After the Paraklesis to Panagia followed the "sanctification" [more properly "gathering"] of the Holy Myrrh from the reliquary of the Saint. At the time when Metropolitan Anthimos read the prayers and made supplications to the Saint, I saw with my own eyes, along with everyone else, that the reliquary opened by itself, in order that myrrh might overflow and that the fragrance might reach the second floor of the whole church from the myrrh of our Saint. In reality, it was something which I had not experienced before, and once again I wondered at the power of our faith. May the Saint be protection for all of us"

The following was written of the service in 2012:
"Today, November 4th 2012, in the Church of St. Demetrios, we again had the annual "sanctification" of the Myrrh of the Saint.

With one exception.

This year, the reliquary, despite all the prayers that they read, did not open.

They were forced to open it by hand, and the myrrh was a much lesser amount than it previous years.

There are sources which say that in olden days, the Myrrh from the reliquary of the Saint reached the sea shore. In reality, the people couldn't even gather it all. In 2011, the Saint filled roughly a baptismal font with his Holy Myrrh."
(http://www.proskynitis.blogspot.gr/2012/11/blog-post_8046.html)

Here is another source:
"Yesterday afternoon, God made me worthy to be, for the first time, in the Holy Church of St. Demetrios in Thessaloniki, where they were performing the gathering of the holy myrrh. A multitude of people were there from the whole country, however, the reliquary with the bones of the Saint did not open. Even though the priests and the Archbishop [of Thessaloniki] tried, and even though they continued to chant, in the end, they were unable to open it. Some spoke of a "bad sign", others explained it as a technical problem with the lock on the reliquary. The side portions of the reliquary they were able to open and the priests took the holy myrrh, but the center place where the holy relics of the Saint are found, was not able to be opened. Perhaps St. Demetrios wants to send a message of repentance."
(http://www.agiooros.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=79&t=17639&sid=ae7a42396f4155c6201ea4dba3e4a10f)
 
I should say that this does not seem to be an official position of the Metropolitan of Thessaloniki. Whether this is something significant or not, I cannot say. But let us take advantage of every opportunity to compel ourselves to repent of our many sins before the All-Merciful God, before it is too late for us to do so.
 

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

Excerpts from two encomiums to St. Demetrios the Great Martyr

St. Demetrios the Great Martyr and Myrrhstreamer (source)

  
Excerpts from two encomiums on St. Demetrios the Great Martyr (amateur translations)
  
"Hail, O fellow-struggling soldier of Christ, O thrice-blessed Demetrios, because you, together with Paul, fought the good fight, you have run the race to its end, you have kept the faith, and you have been crowned worthily by God with the crown of righteousness.
  
Hail, O martyr Demetrios, for though you received wounds on your body which Christ received, you ascended to Him with joy and rejoicing.
  
Hail, O martyr Demetrios, for you became a true imitator of Christ. For us all He accepted the spear from the impious soldier in His spotless side, while you, His pious solider, for His love, accepted the spear in prison from impious soldiers.
  

Sts. George and Demetrios the Great Martyrs and Wonderworkers of Christ, painted by the Fathers of Vatopedi Monastery (source)

 
Hail, O martyr Demetrios, for you have been enriched with angelic grace, and are shown forth as an angel on earth, and a heavenly man, full of glory.
   
Hail, O martyr Demetrios, for you are an initiate of grace and a deliverer of prisoners, and a very speedy physician of various infirmities.
  
Hail, O martyr Demetrios, together with George and Theodore, your fellow strugglers and partakers, the thrice-blessed weapon of our pious rulers, the three-bladed sword against the godless barbarians, the tripartite wall of the royal garden, the three-pronged spear in the heart of the harsh enemies, the thrice-adorned crown of our rulers, the triple light of their path by day and night, the triple weapon of their intimidation and the greatly-beloved, and equal-in-number to the Trinity.

Hail, for you have been made worthy of endless joy, and are a fellow-traveler of pious rulers..."
-St. Neophytos the Priest and Monk and Enclosed
  

St. Demetrios the Great Martyr, and St. Nestor (source)

  
"Therefore in accordance with poetry, even if I had ten tongues, and ten mouths, and if I further had ten hands, I would not even in this manner be able to properly record the wonderworking deeds of the wonderworker Demetrios.
  
It is better, however, to give this word, for the Lord will bring to reality the desire of those who honor Him. And to His Saints that are on the earth, He made them wondrous through all His will in them. How good was he in life and deed, what struggle and what prudence! With a little blood, in return he receives the heavenly kingdom. With temporary pains, he receives endless joy. And with his short life, he receives the blessed and endless life.
  
Let us imitate the fervor of Demetrios, therefore, in the same manner, all of us who have gathered to honor his struggles, and let us celebrate for them in a radiant manner. Let us hasten to theoria and praxis, even if we will not achieve the same glory as he has. It is certainly an exaggeration to say this, but at least it is less. And if we do not even achieve this, because of our great sluggishness, at least, because we sense that we celebrate unworthily for all that God has granted us together with the martyr, and that we celebrate in a godly way, let us not desire further pleasures without understanding that, through them, we will give much more joy to the demons, and we will suffer the same thing as those who are in danger in the port, or who incur incurable illnesses in the hospital.
  
We have God as our fellow-worker in good deeds, through the intercessions of the Theotokos, the heavenly powers, the apostles, and the prophets, and the martyrs, and the ages of saints, along with him whose memory we entreat continuously for our benefit. The world of the Saints rejoices in every manner and in every era and in every age and rank, for they see their multitude is made stronger and continues to increase, as if they understand that the greatly-enlarged portion to the left of God is further dismal.

But, O Demetrios, the adornment and beauty of athletes, I return again to you, and turn my word towards the things above, because I buckle more from my love for you than the others, and I desire much more to breath of you than fragrant ointments, O pious and good-sprung vine from a pious and good-sprung root, which is heavy-laden with the fruits of virtues and struggles, radiant from both, and most-glorious in all, and all-bright lamp of Christians, destruction of the impiety of Maximian, teacher and fellow-soldier of Nestor, and harbinger of struggle and most-strong conqueror of Lyaios, you who depicted the passion of the Master, and were wounded with spears in the side as He was, and for the blood that you shed then pour forth now as a river the most-fragrant and healing myrrh, you who dwell with your spirit in the heavens together with the angels, and are found together with them before the immovable throne of God, and grant to us and to your city your most-martyrical body as an unemptying treasure, the uncountable abyss of uncomparable deeds, and much moreso of wonders, you who rightly broke apart your body on earth, and in heaven are not absent at all, but from above look down and care for your city below, O lover of the city, and lover of man, who speedily brings about the compassion of God, when we are burdened sometimes by the multitude of our sins, may you receive these words and praises that we offer to the radiant memory of your struggles, as Christ, Who sets the contests, received the praises of the children, and though they do not reach your proper honor, however, they are not hindered by our good intentions. Therefore, cast a gaze from heaven, descend for a short time here with us, and behold the love of your city for you. Follow the melodies of those gathered, of your most-holy flock, to partake of the spiritual gathering, together with the hierarch, in your memory. Enlighten all those gathered throughout your church by your unsoiled light-source, and fill the air with the fragrance of your incense, and let every age and rank clap their hands in great joy for your struggles. Earth today imitates heaven, and the radiance laid out in the temple of your all-victorious body reveals fully the radiance of light which was granted to you by God..."
-Symeon the Monk and Philosopher
(source)
  

St. Demetrios the Great Martyr (source)

  

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!