The Orthodox Christians on November 8 observe the Feast of Demetrius of Thessaloniki the Myrrh-Streamer, who is one of the most popular saints in the Orthodox world. On this feast day, the faithful go to church to attend the service and to come closer to God by prayer.
Priest Andrei Pargaru, of the Church “Holy Great Martyr Demetrius” of Chetrosu, Anenii Noi, has told IPN that churches were erected in the name of this saint, which now bear his name. Also, many Christians are called Dumitru and Dumitrita. They celebrate their name day today.
“This feast calls on all the Christians to venerate God and to teach children the right faith since early childhood. We should explain to the children that the image on the icon is the image of a saint. This is what Saint Demetrius did as he loved God since childhood,” stated the priest.
Demetrius came from a noble family of the Roman province of Macedonia. Through this noble ancestry and through his own ability and virtue he rose to a high military position under Galerius Maximian, Caesar of the Eastern part of the Roman Empire (with Diocletian as the Augustus, or senior emperor). Despite this position in the still-pagan empire, he remained fervent in faith and works for Christ. Demetrios was denounced by pagans who were envious of his success, and Maximian threw him into prison. While in prison, he was visited by a young Christian named Nestor, who asked him for a blessing to engage in single combat with the giant Lyaios, who was posing as the champion of paganism. Demetrios gave his blessing and Nestor, against all odds, slew his opponent in the arena.
The enraged emperor, learning that this had occurred with Demetrios’s aid, first had Nestor beheaded outside the city and then had Demetrios impaled in prison. The Christians buried Demetrius and Nestor next together in the bath where Demetrius had been imprisoned. During the seventh century a miraculous flow of fragrant myrrh was found emanating from his tomb, giving rise to the appellation, the Myrrh-Gusher or Streamer to his name. His tomb containing his relics is now in the crypt of the Church of St. Demetrios in Thessaloniki.
