The Orthodox Church commemorates today the Holy and Glorious Great-martyr Demetrius the Myrrh-gusher, the Patron Saint of the city of Thessaloniki.
Saint Demetrius was a soldier in the Roman army and that is why he is often portrayed as a soldier seated on a horse. He won Tsar Kaloyan of Bulgaria, who went ill and died when he was getting ready to attack Thessaloniki in the 13th century.
He was born in Thessaloniki into a family of devout Christians. Saint Demetrius was well-educated, an excellent soldier, and, above all, a righteous man. As Christian, he was a great preacher of the Holy Gospel and led many people to Christ. Roman Emperor Galerius Maximian ordered in 305 AD to arrest St. Demetrius and torture him. In the end, he ordered to kill him.
A Byzantine Church was built over his grave, where believers go there to get healed. There, it was also discovered a flow of fragrant myrrh and that is why he is called ‘the Myrrh-gusher’.
By Bishop Gregorios of Mesaoria
Source: Church of Greece