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| San Demetrio di Tessalonica, ora pro nobis |
Second in importance only to St. George, San Demetrio was very popular among the early crusaders, especially after his intervention at the Battle of Antioch during the First Crusade. Capturing the city in 1098, the Christians soon found themselves besieged by Kerbogha, Atabeg of Mosul. Witnessing a vision of an army arrayed in white atop a hill and led by Saints George, Mercurius (or Theodore) and Demetrius, the beleaguered knights rallied and routed the enemy.
Devotion to San Demetrio was first introduced into Southern Italy with the arrival of Eastern refugees fleeing the iconoclast controversy in the 8th and 9th centuries. It was later reinforced by the crusaders returning from the Holy Land and further still during the 15th and 16th centuries by those escaping the Ottoman scourge in the Balkans.
According to tradition, San Demetrio openly preached the Word of God, performed miracles, and converted many to the faith. In the West he is alleged to have been a deacon in Sirmium (Sremska Mitrovica in modern-day Serbia), while the Orthodox Churches believe he was a senator (or proconsul) from Thessalonica in Macedonia. Both agree he was denounced as a Christian, arrested and brought before Emperor Maximian to be tried.
Imprisoned at the local baths, San Demetrio awaited his fate while the Emperor attended the games at the arena. As the bloody spectacle raged on, St. Nestor of Thessalonica visited the holy prisoner and received his blessing before dispatching the hulking Lyaeus in hand-to-hand combat before a stunned crowd.
Angered that his favorite gladiator was bested by a Christian, Maximian took out his frustration on his helpless captive and had San Demetrio run through with a spear. His rage undiminished, the bloodthirsty tyrant had St. Nestor beheaded the next day. San Demetrio’s discarded corpse was recovered and properly buried by fellow Christians.
Over the centuries many miracles have been attributed to San Demetrio, the most famous being the slaying of the Bulgarian Tsar Johanista (Kalojan). It is said during the siege of Thessalonica in 1207 San Demetrio came to the aid of the city mounted on a white charger and killed Kalojan with his lance while he slept in his tent. Their leader dead, the Bulgarians lifted the siege and withdrew to their homeland.
In celebration, I’m posting the prayers to San Demetrio from Byzantine Catholic Prayer for the Home [link will open PDF file]. They are meant for private use. The accompanying photo of the statue, courtesy of Anthony Scillia, was taken at Holy Rosary Church in Jersey City, New Jersey. The image of the icon was taken from the Origins of El Greco: Icon Painting in Venetian Crete exhibit catalogue. Evviva San Demetrio di Tessalonica!
Troparia
Troparion Tone 3 The world has seen you as a defender of those imperiled, and a conquerer of the nations, O martyr. In cutting down the arrogance of Leo, you bolstered Nestor by your courage. O holy Demetrius, pray to Christ our God to save our souls!
Kontakion Tone 2 God washed the Church red in the rivers of your blood, and presented you to her as an invincible power. Keep this city safe, for you are its patron.
Stichera
O glorious martyr Demetrius, like a bright star you glisten forever for your fatherland because you always protect it from destruction at the hands of enemies, and you deliver it from every strife and menace. Therefore, O blessed one, your people annually observe your memory and celebrate with joy, and with faith and love they extol the Lord who glorified you.
Glory be...now and ever...Today the universal feast of the martyr summons us. Come, therefore, O lovers of feasts, let us celebrate his memory in splendor and say: Rejoice, for you overcame the snares of the enemy by the might given to you by the one God. Rejoice, for you suffered wounds by the thrusts of a sword, and thus spiritually depicted for us the blessed passion of Christ. O Demetrius, O inspiration of martyrs, implore Him that we be delivered from visible and invisible enemies, and that our souls may be saved.
Sessional Hymns
Let us devoutly observe today the feast of the martyr Demetrius, for he prays constantly to Christ to grant great mercy to us all.
Glory be...now and ever...O faithful, let us bless the Theotokos, the fervent defender of those in danger. She is our help and our conversion to God. Through her we have been delivered from corruption.
