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| St. Demetrius of Sermium, Pray for us ! |
⛪ Other Names :
• Demetrius the Great Martyr • Demetrius the Megalomartyr • Demetrius the Myrrh-Streamer • Dimitri
⛪ Memorials :
• 9 April
• 8 October (traditional on several older calendars)
• 26 October (Eastern Church)
• 8 November (Serbian Orthodox Church; Coptic Church)
⛪ Born :
• 3rd century in Thessalonia
⛪ Died :
• Run through with spears c.306 at Sirmium (in modern Serbia) • Relics originally housed at Sirmium and Thessalonika where they were reported to exude holy oil • A bone relic reported to still be in a monastery on Mount Athos
⛪ Patronage :
• Against evil spirits • Belgrade, Serbia • Crusaders • Salonica, Greece • Thessaloniki, Greece
While that the Emperor Maximian had the lordship of Thessalonica, he made all the auditors of the christian faith to be put to death, among which was Demetrius that made himself to be manifested and known of all without any fear or dread. For sith the time of his youth he had ever been steadfast and constant in all good operations or works, and ever endoctrined and taught the others how the divine Sapience was descended in the earth, who by his own blood had quickened or raised from death the man, which by his sin was put to death. And as he preached, some of the ministers and sergeants of the emperor that were committed and ordained for to take the christian men, took Saint Demetrius, and would have presented him unto the emperor Maximian, but it happed so that the emperor was gone to see a battle that should be done, for much he delighted him to see shedding of human blood. In the same battle was a man named Lineus, which because of the victories that he in his days had had, was much loved of the emperor, but as fortune changeth oft, it happed that this Lineus was there wounded to death. And when the emperor was returned into his palace, sorrowful and angry at the death of the same Lineus, mention of Demetrius was made unto him. Then was the emperor sore moved against him, insomuch that in the same prison where he was, sore fettered and hard holden, he made him to be sticked through and through his body with sharp spears. The which Saint Demetrius thus ever witnessing the name of Jesu, consummated there his martyrdom. Many miracles were made by his merits and by his good virtues on all them that with good faith devoutly reclaimed him. A man that was called Lemicius, who heartily loved and served God, gave much of his goods to the house where the holy corpse of Saint Demetrius was buried, and made the place more greater than it was tofore, and builded there an oratory or chapel in the honour of the said martyr Demetrius.
One of the prefects or judges of Thessalonica that named was Manam, was much agreeable to God, and to the world, on which the enemy had great envy for his good works, and began to tempt him sore and strong. And first he tempted him of the seven deadly sins, but God would that he never should overcome him. When the devil saw that he might not deceive him, he took from him all his temporal goods and finally smote him with such a sickness that he had no member wherewith he might help him, save only his tongue, with which he praised and thanked ever our Lord. After this, the enemy appeared to one of his servants in likeness of a man, and showed to him a schedule saying thus to him: If thy master did put once this schedule or scroll on him he should be anon all whole of his sickness, for it contained within written the names both of the gods and of the angels. Anon went forth the servant and told it to his master, which answered to him: God that made me may save me if it please him, and without his pleasure nothing may be done, all is his, and all thing lieth in his hands, he may well take that is his, therefore let his will be done. Soon after these words he fell in a sleep, and as he would sleep he heard the voice of Saint Demetrius, that commanded him that he should make himself to be borne within his church, and that he should there recover his health. And when he was borne thither he fell yet again on sleep, and heard Saint Demetrius that said: God that created thee and that restoreth to the folk their health, when he will, send to thee comfort and help. When he was awaked from sleep he rehearsed how Demetrius told him in his sleep: God that healeth sick folk send to thee comfort and help, and how at those words our Lord sent to him health and rendered to him the force and strength of all his members and stood upon his feet, and forthwith kneeled and thanked our Lord and the glorious martyr also. The solemnity of this glorious martyr Saint Demetrius, that many virtues hath made, is celebrated the eighth ides of the month of October, and his life was translated out of Greek into Latin by Saint Anastasius, and sent it to Charles the Emperor, to the praising and reverence of God, who by the merits of the said glorious martyr Saint Demetrius healeth us of all our sins. Amen.
Source : Golden Legend