On Friday, November 8, 2024, the Patriarchate of Jerusalem celebrated the feast of the Great Martyr Demetrios the myrrh-gusher.
On this feast, the Church remembers in the certainty of faith that Saint Demetrios came from Thessaloniki and lived in the time of Emperor Diocletian as the chief military officer and after his conversion to Christianity and his baptism, he became of catechist and teacher. Under this quality, he blessed and encouraged his student Nestor to fight against a gladiator of great strength and inhuman ferocity, Lyaeus. Thanks to the blessing of Saint Demetrios, Nestor agreed to “repress the pride of Lyaeus” and put him to death.
Having been informed of this, Maximian condemned Saint Demetrios and Saint Nestor to death by spear and sword. Through their example, all the Christians – members of the Church through the centuries until today are strengthened in their faith and life in Christ and glorify God, Who is wondrous in His Saints.
In honour of Saint Demetrios, Vespers in the evening and the Divine Liturgy in the morning were celebrated in his chapel, located within the Patriarchate, presided over by Archbishop Demetrios of Lydda, with con-celebrants the Archimandrites Alexios, Makarios, Claudios, the of Priests Nektarios and Georgios Baramki, the Hierodeacons Simeon and Eulogios. The chanting was delivered by the students of the Patriarchal School of Sion under Mr Eustathios Tsoumanis, as the service was attended by many believers from Jerusalem and others and representatives of the Greek Consulate General in Jerusalem, Mrs Konstantina Gyftou and Mrs Athanasia Maliou.
The Patriarch visited the celebratory chapel with the Fathers of the Holy Sepulchre during the Divine Liturgy.
After the Divine Liturgy, the Archbishop Demetrios of Lydda blessed the faithful and them the intercessions of Saint Demetrios.
After the Dismissal, the Elder Chief-Secretary, Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantine, visited the Arabic-speaking School of Saint Demetrios, which is adjacent to the chapel, and conveyed to its Director, Mr Argis, and the teachers His Beatitude’s blessings for the success of their educational work and spiritual progress.
Source: Patriarchate of Jerusalem
