Demetrios of Thessaloniki

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Fresco of Saint Demetrios
Saint Demetrios, Byzantine medallion, 11th century.
Relics of the Holy Great Martyr Demetrios, Hagios Demetrios Basilica, Thessaloniki

Demetrios of Thessaloniki ( Greek Άγιος Δημήτριος της Θεσσαλονίκης ; Bulgarian Димитър Тесалонийски ; Russian Димитрий Солунский ; † around 306) was a Christian martyr . He is an important saint in the Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches . He is the patron saint of Thessaloniki , Constantinople and Venice . He is considered the saint of soldiers .

There are only legends about his person from later centuries, so his historical existence is not unequivocally certain.

Legend

Written evidence of the life of Demetrios has only been found since the 9th century. He is said to have been a son from an influential Roman family who was killed in Thessaloniki around 306 during the persecution of Christians under Diocletian or Maximinus Daia by being pierced with spears because he refused to persecute his fellow believers. At a later time, when his image turned into a soldier saint, he was ascribed to having been a Roman soldier or even governor of the province of Achaea.

Adoration

The first indications of the veneration of saints by Demetrios date from around 150 years after his supposed death. The Basilica of Hagios Demetrios in Thessaloniki, the center of Demetrios worship, dates from the 5th century. His relics are also kept there, but they were found late. As the patron saint of the city of Thessaloniki, he is said to have protected it from conquest several times. Numerous churches were consecrated to him in Bulgaria and Kievan Rus ( Demetrioskirche ).

He was one of the patrons of the Crusades alongside Saint George . He is still a patron saint of soldiers today.

Today Demetrios continues to be venerated especially in the Orthodox churches. The holiday of St. Demetrios is October 8th (Catholic) and October 26th (Orthodox).

In depictions he is found as a young man in the costume of the Roman upper class, but also as a legionnaire or knight. The White Tower of Thessaloniki (16th century) can partly be seen in the background .

Web links

Commons : Saint Demetrius  - Collection of Images, Videos and Audio Files

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Extensively presented in the " Miracula Sancti Demetrii " (" Miracles of St. Demetrios ") from the 7th century
  2. ↑ Soldier Saints , p. 36
personal data
SURNAME Demetrios of Thessaloniki
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Demetrius; Dimitrios; Δημήτριος της Θεσσαλονίκης (Greek)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Christian martyr and saint
DATE OF BIRTH 3rd century
DATE OF DEATH at 306
Place of death unsure: Thessaloniki