SS. Cyril & Methodius
Bulgarian Orthodox Mission
St. Dimitar the
Great Martyr
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Our services are held
at:
St. Luke Orthodox Church
6801 Georgetown Pike, McLean, VA 22101
We are a member
parish of the
Orthodox Church in America
St. Dimitar the Great Martyr
The Great
Martyr Demetrius the Myrrh-gusher of Thessalonica was the son of a Roman
proconsul in Thessalonica. Three centuries had elapsed and Roman paganism,
spiritually shattered and defeated by the multitude of martyrs and confessors
of the Savior, intensified its persecutions. The parents of St Demetrius were
secretly Christians, and he was baptized and raised in the Christian Faith in a
secret church in his father's home,
By the time Demetrius had
reached maturity and his father had died, the emperor Galerius Maximian had
ascended the throne (305). Maximian, confident in Demetrius' education as well
as his administrative and military abilities, appointed him to his father's
position as proconsul of the Thessalonica district. The main tasks of this
young commander were to defend the city from barbarians and to eradicate
Christianity. The emperor's policy regarding Christians was expressed simply,
"Put to death anyone who calls on the name of Christ." The emperor
did not suspect that by appointing Demetrius he had provided a way for him to
lead many people to Christ.
Accepting the appointment,
Demetrius returned to Thessalonica and immediately confessed and glorified our
Lord Jesus Christ. Instead of persecuting and executing Christians, he began to
teach the Christian Faith openly to the inhabitants of the city and to
overthrow pagan customs and idolatry. The compiler of his Life, St Simeon
Metaphrastes (November 9), says that because of his teaching zeal he became
"a second Apostle Paul" for Thessalonica, particularly since
"the Apostle to the Gentiles" once founded at this city the first
community of believers (1 Thess. and 2 Thess.).
The Lord also destined St
Demetrius to follow the holy Apostle Paul as a martyr. When Maximian learned
that the newly-appointed proconsul was a Christian, and that he had converted
many Roman subjects to Christianity, the rage of the emperor know no bounds.
Returning from a campaign in the Black Sea region, the emperor decided to lead
his army through Thessalonica, determined to massacre the Christians.
Learning of this, St
Demetrius ordered his faithful servant Lupus to distribute his wealth to the
poor saying, "Distribute my earthly riches among them, for we shall seek
heavenly riches for ourselves." He began to pray and fast, preparing
himself for martyrdom.
When the emperor came into
the city, he summoned Demetrius, who boldly confessed himself a Christian and
denounced the falsehood and futility of Roman polytheism. Maximian gave orders
to lock up the confessor in prison. An angel appeared to him, comforting and
encouraging him.
Meanwhile the emperor
amused himself by staging games in the circus. His champion was a German by the
name of Lyaeos. He challenged Christians to wrestle with him on a platform
built over the upturned spears of the victorious soldiers. A brave Christian
named Nestor went to the prison to his advisor Demetrius and requested a
blessing to fight the barbarian. With the blessing and prayers of Demetrius,
Nestor prevailed over the fierce German and hurled him from the platform onto
the spears of the soldiers, just as the murderous pagan would have done with
the Christian. The enraged commander ordered the execution of the holy Martyr
Nestor (October 27) and sent a guard to the prison to kill St Demetrius.
At dawn on October 26, 306
soldiers appeared in the saint's underground prison and ran him through with
lances. His faithful servant, St Lupus, gathered up the blood-soaked garment of
St Demetrius, and he took the imperial ring from his finger, a symbol of his
high status, and dipped it in the blood. With the ring and other holy things
sanctified by the blood of St Demetrius, St Lupus began to heal the infirm. The
emperor issued orders to arrest and kill him.
The body of the holy Great
Martyr Demetrius was cast out for wild animals to devour, but the Christians
took it and secretly buried it in the earth.
During the reign of St
Constantine (306-337), a church was built over the grave of St Demetrius. A
hundred years later, during the construction of a majestic new church on the
old spot, the incorrupt relics of the holy martyr were uncovered. Since the
seventh century a miraculous flow of fragrant myrrh has been found beneath the
crypt of the Great Martyr Demetrius, so he is called "the Myrrh-gusher."
Several times, those venerating the holy wonderworker tried
to bring his holy relics, or a part of them, to Constantinople. Invariably, St
Demetrius made it clear that he would not permit anyone to remove even a
portion of his relics.
It is interesting that
among the barbarians threatening the Romans, Slavs occupied an important place,
in particular those settling upon the Thessalonian peninsula. Some even believe
that the parents of St Demetrius were of Slavic descent. While advancing towards
the city, pagan Slavs were repeatedly turned away by the apparition of a
threatening radiant youth, going around on the walls and inspiring terror in
the enemy soldiers. Perhaps this is why the name of St Demetrius was
particularly venerated among the Slavic nations after they were enlightened by
the Gospel. On the other hand, the Greeks dismiss the notion of St Demetrius
being a Slavic saint.
The very first pages of
the Russian Primary Chronicle, as foreordained by God, is bound up with the
name of the holy Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessalonica. The Chronicle relates
that when Oleg the Wise threatened the Greeks at Constantinople (907), the
Greeks became terrified and said, "This is not Oleg, but rather St
Demetrius sent upon us from God." Russian soldiers always believed that
they were under the special protection of the holy Great Martyr Demetrius.
Moreover, in the old Russian barracks the Great Martyr Demetrius was always
depicted as Russian. Thus this image entered the soul of the Russian nation.
Church veneration of the
holy Great Martyr Demetrius in Russia began shortly after the Baptism of Rus.
Towards the beginning of the 1070s the Dimitriev monastery at Kiev, known
afterwards as the Mikhailov-Zlatoverkh monastery, was founded, The monastery
was built by the son of Yaroslav the Wise, Great Prince Izyaslav, Demetrius in
Baptism (+ 1078). The mosaic icon of St Demetrius of Thessalonica from the
cathedral of the Dimitriev monastery has been preserved up to the present day,
and is in the Tretiakov gallery.
In the years 1194-1197 the
Great Prince of Vladimir, Vsevolod III the Great-Nest (Demetrius in Baptism)
"built at his court a beautiful church of the holy martyr Demetrius, and
adorned it wondrously with icons and frescoes." The Dimitriev cathedral
also reveals the embellishment of ancient Vladimir. The wonderworking icon of
St Demetrius of Thessalonica from the cathedral iconostas is located even now
in Moscow, at the Tretiakov gallery. It was painted on a piece of wood from the
grave of the holy Great Martyr Demetrius, brought from Thessalonica to Vladimir
in 1197.
One of the most precious
depictions of the saint, a fresco on a column of the Vladimir Dormition
cathedral, was painted by the holy Iconographer Andrew Rublev (July 4).
The family of St Alexander Nevsky (November 23 also venerated
St Demetrius. St Alexander named his eldest son in honor of the holy Great
Martyr. His younger son, Prince Daniel of Moscow (March 4), built a temple
dedicated to the holy Great Martyr Demetrius in the 1280s. This was the first
stone church in the Moscow Kremlin. Later in 1326, under Ivan Kalita, it was
taken down and the Dormition cathedral was built in its place.
The memory of St Demetrius
of Thessalonica is historically associated in Rus with the military, patriotism
and the defense of the country. This is apparent by the saint's depiction on
icons as a soldier in plumed armor, with a spear and sword in hand. There is a
scroll (in later depictions) on which is written the prayer of St Demetrius for
the salvation of the people of Thessalonica, "Lord, do not permit the city
or the people perish. If You save the city and the people, I shall be saved
with them. If they perish, I also perish with them."
In the particular
spiritual experience of the Russian Church, veneration of the holy Great Martyr
Demetrius of Thessalonica is closely linked with the memory of the defense of
the nation and Church by the Great Prince of Moscow, Demetrius of the Don (May
19) . "An Account of the Life and Repose of the Great Prince Demetrius of
the Don, Tsar of Russia," written in the year 1393, already regards the
Great Prince as a saint, as also do other old Russian histories. Great Prince
Demetrius was a spiritual son and disciple of St Alexis, Metropolitan of Moscow
(February 12), and a disciple and associate of other great figures of prayer in
the Russian Land: St Sergius of Radonezh (September 25), Demetrius of Priluki
(February 11), St Theodore of Rostov (November 28). The Account states:
He [Great Prince Demetrius] worried much about the churches of God, and he held the territory of the Russian land by his bravery: he conquered many enemies who had risen against us, and he protected his glorious city Moscow with wondrous walls. ...The land of Russia prospered during the years of his reign.
From the time
of the building of the white-walled Kremlin (1366) by Great Prince Demetrius,
Moscow was called "White-Stoned."
By the prayers of his
Heavenly patron, the holy warrior Demetrius of Thessalonica, Great Prince
Demetrius, in addition to his brilliant military victories, also gained the
further prominence of Russia. He repelled the onslaught of the Lithuanian
armies of Olgerd (1368, 1373), he routed the Tatar army of Begich at the River
Vozha (1378), and he smashed the military might of all the Golden Horde at the
Battle of Kulikovo Field on September 8, 1380 (the Feast of the Nativity of the
Most Holy Theotokos), set between the Rivers Don and Nepryadva. The Battle of
Kulikovo, for which the nation calls him Demetrius of the Don, became the first
Russian national deed, rallying the spiritual power of the Russian nation
around Moscow. The "Zadonschina," an inspiring historic poem written
by the priest Sophronius of Ryazem (1381) is devoted to this event.
Prince Demetrius of the
Don was greatly devoted to the holy Great Martyr Demetrius. In 1380, on the eve
of the Battle of Kulikovo, he solemnly transferred from Vladimir to Moscow the
most holy object in the Vladimir Dimitriev cathedral: the icon of the Great
Martyr Demetrius of Thessalonica, painted on a board from the grave of the
saint. A chapel dedicated to the Great Martyr Demetrius was built at Moscow's
Dormition Cathedral.
The St Demetrius Memorial
Saturday was established for church wide remembrance of the soldiers who fell
in the Battle of Kulidovo. This memorial service was held for the first time at
the Trinity-St Sergius monastery on October 20, 1380 by St Sergius of Radonezh,
in the presence of Great Prince Demetrius of the Don. It is an annual
remembrance of the heroes of the Battle of Kulikovo, among whom are the
schemamonks Alexander (Peresvet) and Andrew (Oslyab).
St Demetrius is regarded as a protector of the young, and is also
invoked by those struggling with lustful temptations.
(Courtesy
of OCA.org)
Saints
Commemorated Today
17th SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST (3rd of
Luke)—Tone 8. Commemoration of the Holy Fathers of the 7th
Ecumenical Council. Martyrs Probus,
Tarachus and Andronicus, at Tarsus in Cilicia (304). St. Cosmas the Hymnographer
Bishop of Majuma (ca. 787). Ven. Amphil—khy, Abbot of Glushetsk (1452). Martyr
Domnica of Anazarbus (286). St. Martin the Merciful, Bishop of Tours (ca. 400).
The ÒJERUSALEMÓ Icon of the
Most-Holy Theotokos (48 A.D.).
May Their Memory Be Eternal
The
newly departed servants, Matushka Barbara and the Reader Robert Michael;
the
Archbishop GREGORY;
the
Archimandrite Innocent;
the
Priests Peter, Homer, Ishmael, Elary, and Leo;
the
Presbyteras Mary, Elizabeth, Sophronia, and Platonida;
the
servants of God, Elena, Olivera, Helen, Christo, Radka, Dale, Philemon, Carmel,
Thomas, Thomas & Marion, Andrew & Irene, Stamatia & Peter,
Panigyoti & Marianthi, Elvetizio & Eva, Vasili, Mary Ellen, George,
Christophor, Rada, Julia, and Mary;
The
Servant of God, Anna, on the one year anniversary of her falling asleep in the
Lord.
(If you wish to add a name to
this list, please contact Fr. Timothy)
Those Who Are In Need of Prayer
Mathew, Venko, Tanya, Petya, Vera, Magdalena, Catherine,
Bojanka, Albana, Presbyteras Marie, Miriam, Barbara, Artemis, & Priests
Photius, Joseph, Anthony, Mileta, Milorad, and Joseph; Alexandra, Yekaterina,
Sasha, John, Carmeta, Charlie, and Patricia.
(If you wish to add a name to
this list, please contact Fr. Timothy)
Schedule of Services
(All
Services begin at 2:00)
Sunday, November 9 Archangel Michael and all the Heavenly
Host
Sunday, November 23 Entry of the Theotokos into the
Temple
Sunday, December 7 St. Nicholas the Wonderworker
Sunday, December 21 Forefeast of the Nativity of Christ
Sunday, January 4 Forefeast of Theophany
(Baptism of Christ)
November Parish Council Meeting
The next Monthly Parish Council
Meeting will be held on Thursday evening, November 13 at St. Luke Orthodox
Church in MacLean, VA. The meeting
will begin at 7:00 PM and will end promptly at 9:00 PM. Parishioners are welcome and encouraged
to attend the meeting but are respectfully reminded that only Parish Council
members may vote.
2009 Annual Parish Meeting
The Annual Parish Meeting will take place after the Divine
Liturgy on Sunday, January 18, 2009.
The Annual Parish Meeting agenda will include, 1/ TreasurerÕs Financial
Report on 2008, 2/ PriestÕs Report on 2008 and Outlook for 2009, 3/ Adoption of
2008 Annual Parish Meeting Minutes, 4/ Budget for 2009, 5/ Election of 2009
Parish Council members, and 6/ New Business (items proposed and accepted by the
Parish Council by January 4). Only
members of good standing may either stand for nomination to the Parish Council
and vote.
15th
All-American Council
Pittsburgh, PA
November 10
– 13
On Wednesday, November 12
the Council will vote for a new Metropolitan. The Council clergy and delegates will and the eligible
candidate who receives two thirds of the vote will be the next
Metropolitan. If no candidates
receives two-thirds of the vote on the first ballot – the voting will be
guided by guidelines published on www.oca.org. SS Cyril and Methodius will be represented by Fr. Timothy
Perry and Mr. Lawrence Woods.
For more information on
the council please visit: http://www.oca.org/15aac
Bulletins prepared by Fr. Timothy.
For more information
please contact:
(V. Rev. Timothy Perry)
703.385.2049 or (Mr. Mat Mathews) 703.759.5528
