The Life of St. Demetrios - Fr. Gregory - October 26, 2025

On October 26 each year, we celebrate St. Demetrios the Great Martyr and Myrrh-Gusher. Fr. Gregory begins today’s sermon by introducing St. Demetrios, who was born to pious Christian parents in 280 AD. At the time, Diocletian was ruler, and many Christians were martyred for their faith. St. Demetrios was martyred at 26 years old in 306, just before St. Constantine legalized Christianity in 313.Fr. Gregory goes on to describe the church of St. Demetrios in Thessaloniki, the saint’s birthplace, and the importance of his feast day. He is such a great saint, Fr. Gregory explains, that the church assigns a special reading for him. He shows why today’s Epistle, 2 Timothy 2, is fitting. St. Paul emphasizes three things: being strong in the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, handing on the faith to faithful men who are also able to teach others, and enduring hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. These words perfectly describe the life of St. Demetrios — his courage, his teaching, his endurance, and his triumph.St. Demetrios is a teacher who enlightened his city with the truth of Christ, a soldier who endured hardship and won the crown of martyrdom, and a myrrh-gusher through whom God shows that his grace fills even mortal flesh with divine life. In him, the words of St. Paul to Timothy are fulfilled. He was strong in the grace of Christ, he taught the faith to others, he endured hardship as a good soldier, and he pleased the one who enlisted him. Even now, his relics stream myrrh, his name brings hope, and his intercession heals the faithful. Fr. Gregory encourages us to imitate St. Demetrios’ faith, handing on the Gospel with courage, enduring hardship with patience, and letting our hearts remain fragrant with prayer and freed from worldly entanglement.