 |
| St. Demetrios of Cappadocia (Feast Day - October 26) |
Saint Demetrios hailed from Misti–Konakli in Cappadocia (near Nigde), where he lived a holy life and became a habitation of the Holy Spirit. Between 1860 and 1870, the Saint appeared in a dream to an illiterate but pious woman, Eleutheria Elekidou from Misti, revealing that it was the will of God that his relics be exhumed, for his body was incorrupt. She led her husband and all the inhabitants of Misti to a catacomb between the villages of Misti and Limna (Golcuk), where they were gushing fragrant myrrh, and since then are a source of rich blessings and many healings to those who invoke him.
The newly-revealed Saint of God began to be glorified by countless miracles. Christian believers from various places came to Misti to venerate the holy relics of Saint Demetrios and they received healing through his prayers. His relics were brought from the village of Misti to the village of Iana in Alexandroupolis by refugees from Misti-Konakli in Cappadocia, after the Asia Minor Catastrophe of 1922-24. For several decades the relics were in the Cappadocian Home of Alexandroupolis, in the Church of Saint Demetrios in Iana, and in January 2012 they were transferred to the Church of the Transfiguration in Alexandroupolis.
Saint Demetrios was neither a celebrated hierarch nor an eloquent theologian, but a simple old man who spent the better part of his life in an unshakable firmness of his faith, his patience, prayer, and gentleness of spirit. His icon shows a Saint in popular Cappadocian dress, probably a shepherd or farmer, holding a cross. He knew few letters and he did not know the evils of the world. He lived far from complex systems of humanistic rationalism, remaining simple, poor in spirit, and therefore full of faith. The Holy Spirit dwelled in his heart.
Saint Demetrios of Misti in Cappadocia reposed in the Lord and received the recompense of the labors and toils that he endured for Christ, whom he loved more than all corrupt and fleeting things, so that now, wearing a crown in heaven, he rejoices with the choirs of the saints and beholds in glory the Prize-bestower, our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be glory and dominion and worship unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone
In following Christ you forsook all that is of the world, clearly verifying that your life was equal to that of the angels, being fleshless O venerable one; in Misti you approached with divine longing, chiseling away the bitterness of old, driving away its bitter taste; wherefore Demetrios of Cappadocia, you are worthily glorified.
