Ode 4. First Canon of the Saint.

Exapostilarion. With the Disciples.

Kontakion. Tone 2. Model Melody.

The choir of Champions is displayed having gathered every virtue; therefore they worthily inherited the delight of the pure and blessed life. Among whom, worthy Demetrios, you are pre-eminent, honoured by your imitation of Christ and glorified for being like him pierced with a lance. Ask him insistently that we who honour you may be delivered from sufferings and dread disasters, as you fervently entreat the One who grants the world his great mercy.

Seeing you the Sun of justice.

**Theotokion.**

Glory. Tone 4. By Andrew of Jerusalem.

The most high Word of God, seeing you had conquered the falsehood of impiety, crowned you with glory, Demetrios, as you sang: Glory to your power, O Lord.

Given strength by the life-bearing hand, you reached the meadows of great calm, where now with gladness you cry out, Demetrios: Glory to your power, O Lord.

Having raised up a trophy against error, you received a victorious diadem of justice, Demetrios, as you cried out: Glory to your power, O Lord.

You alone, Mother of God, were counted worthy to be more sacred than all creatures, for by giving birth to him you enlightened the world with the grace of knowledge of God.

The Prophet Avvakoum. ****

Ode 5. First Canon of the Saint. You, Lord, are my light.

Having received in your heart the fire of divine love, you quenched the fire of the godless folly of idols, revered Demetrios.

Appear, Demetrios, delivering us from dangers by your prayers, sheltering those who with faith and love sing your praise.

Those who with faith press forward to your shrine, Demetrios, are instantly delivered from diseases and soul-destroying passions.

The Word of God, consubstantial with the Father, O Mother of God, beyond understanding and reason became your Son, consubstantial with you.

The universe was amazed. ****

Ode 6. First canon of the Saint. I will sacrifice to you.

Assembled with one accord, we sing the praise of your light-bearing memory, most blessed Demetrios, and the multitudes of the wonders and gifts of grace of the Holy and revered Spirit.

Loose the bonds of my faults by your prayers, for as an unconquerable Martyr you have freedom to speak before the Master. And be for me refuge an protection, Demetrios.

Finding you undefiled among thorns as a most pure lily and flower of the valleys, Mother of God, the Word the Bridegroom dwelt in your womb.

Come, godly-minded people. ****

With the streams of your blood, Demetrios, God has dyed the Church in purple, the God who gives you unconquerable might and keeps your City unharmed, for you are its strength.

Let all we believers assembled honour with songs and hymns this great Saint as a soldier and Martyr of Christ, as we cry aloud to the Master and Creator of the inhabited world: Deliver us from the constraint of earthquake, Lover of mankind, at the prayers of the Mother of God and of all the Martyrs; for in you we hope to be delivered from dangers and afflictions, because you are our strength.

On the 26th of the month, Commemoration of the holy and glorious Great Martyr Demetrios, Myrovlitis and Wonderworker.

Lances, my Christ, pierce through Demetrios,

Tracing the passions of your lance-pierced side.

Spears on the twenty sixth day pierced the side of the martyr Demetrios.

He lived in the reign of the Emperors Diocletian and Maximianos and was from the city of Thessalonika, a devout Christian from the start and a teacher of the faith in Christ. But when Maximianos visited Thessalonika, the Saint was arrested as being well known for his beliefs. The Emperor was extremely proud of a certain Lyaios and urged the people of the place to come out and meet him in combat (Lyaios was a man of huge stature and excelled in strength those who came agaisnt him). A certain young man, Christian by faith, named Nestor, went to Demetrios, who was in prison, and said, ‘Servant of God, I intend to compete aginst Lyaios. But pray for me.’ Demetrios signed his forehead with the sign of the Cross and said, ‘You will both beat Lyaios and bear a Mertyr’s witness for Christ.’ At these words Nestor took courage and opposed Lyaios, cast down his arrogant boasting and slew him.

Because of this the Emperor was humiliated and after investigation having found out what had happened, he gave orders that first Demetrios should be run through in the side with lances, as he was the cause of Lyaios’ slaughter. This being done the Saint at once gave up his life and after his death became the cause of many wonders and cures. Then, at the Emperor’s order, Saint Nestor was beheaded.

On the same day the holy Martyrs Artemidoros and Basil attained perfection by the sword.

Artemidoros, for whom end was sword,

Had Basil as his fellow for the sword.

On the same day the holy Martyr Leptina was dragged down into the ground and attained perfection.

Dragged to the ground by hands of hostile men,

Leptina left to earth the bulk of flesh.

On the same day the holy Martyr Glykon attained perfection by the sword.

Glykon, you stretched your neck out o sword,

Pouring for Christ your blood as sweet libation.

On the same day, Commemoration of the great and terrible earthquake.

You shook, but saved again the earth, O Word;

For of your anger pity is the sum.

In the twenty fourth year of the reign of Leo the Isaurian, in the ninth Indiction, on the 26th of October, there was a great and terrible earthquake in Constantinople, so that the upper stories and the more splendid of the other buildings collapsed and many people were buried under the ruins. And so on the day of the Great martyr Demetrios we commemorate that terrible threat of the earthquake, going in procession to the church in Vlachernae of our all-pure, holy and glorious Lady, Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary, where we celebrate the divine Liturgy. At her prayers may we be delivered from every threat and attain eternal good things, in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and might to the ages of ages. Amen.

Ode 7. First Canon of the Saint. The Children of Abraham.

Ablaze with divine glory and grace, Martyr and Champion, you shine as though formed of light, and you enlighten those who cry: Blessed are you, Lord, in the temple of your glory.

Adorned with your own blood as with royal purple, having the Cross for a sceptre, glorious martyr, you now reign with Christ, crying: Blessed are you, my God and Lord.

Virgin Mother, glorified and enlightened, guard well all those who honour you as true Mother of God, for you are blessed among women, Sovereign Lady.

The godlike Youths. ****

Ode 8. First Canon of the Saint. Stretching out his hands.

You darkened all the folly of the foe and all his wrestler’s tricks, girded with the indestructible power of Christ, and having become a victor, glorious Martyr Demetrios, you cried out: All you his works, praise the Lord!

Showing the constancy of martyrs, you gained fair fame, Demetrios, have bathed in the holy bath that is not defiled by the renewed assaults of sins, pierced by a lance and crying out: All you his works, praise the Lord!

The multitude beyond understanding of the wonders that Christ granted you freely, glorious Martyr, you display for all; and grace of healings beyond reason that is clearly yours, proclaims grace to us who cry: All you his works, praise the Lord!

Let us confess her who alone in all generations is Virgin-Mother and pure Mother of God; for she is the cause of salvation for us, since she gave birth to the Word, the Redeemer of the world, to whom we cry: All you his works, praise the Lord!

The Offspring of the Mother of God. ****

Ode. 9. First canon of the Saint. A stone not cut by human hand.

Break the bonds of the faults of those who sing your praise, O Champion. End the assaults of the passions; abolish the folly of heresies; calm the storm of temptations by your intercessions.

Direct your most sacred flock to the straight paths of the heavenly kingdom, crowned victor, Martyr Demetrios, onto the saving pasture and the place that is everlasting.

All we the faithful, believing you, O Virgin, to be root, source and cause of incorruption, we honour you with songs of praise; for you poured out for us empersonned Immortality.

Let all born of earth. ****

Martyr of Christ, Demetrios, as once by divine grace you destroyed the arrogance and pride of Lyaios and his stallion’s insolence by strengthening Nestor in the stadium by the power of the Cross, so strengthen me also by your prayers, O Champion, at all times against demons and soul-destroying passions.

Immaculate Virgin-Mother, do not cease to implore the Lord who was incarnate from your pure blood on behalf of us who are your servants, that we, the race of mortals, may find grace and prompt help in time of need, rescuing us from the threat of fearsome earthquake and from dangers by your mother’s prayers.

At Lauds we insert 4 Stichera and sing three Prosomia, doubling the first.

Tone 5. Hail, of ascetics.

Come to us, Martyr of Christ, as we implore your compassionate protection, and deliver those in trouble from the threats of tyrants and the dread folly of heresy, by which. like prisoners and naked, we are continually pursued from place to place, passing and wandering in caves and mountains. Take pity, then All-praised, and give us relief; end the tempest and assuage the pain that harms us, as you intercede with God, who grants the world his great mercy.

You have been given to us as a fortified wall that does not tremble at the siege engines of the foe, for you render ineffective the assaults of the barbarians and the symptoms of all diseases. You are an invincible rampart and unbreakable foundation, defender, builder and champion for your city, Demetrios. By your prayers, All-blessed one, save it now dreadfully endangered and wretchedly afflicted, as you implore Christ, who grants the world his great mercy.

Let us all honour Demetrios, wisest in teachings and victor among Martyrs, who by lances inherited the grace from the Saviour’s side that was pierced by the lance, from which the Saviour pours out for us streams of life and incorruption. Through blood he finished the course of his contest and shone for all the inhabited world by wonders, zealous for the Master and compassionate lover of the poor; many times the defender of the people of Thessalonika in many dread dangers. As we celebrate his yearly memorial, we glorify Christ God, who works through him healings for all.

Deliver us from our constraints, Mother of Christ God, who gave birth to the Maker of all things, that we may all cry to you: Hail, the only defence of our souls.

Great Doxology and Dismissal.

Holy myron from the Saint is given, while his Idiomels are chanted.

At the Liturgy, Typika and Beatitudes, and from the canons of the Saint the 3rd and 6th Odes.