O marvellous wonder! In heaven and on earth joy has dawned bright today at the commemoration of the Martyr Demetrios; from the Angels he is garlanded with praises, and from humans he receives songs. O how he struggled! How well he competed! Through him the cunning foe has fallen and Christ has conquered.

¶8

O marvellous wonder! By the beams of his wonders Demetrios shines for ever through the ends of the earth more brightly than the sun, shining from the light that knows no evening, and taking his pleasure in the light that never sets; by his rays barbarian clouds have been dispelled, diseases chased away, demons defeated.

¶9

O marvellous wonder! Thrice-blessed Demetrios, transfixed by a lance for the sake of Christ, has appeared each day like a two-edged sword against foes, as he cuts of the arrogance of enemies and breaks in pieces the insolence of demons. To him let us cry out: Holy Demetrios, protect us who ever honour your all-revered memory

¶10

You appeared as a tower of true religion, firmly established on the rock of the faith, not captured by temptations and not shaken by dangers; for the waves of the godless breaking against you with violent swell and tempest did not cast down your unshakeable firmness; for you longed to be adorned with a martyr’s crown.

¶11

Imitating by suffering the suffering of Christ, you have received from him, glorious Champion Demetrios, the power to work wonders; and you save those who have recourse to you, delivering them from many dangers, as you have well-pleasing boldness towards Christ; before whom you now stand, filled with glory.

¶12

Dripping with your own blood, Demetrios, you were offered to Christ the Giver of life who emptied out his precious blood for your sake; and he made you a sharer in his glory, a companion in his kingship, for you had won the victory against the boaster and completely quenched his dread devices.

¶13

**Tone 6. By Vyzantios.**

¶14

To-day the universal festival of the Champion calls us together. Come then, lovers of feasts, let us radiantly celebrate his memorial, as we say: Hail, who tore apart the tunic of impiety through the faith, robing yourself in the courage of the Spirit! Hail, who destroyed the purposes of the lawless with the strength given you by God! Hail, who when your limbs were pierced by the lance depicted for us spiritually the blessed passion of Christ! Implore him, Demetrios, ornament of Athletes, that we may be rescued from visible and invisible foes, and that our souls may be saved.

¶15

All-holy Lady, help of the world and hope of Christians; we now entreat and implore you, loving Mother of God, on behalf of us who have sinned and are in despair, to make your Son and Lord merciful; for by using your mother’s boldness you have this power. Come quickly, O Immaculate, come quickly, intervene, and deliver your people from the impending threat; in your compassionate mercy do not despise those who sing your praise.

¶16

The Reading is from the Prophecy of Isaias.

¶17

Look down from heaven, Lord, and see from your holy house and your glory. Where is the multitude of your mercy and your pity, that you keep back from us, O Lord? For you are our Father, though Abraham did not know us, though Israel did not acknowledge us; but you are our Father, deliver us. From the beginning your name is upon us. Why have you made us wander from your way, Lord? Why have you hardened our hearts not to fear you? Turn back for the sake of your servants, for the tribes of your inheritance, that we may inherit a small part of your holy mountain. Our enemies have trampled down your sanctuary. We have become as at the beginning, when you did not know us, when your name had not been invoked upon us. If you open the heaven, trembling will take hold upon mountains from you, and they will melt as wax melts before the fire; and fire will burn up your enemies, and your name will be manifest to your enemies; before your face nations will be troubled. When you do glorious things trembling from you will seize mountains. From eternity we have not heard, nor have we seen a God save you; and your works are true, and you do mercy to those who wait on you. For mercy will meet those who act justly, and they will be mindful of your ways. And now, Lord, your are our Father, while we are your clay and you are our Fashioner; we are all the works of your hands; do not be very angry with us, Lord, and do not remember our sins in season. And now look upon, Lord, for we are all your people.

¶18

The Reading is from the Prophecy of Jeremy.

¶19

Thus says the Lord: I have remembered the mercy of your youth and the love of your marriage, in your following the Holy One of Israel, says the Lord, the Holy One of Israel. For the Lord the first of his produce. All that devour him shall offend; evils will come upon them, says the Lord. Hear the word of the Lord, house of Jacob and all the family of the house of Israel. Thus says the Lord: What offence did your fathers find in me, that they rebelled far from me and went after vanities and became vain? Nor did they say: Where is the Lord, who brought us up from Egypt, who guided us in the wilderness, in a vast and trackless land, in a waterless and fruitless land, and in the shadow of death? In a land in which no man had ever journeyed, nor had any human dwelt there? And I led you into Carmel, to eat its fruits and its good things. And you entered and defiled my land, and you turned my inheritance into an abomination. Your priests did not say: Where is the Lord? And those who stood by the law did not know me, and the shepherds sinned against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal and went after what is profitless. Therefore I will dispute with you again, says the Lord, and I will dispute with your children’s children. Pass through the isles of the Kittim and see; send to Kedar and observe closely, and see if such things have been done; if the nations will change their gods - and they are not gods. But my people has changed their glory for that from which they get no profit. Heaven is amazed at this and shudders greatly with horror, says the Lord.

¶20

The Reading is from the Wisdom of Solomon.

¶21

The souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no torment will ever touch them. In the eyes of fools they seemed to have died, and their departure was reckoned a disaster, and their going from us their destruction; but they are in peace. For though in the sight of mankind they were punished, their hope is full of immortality. And having been disciplined a little, they will receive great good; because God tried them and found them worthy of himself. He proved them like gold in a furnace and accepted them as whole burnt offering. And at the moment of their visitation they will shine out, and they will run like sparks through stubble. They will judge nations and hold sway over peoples, and the Lord will be their king to the ages. Those who have trusted in him will understand truth; and the faithful in love will abide with him; because grace and mercy are upon his holy ones, and his visitation upon his chosen.

¶22

At the Liti, Idiomel Stichera.

¶23

Tone 1. By George Sikeliotes

¶24

Rejoice in the Lord, city of Thessaloniki; be glad and dance, resplendent by faith, for you possess as a treasure in your bosom Demetrios the all-renowned Athlete, and Martyr for the truth; look and receive healings of wonders; and see how he strikes down the insolence of the Barbarians, and with thanksgiving cry out to the Saviour: Lord, glory to you!

¶25

The same tone. By Anatolios.

¶26

With the charm of songs let us make bright the present day, and let us make the struggles of the Martyr resound; for the great Demetrios is proposed for our praise. For bravely overpowering the attacks of tyrants, he leapt keenly into the stadium; and having triumphantly carried off the victory, he implores the Saviour that our souls may be saved.

¶27

**Tone 2. By Germanos.**

¶28

Christ God has taken your blameless spirit, wise Martyr Demetrios, to the dwellings beyond the world; for you became a champion of the Trinity, competing bravely in the stadium like tempered steel; pierced by a lance in your spotless side, O all-honoured, you imitated the One who was transfixed on a tree for the salvation of all the world; you received the power of healings and grant mortals cures without grudging. And so today, as we feast your falling asleep, we fittingly glorify the Lord who glorified you.

¶29

O greatest mystery! Seeing the wonders I proclaim the divinity, I do not deny the humanity; for Emmanuel opened the gates of nature as man, yet as God did not break the seals of virginity; but he came from the womb as he had entered through the hearing; as he had been conceived, so he became incarnate. Impassibly he entered, ineffably he came forth, as the Prophet had said: This gate shall be shut, none shall go through it, except the Lord, the God of Israel, who has great mercy.

Translated by Ephrem Lash. Edition lash.en.anastasis.