Akathist to Holy Great Martyr Demetrios of Thessaloniki

Kontakion 1

The most renowned, Great-martyr of the Savior and Thessaloniki’s most-zealous defender. With our melodies and singing let us praise him, Incredibly, taking action through miracles, All affliction and mistreatment is now undone For those who cry aloud:

Rejoice O Martyr Demetrios!

Ikos 1

An Angel from above, stood by giving you strength, O Demetrios, with which you piously competed for heavenly prizes, deign to plead for us who cry out to you in yearning:

Rejoice, through whom Christ is praised,
Rejoice, through whom the enemy is expelled,
Rejoice, you who obtained the zeal of the Apostles,
Rejoice, you who received the prize of the Victors,
Rejoice, height of purity through the godly virtues,
Rejoice, depth of divine knowledge through well won contests,
Rejoice, for you are the pinnacle of the Martyrs,
Rejoice, for you possess the Church’s splendor,
Rejoice, crater pouring forth many teachings,
Rejoice, lantern lighting up the far reaches,
Rejoice, through whom piety flourishes,
Rejoice, to whom every believer cries out:
Rejoice, O Martyr Demetrios!

Kontakion 2

You spouted as a divine shoot, from the noble root of Christ, O soldier Demetrios, and you were presented the athlete’s sweet bread by Christ the prize-giver, by which you nourish all who cry out to the Lord: Alleluia!

Ikos 2

You were enriched by divine knowledge of the wisdom on high, as one sojourning near Christ’s sweet fragrance; by the purity of your life, like the great Paul, you convey by your word the fragrance of the higher knowledge, to those who cry aloud:

Rejoice, our blossoming meadow,
Rejoice, life’s seemly vinedresser,
Rejoice, all fragrant myrrh-vessel of Christ,
Rejoice, ointment of the balms of the Spirit,
Rejoice, myrrh-scented flower of the noetic Paradise,
Rejoice, living well-spring, full of divine sweetness,
Rejoice, for you sever the roots of error,
Rejoice, for you renew the heart by your word,
Rejoice, you who preach Christ’s Incarnation,
Rejoice, you who avert the enemy’s delusion,
Rejoice, scent of heavenly teachings,
Rejoice, turning aside from earthly thinking,
Rejoice, O Martyr Demetrios!

Kontakion 3

Bearing heavenly might like an asp, you have been shown honorable in youth and mighty in piety; by word and deed you shine like another Apostle, O Demetrios, raising up all who cry out: Alleluia!

Ikos 3

You were undaunted before the judgment seats of the lawless, preaching the word of Grace; whereupon the impious ruler locked you up in the filthy bath, which the pious treated as an honor, and we all cry out to you:

Rejoice, preacher of piety,
Rejoice, downfall of impiety,
Rejoice, you who shamed the ruler, most hostile,
Rejoice, you who preached Christ the Ruler of all,
Rejoice, pillar supported by God’s Wisdom,
Rejoice, the Church of Christ’s solid foundation,
Rejoice, for you were cleansed in the unclean bath,
Rejoice, for you were hallowed with most brilliant light,
Rejoice, you who bear the wound of Christ,
Rejoice, you who loosen the woes of souls,
Rejoice, through whom Thessaly was hallowed,
Rejoice, through whom ungodliness was beaten.
Rejoice, O Martyr Demetrios!

Kontakion 4

Boiling with yearning like a renowned Prize-bearer of Christ, you scorched the madness of the enemy, and trampled him like a scorpion, O all-blessed Demetrios, crying out with all your heart to Christ who strengthens you: Alleluia!

Ikos 4

The life-bearing teaching from your divine tongue pouring forth like a mystical flow, brought forth abundant fruits in your city Thessalonica, O Saint; for you brought the most people to Christ, who cry out to you in gladness:

Rejoice, holy mouthpiece for Christ,
Rejoice, fatal coma for the enemy,
Rejoice, most God-inspired farmer of souls,
Rejoice, most experienced excisor of passions,
Rejoice, most luxuriant vine of the vineyard of life,
Rejoice, most sweet grape cluster of spiritual gladness,
Rejoice, for you underwent torture of martyrdom,
Rejoice, for you gush forth a heavenly flow,
Rejoice, for you proclaimed the name of Christ,
Rejoice, for you brighten the thought of the faithful,
Rejoice, through whom the enemies are frightened,
Rejoice, through whom the faithful are strengthened,
Rejoice, O Martyr Demetrios!

Kontakion 5

Using your holy teaching as a shield of piety, the young Nestor with faith, knocked down the pride of Lyaius; completed the contest in martyrdom, and stood by Christ, singing the heavenly hymn: Alleluia!

Ikos 5

Thessalonica your hometown has acquired you as a protector, defender, deliverer and great helper of the city; she boasts of your grace, and reverently honors you and glorying in you, she cries out:

Rejoice, you who are great in marvels,
Rejoice, you who are greater in miracles,
Rejoice, most compassionate defender of our city,
Rejoice, most genuine helper of the faithful,
Rejoice, for you have struck the armies of the foe,
Rejoice, for you have filled your people’s hearts with joy,
Rejoice, most unbreachable wall of Thessalonica,
Rejoice, most radiant lamp of Macedonia,
Rejoice, you who ward off the squads of the enemy,
Rejoice, you who grant favors to the faithful,
Rejoice, Nestor’s way leading to martyrdom,
Rejoice, invisible bolt against our foes.
Rejoice, O Martyr Demetrios!

Kontakion 6

Being a preacher of the truth, you put to shame the worker of falsehood, O Martyr Demetrios. At the impudent council, you were sentenced to death, O blessed One, and inspired by God, you sprinted towards life eternal crying out: Alleluia!

Ikos 6

When your body was pierced with a spear, O Martyr, you were seen as resembling Christ whose side was pierced with a spear; and from the wound your pierced side has shown forth divine myrrh emitting a divine fragrance, to the gladness of those who cry out:

Rejoice, myrrh of incorruption,
Rejoice, the truth’s domination,
Rejoice, myrrh-scented extract of flowers,
Rejoice, token of the toils of the victors,
Rejoice, for the life-giving Passion you portrayed,
Rejoice, for you flowed myrrh from your sacred side,
Rejoice, delicacy of ambrosia, honey and comb,
Rejoice, manna, nectar and drop of incorruption,
Rejoice, now in Eden an unwithering plant,
Rejoice, renowned throughout all the earth,
Rejoice, truly for our souls a fragrant scent,
Rejoice, for many that are ailing a treatment,
Rejoice, O Martyr Demetrios!

Kontakion 7

The all-fragrant streams of your myrrh, O Myrrh-streamer, amazed the hearts of the faithful; but now your holy reliquary, which has been returned from the west, sanctifies us with divine grace, and with your city we cheerfully cry out: Alleluia!

Ikos 7

Killed due to your most uncompromising heart, O Prize-bearer, you received the reward of incorruption; then your beloved Doupos, taking some of your martyr’s blood was working healings, through which those in faith cry out:

Rejoice, O faucet of healings,
Rejoice, abundance of graces,
Rejoice, living vessel of the Savior,
Rejoice, divine bouquet of the Martyrs,
Rejoice, Vessel of precious divine myrrh from heaven,
Rejoice, Stream of divinely flowing aromatic liquid,
Rejoice, for you became Nestor’s anointer,
Rejoice, for you were shown to be Lyaios’ destroyer,
Rejoice, Intercessor from the illustrious Martyrs,
Rejoice, O Elder Patron of Nestor,
Rejoice, lamp of the Thessalonians,
Rejoice, tornado against our savage enemies,
Rejoice, O Martyr Demetrios!

Kontakion 8

Seeing the strange miracle of the flowing of your myrrh, the ascetic of long ago was hesitating, but amazed by its abundance, he proclaimed you a wondrous Myrrh-streamer, O all-glorious Demetrios, crying out to Him who glorified you: Alleluia!

Ikos 8

Leontius the terrible, ailing in his whole soul, approached your holy grave which gushes forth a stream of healings, and finding healing he built you a splendid holy temple, all-glorious Demetrios, crying out to you from his heart:

Rejoice, treatment for the ailing,
Rejoice, relief to those suffering,
Rejoice, myrrh-scented irrigation of the Church,
Rejoice, armored myrrh-streamer of the Creator,
Rejoice, for you wondrously flow myrrh from your tomb,
Rejoice, for you noetically aid those crying out to you,
Rejoice, fragrant vessel of heavenly graces,
Rejoice, saintly fragrance of divine virtues,
Rejoice, foundation of faith, most unshakable,
Rejoice, haven from storms for all people,
Rejoice, for our souls, a sweet mystical fragrance,
Rejoice, for us, a true offering of incense.
Rejoice, O Martyr Demetrios!

Kontakion 9

Through your fervent assistance, the city of Thessalonica was delivered from devastating famine; for by your guidance the grain-laden ship was moored to her docks, and all were proclaiming your miracle through Christ, crying aloud: Alleluia!

Ikos 9

Having submitted in your talk to the Bishop in captivity, to whom you appeared on horseback with an invisible scale, O Martyr, you delivered your City which had come before you: whereupon he proclaimed your grandeur to all, crying to you:

Rejoice, O rescuer of the captives,
Rejoice, glory of the Prize-bearers,
Rejoice, brilliant star of the whole world,
Rejoice, protector of afflicted souls,
Rejoice, well spring which gushes rivers of sympathy,
Rejoice, you who ask God’s compassion for everybody,
Rejoice, for you appear to those who fervently call you,
Rejoice, for you lighten the pains of those who are dying,
Rejoice, great refuge for the believers,
Rejoice, swift destroyer of our enemies,
Rejoice, O Martyr Demetrios!

Kontakion 10

You just saved your inheritance from the severely menacing earthquake, O Martyr, rescue also from future terrors your city Thessaloniki, O Saint, which falls before your most precious reliquary and cries out: Alleluia!

Ikos 10

Having received grace, you abundantly perform miracles in the world; you heal terrible illnesses, and appearing on the city walls you expel the legions of the enemies, wherefore you hear from us these salutations:

Rejoice, O glory of Thessaloniki,
Rejoice, wreath-bearer of the Lord Almighty,
Rejoice, healer and medicine for Leontius,
Rejoice, most perfect defeat of barbarians,
Rejoice, for the Bishop you delivered miraculously,
Rejoice, for rose-scented myrrh you pour forth incredibly,
Rejoice, you who delivered your city from famine,
Rejoice, you who smashed the hordes of the Arabs,
Rejoice, you who destroyed the Christ-hating army,
Rejoice, you who made glad the Christ-loving citizenry,
Rejoice, by whom the Emperor was mended,
Rejoice, by whom Komnenos was astounded,
Rejoice, O Martyr Demetrios!

Kontakion 11

Of old, the fragrance of your myrrh was better than spikenard or saffron or the scent of flourishing meadows; and now your holy reliquary which emanates the sweet fragrance of the Spirit, O Demetrios, gladdens our souls who cry out: Alleluia!

Ikos 11

Emitting light and gushing myrrh, your tomb would amaze the hearts of the faithful; but since your holy reliquary returned to your city from the west, O Demetrios, it sanctifies all who cry out:

Rejoice, salvation of your people,
Rejoice, you who revealed your grace in varied manners,
Rejoice, for you have given to us your holy reliquary,
Rejoice, for you ever dispense a treasure of sympathy,
Rejoice, you who treat the painful afflictions,
Rejoice, you who banish soul-destroying burdens,
Rejoice, you who from the quake delivered us,
Rejoice, you who granted great joy unto us,
Rejoice, on account of whom Thessaloniki rejoices,
Rejoice, on account of whom Thessaly celebrates,
Rejoice, O Martyr Demetrios!

Kontakion 12

Truly rejoicing after many years of deprivation, your city received your myrrh-flowing reliquary, and holding it in her embrace, she cries out to you: “Protect us from the devastating earthquake,” shouting: Alleluia!

Ikos 12

Your city chants of your holy struggles; she falls down before your all-precious reliquary, and she unceasingly calls upon your speedy assistance, O Demetrios, which do give to her always, as she cries out to you continually:

Rejoice, wall of Thessalonica,
Rejoice, glorious Myrrh-streamer,
Rejoice, boast of the entire Greek nation,
Rejoice, downfall of enemies warring against us,
Rejoice, your pious nation’s victory and foundation,
Rejoice, the hostile enemy’s downfall and destruction,
Rejoice, unsleeping guard of Thessalonica,
Rejoice, most-fragrant resin of Macedonia,
Rejoice, through whom the passions are purified,
Rejoice, through whom with light I will be filled,
Rejoice, your sacred temple’s brilliance and splendor,
Rejoice, joyfulness to your hymns’ pitiful singer,
Rejoice, O Martyr Demetrios!

Kontakion 13

O All-Praised Martyr, Thessaly’s offering, Christ’s Myrrh-flowing Demetrios, receiving our cries, send down upon us in return your grace that we may be delivered from every affliction, crying out to God: Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

(Repeat the above Kontakion 13, 3 times)
(Then continue below)

Ikos 1

An Angel from above, stood by giving you strength, O Demetrios, with which you piously competed for heavenly prizes; deign to plead for us who cry out to you in yearning:

Rejoice, through whom Christ is praised,
Rejoice, through whom the enemy is expelled,
Rejoice, you who obtained the zeal of the Apostles,
Rejoice, you who received the prize of the Victors,
Rejoice, height of purity through the godly virtues,
Rejoice, depth of divine knowledge through well won contests,
Rejoice, for you are the pinnacle of the Martyrs,
Rejoice, for you possess the Church’s splendor,
Rejoice, crater pouring forth many teachings,
Rejoice, lantern lighting up the far reaches,
Rejoice, through whom piety flourishes,
Rejoice, to whom every believer cries out:
Rejoice, O Martyr Demetrios!

Kontakion 1

The most renowned, Great-martyr of the savior and Thessaloniki’s most-zealous defender With our melodies and singing let us praise him Incredibly, taking action through miracles All affliction and mistreatment is now undone For those who cry aloud,

Rejoice O Martyr Demetrios!

Prayer to Saint Demetrios

The most renowned, Great-martyr of the Savior And Thessalonica’s most-zealous defender With our melodies and singing let us praise him Incredibly, taking action through miracles All affliction and mistreatment is now undone For those who cry aloud, rejoice O Martyr Demetrios! Demetrios my joy, many times rejoice! Gerasimos faithfully cries out to you! The end and glory to God, and to his Martyr!