St. Chrysanthe icon

Orthodox icon of Saint Demetrius, Demetrios, Myrrh gusher of Thessalonica. Icon made around 1300 AD., Monastery of Vatopaidi, Mount Athos. (3)

Commemorated October 26th.

By the time Demetrius had reached maturity and his father had died, the emperor Galerius Maximian had ascended the throne (305). Maximian, confident in Demetrius education as well as his administrative and military abilities, appointed him to his father's position as proconsul of the Thessalonica district. The main tasks of this young commander were to defend the city from barbarians and to eradicate Christianity. The emperor's policy regarding Christians was expressed simply, Put to death anyone who calls on the name of Christ.

Accepting the appointment, Demetrius returned to Thessalonica and immediately confessed and glorified our Lord Jesus Christ. Instead of persecuting and executing Christians, he began to teach the Christian Faith openly to the inhabitants of the city and to overthrow pagan customs and idolatry. When Maximian learned that the newly-appointed proconsul was a Christian, and that he had converted many Roman subjects to Christianity, the rage of the emperor know no bounds.

Returning from a campaign in the Black Sea region, the emperor decided to lead his army through Thessalonica, determined to massacre the Christians. Learning of this, St Demetrius ordered his faithful servant Lupus to distribute his wealth to the poor saying, Distribute my earthly riches among them, for we shall seek heavenly riches for ourselves. He began to pray and fast, preparing himself for martyrdom. Maximian gave orders to lock up the confessor in prison. An angel appeared to him, comforting and encouraging him.

At dawn on October 26, 306 soldiers appeared in the saint's underground prison and ran him through with lances. During the reign of St Constantine (306-337), a church was built over the grave of St Demetrius. A hundred years later, during the construction of a majestic new church on the old spot, the incorrupt relics of the holy martyr were uncovered. Since the seventh century a miraculous flow of fragrant myrrh has been found beneath the crypt of the Great Martyr Demetrius, so he is called the Myrrh-gusher. St Demetrius is regarded as a protector of the young, and is also invoked by those struggling with temptations.

Orthodox icon of Saint Cosmas, Priestmonk of Aitolia, Equal to the Apostles.

Commemorated August 24.

A native of Aitolia Greece, he studied at first under the guidance of the archdeacon Ananias Dervisanos, and afterwards continued his education on Mount Athos, at the Vatopedi school.Remaining on Athos at the Philotheou monastery to devote himself to spiritual labors, he was tonsured a monk with the name Cosmas, and later was ordained hieromonk. The desire to benefit his fellow Christians, to guide them upon the way of salvation and strengthen their faith, impelled St Cosmas to seek the blessing of his spiritual fathers and go to Constantinople.

There he mastered the art of rhetoric and, having received a written permit of Patriarch Seraphim II (and later from his successor Sophronius) to preach the Holy Gospel. So the saint began to proclaim the Gospel at first in the churches of Constantinople and the surrounding villages, then in the Danube regions, in Thessalonica, in Verroia, in Macedonia, Chimaera, Akarnania, Aitolia, on the islands of Saint Maura, Kephalonia and other places. His preaching, filled with the grace of the Holy Spirit, was simple, calm, and gentle. It brought Christians great spiritual benefit.

The Lord Himself assisted him and confirmed his words with signs and miracles, just as He had confirmed the preaching of the Apostles. Preaching in the remote areas of Albania, where Christian piety had almost disappeared among the rough and coarse people entrenched in sin, St Cosmas led them to sincere repentance and improvement with the Word of God. Under his guidance, church schools were opened in the towns and villages.

The rich offered their money for the betterment of the churches, for the purchase of Holy Books (which the saint distributed to the literate), veils (which he gave women, admonishing them to come to church with covered heads),for prayer ropes and crosses (which he distributed to the common folk), and for baptismal fonts so that children could be baptized in the proper manner.

The apostolic service of St Cosmas was brought to a close by his martyric death in the year 1779. At 65 years of age, he was seized by the Turks and strangled. His body was thrown into a river, and after three days, was found by the priest Mark and buried near the village of Kolikontasi at the monastery of the Entrance into the Temple of the Most Holy Theotokos. Afterwards, part of his relics were transferred to various places as a blessing. He was glorified by the Ecumenical Patriarchate in 1961.

Reference: O.C.A. 

Orthodox Icon of Saints Helen and Constantine the Equal of the Apostles. (SP)

Commemorated May 21.

This is a silver-plated icon of Saints Constantine and Helen on a special paper, with decoration. Silver-plated icons are made with the latest and very specific technique. The icon is a copy of a hand painted icon and the background is silver 958.

Saint Helen was the mother of St Constantine the Great. She is responsible for the recovery of the Cross and the building of many Churches. Saint Constantine the Great was the Emperor you reunited the Roman Empire and establishes Christianity as the main religion of the Empire, giving all Christians the freedom to practice their religion. Before he died he was baptized. 

Orthodox icon of Saints Chrysanthos (Xrysanthos) and Daria.

Commemorated March 19.