When Saint Demetrios was martyred by being pierced with Roman spears in the dungeon of Thessaloniki, his friends and disciples quickly took his body and by necessity threw it down a nearby well of water which was then used to supply water for a Roman bath, since there was a danger that the pagans would have taken the pierced body and either destroyed it or made it disappear. By doing this, the well became the first tomb to contain the body of the Saint.
Today, to the left of the Sanctuary in the Church of Saint Demetrios in Thessaloniki, this well still exists, having been preserved for centuries. Later, a marble ciborium was suitably shaped to cover it and keep it as a shrine.
As a result of the sacred body of Saint Demetrios being thrown down this well and becoming his first tomb, the grace of the Holy Spirit which sanctified his body also sanctified the water in the well, thus making it Holy Water. For centuries this Holy Water has gushed from the well and become a means of the faithful to become partakers of this sanctification by washing with and drinking from this water, and thus it has become a source of miracles.
Early on, for the convenience of the faithful, lead pipes (ducts) were installed in the alcoves of the Crypt beneath the church from the well and the water would gather in special marble basins. Then, when myrrh in abundance began to flow from the body of Saint Demetrios, the myrrh would be gathered in those special marble basins while the Holy Water was channeled into a special marble fountain to the left of the well, and faithful pilgrims can now gather the Holy Water from the fountain.
Today, to the left of the Sanctuary in the Church of Saint Demetrios in Thessaloniki, this well still exists, having been preserved for centuries. Later, a marble ciborium was suitably shaped to cover it and keep it as a shrine.
As a result of the sacred body of Saint Demetrios being thrown down this well and becoming his first tomb, the grace of the Holy Spirit which sanctified his body also sanctified the water in the well, thus making it Holy Water. For centuries this Holy Water has gushed from the well and become a means of the faithful to become partakers of this sanctification by washing with and drinking from this water, and thus it has become a source of miracles.
Early on, for the convenience of the faithful, lead pipes (ducts) were installed in the alcoves of the Crypt beneath the church from the well and the water would gather in special marble basins. Then, when myrrh in abundance began to flow from the body of Saint Demetrios, the myrrh would be gathered in those special marble basins while the Holy Water was channeled into a special marble fountain to the left of the well, and faithful pilgrims can now gather the Holy Water from the fountain.
