In the spiritual experience of the Russian Church, veneration of the Holy Great Martyr Demetrios of Thessaloniki is closely linked with the memory of the defense of the nation and Church by the Great Prince of Moscow, Dmitry Donskoy (May 19).
Saint Dmitry Donskoy smashed the military might of the Golden Horde at the Battle of Kulikovo Field on September 8, 1380 (the Feast of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos), set between the Rivers Don and Nepryadva. The Battle of Kulikovo, for which the nation calls him "Demetrios of the Don," became the first Russian national deed, rallying the spiritual power of the Russian nation around Moscow. The “Zadonschina,” an inspiring historic poem written by the priest Sophronius of Ryazem (1381), is devoted to this event.
Prince Dmitry Donskoy was greatly devoted to the Holy Great Martyr Demetrios. In 1380, on the eve of the Battle of Kulikovo, he solemnly transferred from Vladimir to Moscow the most holy object in the Dimitriev cathedral of Vladimir: the icon of the Great Martyr Demetrios of Thessaloniki, painted on a piece of wood from the Saint’s grave. A chapel in honor of the Great Martyr Demetrios was built at Moscow’s Dormition Cathedral.
The Saint Demetrios Memorial Saturday was established by the Russian Church for remembrance of the 250,000 soldiers who fell in the Battle of Kulikovo. This memorial service was held for the first time at the Trinity-Saint Sergius Monastery on October 20, 1380 by Saint Sergius of Radonezh, in the presence of Great Prince Dmitry Donskoy. It is an annual remembrance of the heroes of the Battle of Kulikovo, among whom are the schemamonks Alexander (Peresvet) and Andrew (Oslyab).
The Saturday before October 26th (the feast day of Saint Demetrios of Thessaloniki) became in Russia the commemoration day of not only the soldiers who laid down their lives for their faith and Fatherland, but also of all the departed Orthodox Christians. The faithful thus spend Saint Demetrios Ancestral Saturday visiting the graves of their deceased relatives, attending memorial services and litias, served in churches and cemeteries, and arranging memorial meals.
Saint Dmitry Donskoy smashed the military might of the Golden Horde at the Battle of Kulikovo Field on September 8, 1380 (the Feast of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos), set between the Rivers Don and Nepryadva. The Battle of Kulikovo, for which the nation calls him "Demetrios of the Don," became the first Russian national deed, rallying the spiritual power of the Russian nation around Moscow. The “Zadonschina,” an inspiring historic poem written by the priest Sophronius of Ryazem (1381), is devoted to this event.
Prince Dmitry Donskoy was greatly devoted to the Holy Great Martyr Demetrios. In 1380, on the eve of the Battle of Kulikovo, he solemnly transferred from Vladimir to Moscow the most holy object in the Dimitriev cathedral of Vladimir: the icon of the Great Martyr Demetrios of Thessaloniki, painted on a piece of wood from the Saint’s grave. A chapel in honor of the Great Martyr Demetrios was built at Moscow’s Dormition Cathedral.
The Saint Demetrios Memorial Saturday was established by the Russian Church for remembrance of the 250,000 soldiers who fell in the Battle of Kulikovo. This memorial service was held for the first time at the Trinity-Saint Sergius Monastery on October 20, 1380 by Saint Sergius of Radonezh, in the presence of Great Prince Dmitry Donskoy. It is an annual remembrance of the heroes of the Battle of Kulikovo, among whom are the schemamonks Alexander (Peresvet) and Andrew (Oslyab).
The Saturday before October 26th (the feast day of Saint Demetrios of Thessaloniki) became in Russia the commemoration day of not only the soldiers who laid down their lives for their faith and Fatherland, but also of all the departed Orthodox Christians. The faithful thus spend Saint Demetrios Ancestral Saturday visiting the graves of their deceased relatives, attending memorial services and litias, served in churches and cemeteries, and arranging memorial meals.
