Synaxarion
By Haralambos Bousias
On the 29th of the same month [January], the commemoration of our Venerable and God-bearing Father Demetrios, surnamed Gagastathis, the newly-manifested radiant good Levite of Platanos in Trikala.
Verses
The simple and gentle presbyter Demetrios,
Christ has deemed worthy to rejoice with the angels.
By Haralambos Bousias
On the 29th of the same month [January], the commemoration of our Venerable and God-bearing Father Demetrios, surnamed Gagastathis, the newly-manifested radiant good Levite of Platanos in Trikala.
Verses
The simple and gentle presbyter Demetrios,
Christ has deemed worthy to rejoice with the angels.
The sanctified liturgist of the Most High, our father Demetrios, surnamed Gagastathis, a zealous emulator of the angels, has newly shone forth as a many-radiant star of holiness in Platanos of Trikala (1902–1975).
Coming from a married state and, beyond wife and children — having been deemed worthy to become the guardian of nine daughters — loving the Lord, he served Him in holy priesthood with devotion, the poor former shepherd of irrational sheep. Becoming an inexhaustible vessel of myrrh of divine graces, as he liturgized he filled the church with an ineffable fragrance.
Having shepherded his small flock in a God-pleasing manner with the wisdom richly granted to him from heaven, though lacking formal education, and having as his patrons and models of life the Holy Archangels, he fought the good fight and kept the faith undefiled.
He fell asleep in the Lord with the sleep befitting the saints on January 29, 1975, and his holy soul, escorted by the angels beloved of him, ascended to the tabernacles of glory, there to rejoice forever with Christ, her worshipful Savior.
By his holy intercessions, O Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us. Amen.
Apolytikion.
Tone plagal 1. Ton synanarchon Logon.
Let us, the faithful, praise the God-like priest of Platanos, who in these latter times pleased the Creator by a radiant way of life, by prayer and by tears, as an imitator of the bodiless powers, crying aloud to Demetrios: with the fragrant myrrh of your prayers, gladden those who honor you.
Kontakion.
Tone plagal 4. Ti Ypermacho.
Not withdrawing from care for your household, you were shown in deeds to possess love toward your neighbor, and you attained God, our summit, O venerable presbyter of Platanos; therefore, having become filled with grace, with the myrrh of your virtues you made fragrant those who cry out: Rejoice, blessed Demetrios!
Oikos
You have newly been revealed as a flesh-bearing angel, O Demetrios, Levite of Platanos; for, like an angel ministering to God with a pure heart, O all-wise one, you served as a priest in holiness and stirred the people to cry out to you:
Rejoice, model of the priesthood;
rejoice, lamp of chastity.
Rejoice, the Church’s new sweet fragrance;
rejoice, pearl of piety and watchfulness.
Rejoice, for you served your flock with reverence;
rejoice, for you trampled down Belial with strength.
Rejoice, pillar of tireless prayer and simplicity;
rejoice, zealot and friend of the Taxiarch.
Rejoice, bright star of humility;
rejoice, radiant light of a better way of life.
Rejoice, you who loved God with all your soul;
rejoice, you who hated the foul enemy.
Rejoice, blessed Demetrios!
Megalynarion
Rejoice, beauty of priests, tablet of grace, inscription of virtues, pillar of compassion and model of tireless prayer, O divine presbyter Demetrios.
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
Tone plagal 1. Ton synanarchon Logon.
Let us, the faithful, praise the God-like priest of Platanos, who in these latter times pleased the Creator by a radiant way of life, by prayer and by tears, as an imitator of the bodiless powers, crying aloud to Demetrios: with the fragrant myrrh of your prayers, gladden those who honor you.
Kontakion.
Tone plagal 4. Ti Ypermacho.
Not withdrawing from care for your household, you were shown in deeds to possess love toward your neighbor, and you attained God, our summit, O venerable presbyter of Platanos; therefore, having become filled with grace, with the myrrh of your virtues you made fragrant those who cry out: Rejoice, blessed Demetrios!
Oikos
You have newly been revealed as a flesh-bearing angel, O Demetrios, Levite of Platanos; for, like an angel ministering to God with a pure heart, O all-wise one, you served as a priest in holiness and stirred the people to cry out to you:
Rejoice, model of the priesthood;
rejoice, lamp of chastity.
Rejoice, the Church’s new sweet fragrance;
rejoice, pearl of piety and watchfulness.
Rejoice, for you served your flock with reverence;
rejoice, for you trampled down Belial with strength.
Rejoice, pillar of tireless prayer and simplicity;
rejoice, zealot and friend of the Taxiarch.
Rejoice, bright star of humility;
rejoice, radiant light of a better way of life.
Rejoice, you who loved God with all your soul;
rejoice, you who hated the foul enemy.
Rejoice, blessed Demetrios!
Megalynarion
Rejoice, beauty of priests, tablet of grace, inscription of virtues, pillar of compassion and model of tireless prayer, O divine presbyter Demetrios.
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
