Homilies from the Menaion for Every Day of the Year: October 26

The Month of October

The 26th Day

57. The Saints Continue to Pray for Their Homeland After Departing to the Heavenly Realm

(From the Life of the Great Martyr Demetrios of Thessaloniki)

There is no doubt that all the holy saints of God loved their respective homelands and helped them during their lives in whatever ways they could; and, of course, they prayed and interceded for them before God. To prove this truth, it seems to us that it is enough to consider even our own fatherland. Who, for example, does not know the services rendered to their homeland and the prayers offered for it by the Venerable Sergius, the Holy Hierarchs of Moscow, and other Saints glorified in the Russian land? Thus, it is an indisputable truth that all the saints, during their lives, were intercessors who prayed for their respective homelands. But here is the question: did they remain the same toward their homelands after death? Did they preserve their love for them in the world after death? Do they also pray and help them there? What answer can we give to this? We shall say the following.

After the death of the Great Martyr Demetrios of Thessaloniki, who was buried in his native city of Thessaloniki, the Arabs once attacked that city during the reign of Emperor Maurice. During the distressing days of the siege, a certain pious man named Illoustrios came one night to the church of the Great Martyr and, standing in the narthex, began fervently to pray to God and the Great Martyr for the protection of Thessaloniki from its enemies.

While he was praying, he suddenly saw two radiant youths, resembling those who stand before a royal throne. These were Angels of God. The church doors opened before them of their own accord, and they entered the church, followed by Illoustrios. Having entered the temple, the youths called out loudly, “Where is the master who dwells here?” At this call, another youth appeared, bearing the appearance of a servant, and in turn asked, “Why do you seek him?” The Angels said, “The Lord has sent us to speak a word to him.” Pointing to the tomb of Saint Demetrios, the servant-youth replied, “He is here,” and drew back the curtain concealing the tomb of the Great Martyr.

Then the Great Martyr himself came forth to meet the Holy Angels, appearing as he had been depicted on the icon. He shone like the sun, so that Illoustrios could not look upon him and trembled with fear. The Angels greeted Demetrios, and he greeted them in turn. Then he asked, “Tell me, what is the reason for your coming to me?” The Angels replied, “The Master has sent us to your holiness, commanding you to leave the city and come to Him, for He wishes to deliver the city into the hands of its enemies.”

Hearing this, the Martyr bowed his head with tears and fell silent. But the servant-youth said to those who had come, “Had I known the reason for your coming here, I would not have reported you to my master.”

After this, the Great Martyr also opened his mouth and began to speak as follows: “Can it truly be the will of the Master of all that the city which He redeemed with His own blood should be delivered into the hands of enemies who do not know Him, do not believe in Him, and do not honor His holy name?”

The Angels replied, “If this were not the will of God, the Lord would not have sent us to your holiness.”

The Great Martyr answered, “Go, brethren, and say this to my Master: ‘This is what Demetrios, Your servant, says: I know Your generosity, O Lover of mankind, Lord and Master, which surpasses our sins; I also know that the iniquities of the whole world cannot overcome Your mercy! You shed Your blood for sinners and laid down Your life for us. Show Your mercy also upon this city, and do not command me to abandon it. And since You Yourself appointed me as the guardian of this city, grant also that I may become like You and lay down my life for my fellow countrymen. And if they perish, let me perish together with them. Do not destroy, O Lord, the city in which Your name is called holy. For even if its inhabitants have sinned, they have nevertheless not departed from You; for You alone are the God of those who repent.’”

After these words, the Angels asked the Great Martyr, “Shall we give this answer from you to the Lord who sent us to you?” Demetrios said, “Yes, brethren, tell Him this, for I am convinced that He will not remain angry forever, nor will He bear enmity eternally.”

After this, the Saint entered the tomb, and the shrine closed behind him, while the Angels became invisible. When the vision had ended, Ilolustrios was unable to recover himself for a long time. But then he fell to the ground and began to thank the Saint for his intercession on behalf of the city.

In the morning, he announced the vision to the inhabitants and began to encourage them to resist their enemies courageously. When the inhabitants heard of the vision, they began to cry out to God with tears, asking for mercy, and they also called upon Saint Demetrios for help. Their prayer was heard. Soon the enemies withdrew from the city walls in shame and lifted the siege. The inhabitants glorified God and His great saint, Demetrios.

Thus, it is an indisputable truth that the holy saints of God preserve their love even after death and continue to pray and intercede for their homelands before God. But what follows from this for us, brethren? What lesson can we draw for ourselves? We can learn that, knowing there are many saints among our own countrymen in our fatherland, we must first of all thank God, Who has raised up these great helpers and protectors for our homeland as well. Then we must also thank these intercessors, who have more than once saved our homeland from enemies and other calamities through their prayers, just as Saint Demetrios did. Finally, we must ask these same intercessors in the future to grant prosperity to us ourselves and to our entire land, success in all things, protection from enemies, peace, and tranquility. Amen.

Questions for Discussion 57:

1. What did the Lord command Demetrios to do, according to the Angels, and why?

2. According to Demetrios’ words to the Angels, whom had the Lord appointed him to be in the city of Thessaloniki?

3. In what way did Demetrios express his readiness to become like the Lord?

4. What did Illustrius begin to encourage the inhabitants of Thessaloniki to do after the vision?

5. What did the inhabitants of Thessaloniki cry out to God for?

 

Source: The Cheti-Minei: Homilies for Every Day of the Year (Book 1: September, October, November) by Archpriest Viktor Guryev. Publication of the Russian Panteleimon Monastery on Mount Athos, 1896. Translated by John Sanidopoulos.