Holy and Glorious Great-Martyr Demetrius, from Whose Tomb Myrrh Streams Forth (285-310). Commemoration of the Great and Terrible Earthquake at Constantinople of 741 AD.
All-Night Vigil Feast. A day when the faithful are highly encouraged to participate in the Divine Liturgy.
2 Timothy 2:1-10. John 15:17-16:2.
Read 2 Timothy 2:1-10
One of St. Paul’s favorite images of the Christian is that of the soldier. Although we might be tempted to see this as an analogy, the connection is even deeper in that we are actually engaged in spiritual combat and in a war for our salvation against the forces of darkness. In his letter to Timothy, he encourages him to be a “good soldier,” in other words, to be fully dedicated and committed, under obedience and not distracted by various concerns which could easily take him away from his mission.
We celebrate today in our calendar another great soldier of Christ, who, incidentally, was also a soldier in the Roman Legions: St. Demetrius. Denying the unjust order to kill Christians, St. Demetrius gave all his possessions to the poor before awaiting his martyrdom. The holiness of his life inspired Nestor, a young spiritual son to defend innocent Christians from the slaughter of the gladiator tyrant Lyaeus. Let us today fulfill St. Paul’s council to his spiritual son Timothy by focusing on the mission the Lord has given to us, denying the empty promises and distractions of the Passions and temptations of the evil one.