Liturgical Texts
Here you will find the links to texts for various liturgical services.
October 26, 2025
Great-Martyr Demetrios the Myrrh-Streaming
& Sixth Sunday of Luke
Commemoration of the Great Earthquake in Constantinople in 740;
Venerable-martyr Joasaph of Dionysiou monastery on Athos
SYNAXARION
On October 26 in the Holy Orthodox Church, we commemorate the holy, glorious, and right- victorious Great-Martyr Demetrios, the Wonderworker and Myrrh-Streaming.
Verses
Spears have pierced Demetrios, O Christ my Savior,
Who emulated Thy pierced side in Thy Passion.
On the twenty-sixth spears did away Demetrios.
His father was the military commander of Salonica, and, when he died, the Emperor Maximian made Demetrios commander in his place. In doing this, the Emperor, an opponent of Christ, particularly recommended him to persecute and exterminate the Christians in Salonica. Demetrios not only disobeyed the Emperor, but he openly confessed and preached Christ the Lord in the city. Demetrios even proclaimed openly before the Emperor that he was a Christian, and, furthermore, denounced the Emperor’s idolatry. The enraged Emperor cast him into prison. Knowing what awaited him, Demetrios gave his goods to his faithful servant, Lupus, to give away to the poor, and went off to prison, glad that suffering for Christ was to be his lot. After several days, the Emperor sent soldiers to the prison to kill Demetrios. They came upon the saint of God at prayer, and ran him through with their spears. Christians secretly took his body and gave it burial, and there flowed from it myrrh by which many of the sick were healed. Demetrios entered the heavenly mansions in 306. On this day, we remember the great and terrible earthquake in Constantinople in 740. This was a terrifying and long-lasting disaster in the time of Leo the Isaurian, the first of the iconoclast emperors. The people realized that this was God’s punishment for their sins, and entreated the most holy Mother of God and St. Demetrios with great penitence, until God had mercy and ended the earthquake. On this day, we also commemorate the Venerable-martyr Joasaph of Dionysiou monastery on Athos. By the intercessions of Thy Saints, O Christ God, have mercy upon us. Amen.
Please visit the Antiochian Archdiocese Website for Up-To-Date Texts of Services, and Choose the Specific Date on the Calendar.
