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Orthodox celebrations of Saint Demetrius

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Orthodox Christian traditions are being observed across various Balkan regions to honor Saint Demetrius. In Greece, the Psychosabbato of Saint Demetrius involves memorial rites and the offering of kollyva to commemorate the departed. Celebrations in Greece also include liturgical services in locations such as Kalivia Thermou and Kos, as well as the reopening of the historic Church of Saint Demetrius in Palaia Plagia following extensive renovations. The saint is widely venerated as the protector of Thessaloniki. On October 26, the feast of Saint Demetrius of Thessaloniki, also known as the ‘Source of Myrrh’ or ‘Myroblytes’ due to the fragrant myrrh reported to flow from his tomb, commemorates the 4th-century martyr. He is iconographically depicted as a warrior on a red horse, having been martyred under Emperors Diocletian and Maximian. Recent accounts emphasize his background as a Roman military commander born to an aristocratic family in Thessaloniki. In Bulgaria and Romania, the feast day marks the end of the agricultural year and the transition to winter. In Bulgaria, the day is known as Dimitrovden. Customs include settling debts, paying seasonal workers, and observing folk omens to predict winter weather. Traditions such as ‘polaznik’—welcoming the first guest of the day—are observed to ensure prosperity. In Romania, the holiday is a significant onomastic day for hundreds of thousands of people named Dumitru or its derivatives. Large-scale pilgrimages occur, including at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest, where some visit the relics of Saint Demetrios the New. Recent observances include panegyric liturgies and processions in cities such as Thessaloniki, Nafpaktos, Kalamata, and Messini. In Thessaloniki, the feast coincides with the anniversary of the city's liberation from Ottoman rule. High-ranking officials, including the President of the Republic, have attended services at the Saint Demetrios Holy Temple to mark these occasions.

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