Martyrdom of St Demetrios of Thessaloniki, the Myrrh-Gusher
The Great Martyr Demetrios of Thessaloniki was in such a state of grace and peace in his soul, that when he saw the soldiers coming to slay him, he raised his right arm, so he would be lanced on his side, like his Lord Jesus Christ. When he was pierced, at once, blood and water flowed from his wounds. The icon above is on the wall inside the shrine of the saint, in the great church of St Demetrios, Thessaloniki, Greece. Also in the church, is the vase that was used to collect the blood of the martyr, with dried up blood still visible inside it!
Vase Containing the blood of St Demetrios
The Great Martyr Demetrios of Thessaloniki was in such a state of grace and peace in his soul, that when he saw the soldiers coming to slay him, he raised his right arm, so he would be lanced on his side, like his Lord Jesus Christ. When he was pierced, at once, blood and water flowed from his wounds. The icon above is on the wall inside the shrine of the saint, in the great church of St Demetrios, Thessaloniki, Greece. Also in the church, is the vase that was used to collect the blood of the martyr, with dried up blood still visible inside it!
"ON THE HEART READY FOR GOD
Homily for October 26-St Demetrios the Myrrh-Gusher, Prologue of Ohrid vol 2, p.450 by St Nikolai Velimirovich
My heart is ready O God, my heart is ready (Psalm 57.7)
Brethren, blessed is he who is able to speak like this to his Lord! Blessed is he whose heart is completely ready to follow the will of God. The readiness of the heart of man lies in this: to joyfully follow the will of God and not be confused by one's own thoughts and desires. At first, the repentant King David had followed his own sinful thoughts and desires, and was like a boat on a stormy sea. However, when he realized that the storm was going to drown him, he turned to God with great repentance and tears, and turned the boat of his life entirely over to God. "My heart is ready O God, my heart is ready", he cried out with great peace of soul, for he knew that he had given his boat into the hands of the Most-skilled Helmsman. The storm still raged and the winds and waves still assaulted him, but he was not afraid, convinced that nothing could smash his boat, and that his boat would sail safely to a calm harbor. A 'ready heart' means a heart cleansed of pride and humbled before the majestic power and wisdom of God. A 'ready heart' means a heart emptied of all worldly desires and illusions, and filled with nothing but aspirations toward God and love for God. A 'ready heart' means a heart that is healed of all restlessness, cares and fears, and is quieted and encouraged by the presence of God's grace. "I will sing and give praise in my glory" (Psalm 57:7), continues the Psalmist. This shows that his heart is truly ready - he is not proud of his royal glory but ascribes it to God. He humbled himself before God as nothing, and now his sole pleasure is to magnify and glorify God. His personal glory only gives him a reason for glorifying His All-glorious God.
O my brethren, let us endeavor that our hearts be ready before God: ready to hear the word of God, ready to follow the will of God, ready to glorify the Living God.
O Lord God, our immortal Creator, help us to ready our hearts, that they may be vessels of Thy life-giving grace. To Thee be glory and praise forever. Amen".
"How wonderful is this abundance that the Lord should reside in us continually,
for He has left the heavens and descended:
let us make holy for Him the bridal chamber of our hearts"
Ephraim the Syrian, 'Armenian Homilies' 47,Quoted by Dr Sebastian Brock in 'The Luminous Eye' p.128
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