Thessaloniki, November 5, 2024
Hundreds of Orthodox faithful of all ages gathered at the historic Church of St. Demetrios in Thessaloniki on Sunday, November 3, for the service of the consecration of the myrrh that streams from the relics of the city’s patron.
The service, led by Metropolitan Philotheos of Thessaloniki, concluded the liturgical and festive events in honor of the Great Martyr St. Demetrios, whose feast was celebrated on October 26, reports Romfea.
“And the Great Martyr Demetrios, receiving the supplications of those who run to him and those who invoke his sleepless intercessions, gives his own blessing with the centuries-old offering of myrrh. Emotion and awe prevailed when His Eminence unlocked the Great Martyr’s reliquary, and the myrrh miraculously gave off its fragrance in the pilgrimage church that was packed with people,” writes the Greek outlet.
“We become myrrh-collectors when our way of life aligns with the saint’s way of life, when we struggle to implement God’s will in our lives,” the Metropolitan said.
“This myrrh is offered so that through it we ourselves might change, that we might gush forth with the grace of the All-Holy and Life-giving Spirit,” he added.
At the end, the concelebrating priests distributed the myrrh to all participants of the consecration service.
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