Studia Theologica No. II (XXII) / 2026
The Feast of Saint Demetrius in Thessaloniki: the Saint’s ‘Easter’ as a special way for the people of Thessaloniki to honour the city’s patron saint
Professor, PhD Pandele Léccu This article analyses the liturgical veneration of Saint Demetrius the Myrrh-Giver in Thessaloniki, focusing on a unique feature in the history of the Orthodox Church: the local practice of celebrating his commemoration on 26 October following the model of Great Week and Easter, with special pre-feast services attested in 15th-century manuscripts, including the Typikon compiled by Saint Simeon of Thessaloniki, and with hymnographic contributions by John Stavráchie, Saint Simeon of Thessaloniki and Saint Simeon Metaphrastes.
