Feast Day Epistles & Gospels
Feast of The Holy Great Martyr Demetrios the Myrrh-streamer
Winning Is Not Everything
Epistle for the Feast of St. Demetrios
2 Timothy 2:1-10
Timothy, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me before many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier on service gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to satisfy the one who enlisted him. An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. It is the hardworking farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. Think over what I say, for the Lord will grant you understanding in everything.
Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descended from David, as preached in my gospel, the gospel for which I am suffering and wearing fetters like a criminal. But the word of God is not fettered. Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain salvation in Christ Jesus with its eternal glory.
Every saint has a title. Some are called martyrs (St. Katherine the Martyr), others are referred to as hierarchs (St. Nicholas the Hierarch), but every saint is given a title (or in some cases more than one title) that refers to their contribution to the spreading of the Christian faith.
Saint Demetrios has the title martyr because he was martyred for his faith, the title myrrh-streaming because myrrh flows from his tomb in Thessaloniki, Greece, as well as the title athloforos or “athlete,” because of the way he “contested” for the Christian faith.
Saint Demetrios was born in 270 A.D. and was martyred around 306 A.D.. He was a soldier in the Roman army. When the local ruler of Thessaloniki, where Demetrios was stationed, hosed pagan games and sacrifices to celebrate a military triumph, Demetrios denounced the pagans and was thrown into prison. A young man named Nestor asked for the blessing of Demetrios to fight in the arena against a giant named Lyaios, and in the arena Nestor defeated the giant but would not kill him. When the ruler Maximian asked Nestor how he defeated Maximian’s champion gladiator, Nestor gave credit to the God of Demetrios and the prayers of Demetrios. Maximian then had Demetrios and Nestor killed.
In St. Paul’s Second Letter to Timothy, which is read on the feast day of St. Demetrios, we learn several things. First we are to “be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus” (II Timothy 2:1). Why? Because in verse three, St. Paul tells us that we will “share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.” This idea will be expounded upon in the Gospel passage we will review tomorrow. The one who is a soldier for Christ should expect the same thing that a soldier in a military force will experience: strife, opposition, hardship, and suffering. Like a successful army, the good Christian can also expect to feel success and triumph.
In verse 5, St. Paul talks about the good athlete. In modern society, we crown the champion as the one who wins. Sometimes winners have to cheat, get lucky, or somehow succeed even if they haven’t prepared. In the Ancient Olympics, the athlete was a champion because he competed well, and was prepared to compete. To win by cheating was an anathema. It was competing well and according to the rules that brought honor and adulation. In certain competitions, it is almost “required” to cheat or at least bend the rules.
As athletes on God’s team, our crowning as His champions is based on how we prepare and how we present ourselves in our lives. It doesn’t matter if we have the biggest crosses, or the most valuable icons, if you have the best voice in the choir or have memorized the most Bible passages. God cared about how we compete and how we prepare. He crowns our efforts, not our successes.
Saint Paul reminds us that “it is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops.” And likewise it will be the hardworking Christian who will get the first share of the Kingdom of heaven. In God’s book, winning isn’t everything. It’s the effort that crowns one a champion.
Apolytikion of St. Demetrios
All the world has you, its mighty champion, fortifying us in times of danger, and defeating our foes, O Victorious One.
So, as you humbled Lyaios’ arrogance by giving courage to Nestor in the stadium, thus, O holy Great Martyr Demetrios, to Christ our God pray fervently, beseeching Him to grant us His great mercy.
Translated by Fr. Seraphim Dedes
Make a good effort to ask in a Christian way wherever you find yourself today!
+Fr. Stavros
This article was originally published on October 25, 2019
More articles from Fr. Stavros' series on
FEAST DAY EPISTLES & GOSPELS
Where We Come from Shapes Where We Are Going
Waiting with Faith
Creation, the Fall, the Wall, and the Day the Wall Came Down
Cooking with Emmy Louvaris: Kourabiethes
Hymns & Carols for Celebrating the Nativity of our Lord
OCN Weekly Printable Children’s Word
-
- “Engaged: The Call to Be Disciples” by Fr. Stavros Akrotirianakis
-
- “Blessed Is the Kingdom, Now and Forever” by Fr. Stavros Akrotirianakis
-
- “Let Us Be Attentive” by Fr. Stavros Akrotirianakis
-
- “The Road Back to Christ” by Fr. Stavros Akrotirianakis
-
- “Let All Creation Rejoice” by Fr. Stavros Akrotirianakis
Posted by the Orthodox Christian Network (OCN).
These readings are under copyright and is used by permission. All rights reserved. These works may not be further reproduced, in print or on other websites or in any other form, without the prior written authorization of the copyright holder: Reading © Holy Transfiguration Monastery – Brookline, MA, Apolytikion of Abbot Marcellus © Narthex Press, Kontakion of Abbot Marcellus © Holy Transfiguration Monastery – Brookline, MA.
The Revised Standard Version of the Bible is copyrighted 1946, 1952, 1971, and 1973 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. and used by permission. From the Online Chapel of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.
Orthodox Christian Network (OCN) is a 501(c)3 and an official agency of the Assembly of Canonical Bishops of the United States of America . It is a recognized leader in the Orthodox Media field and has sustained consistent growth over twenty-two years. We have worked to create a community for both believers and non believers alike by sharing the timeless faith of Orthodoxy with the contemporary world through modern media. We are on a mission to inspire Orthodox Christians Worldwide. We have reached 5.7 Million People in One Week and we want to reach millions more! Signup to receive our newsletter email: info@myocn.net.
Do you find it hard to keep focused on Christ when you’re on the go? OCN makes it easy! You can be inspired daily by the OCN programming from where ever you are by plugging into our Listen, Read, Watch , Worship. To learn more about emerging Orthodox leaders in our Community check out OCN 30 Under 30 Initiative. It is an opportunity to show support for and invest in this next generation of trailblazers.
Much like public radio, the Orthodox Christian Network relies on the support of our listeners, readers, volunteers, and fans. If you are interested in supporting our work, you can send your sustaining gift by direct mail, over the phone, or on our website. Your gift will ensure the continued growth of this encouraging Orthodox Community by providing faith-building, free, high-quality programming. Give today to help you and your Orthodox community stay connected no matter the location.
Click here to download the Spark OCN and Orthodox Prayer Book.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
0 Comments