Armenian Church commemorates St. Martyr Demetrios and Priest St. Basilikos

Today, the Armenian Church commemorates St. Martyr Demetrios and the Priest St. Basilikos.

St. Demetrios (Demetrius) was born in Persia. He has lived during the period of reign of King Kostandianos the Great. Believing in Christ, he has lived a secluded life in the Monastery on Nisibis, Mesopotamia and then he has moved to the Monastery of Theodosopolis, where he has been ordained as a deacon. Not agreeing with the Archimandrite, who wished to ordain him as a priest and considering himself undeserving of priesthood, Demetrios has gone to live in a cave near the river Euphrates.

When King Julian the Apostate and his army go to fight against the Persians and pass by the cave where the saint lived and where many people had gathered waiting to be healed, the king orders to block the entrance to the cave with large stones. The saint and his two disciples are martyred in the cave. Later, the martyrs’ relics are brought out of the cave and buried.

Priest Basilikos (Basil) has been martyred in 362 AD, by the order of King Julian the Apostate. Basilikos blames the King for renouncing Christ. The king orders to cut daily seven pieces from the martyr’s skin. After lasting severe treatments, the saint’s body is swabbed by heated metal sticks.