Silver pendant "Demetrius of Thessaloniki" with gold plated 132390 Onyx

St. Demetrius grew up in a Christian family. He came from a noble Greek family, so he quickly made a career in the imperial service and reached the rank of ipata (imperial governor) of Hellas. Despite the persecution of Christians that began in the Roman Empire, the saint did not hide his faith and was an ardent preacher of it. By order of Emperor Maximian, he was arrested and killed in prison by blows from spears.

In Rus', the name Demetrius was known even before the adoption of Christianity. After the Baptism of Rus', the Great Martyr became one of the patrons of the princely power and army, and began to be revered as the defender of the Fatherland. The name of St. Demetrius became one of the most common in Rus'. Many churches and monasteries were consecrated in honor of the saint, and the city of Dimitrov was named.

St. Demetrius was often depicted on icons as a warrior in full armor, sitting on a throne. In Byzantium at the end of the 13th century a new image appeared. St. Demetrius began to be depicted as a horseman, striking the wicked Tsar Kaloyan with a spear. This king, having ravaged many cities on Greek territory - in Macedonia and Thrace, approached Thessalonica in 1207 and suddenly died on the eve of the assault. According to legend, St. appeared to him at night. Demetrius is on horseback and stabbed him in the heart with a spear.

On the icon, the Great Martyr Demetrius is depicted slaying Khan Mamai. The icon is made in the form of two round shields folded together. A sword and military banners are stuck between them. On the crosshair of the sword hilt on the front side it is written: “God is with us!” On the back, in the center, there is an image of a falcon pecking a snake - a symbol of the victory of the army over evil. The prayer of St. is written around it in script. Demetrius: “Great Martyr and Passion-Bearer of Christ, you shine miracles on the world like the sun, holy Demetrius.”

"Warlike" the image of the product has a symbolic meaning. Every Christian, according to the Apostle Paul, is a warrior of the invisible battle, who has taken the weapon of God to “stand against the wiles of the devil.” and constantly waging spiritual war “against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against the spirits of wickedness in high places.” His "great weapon" and "dual sword" is the Cross of Christ,and a strong shield is his strong faith in God.