St. Demetrius Cathedral

Visit the ancient Basilica of the Saint who protects people even after his cruel death

The Myrrh-gusher Demetrius of Thessalonica is traditionally considered as the patron saint of Thessaloniki.

The Christian believer Demetrius was born in a rich and influential family of Thessaloniki at the turn of the 3rd century A.D. and accepted martyrdom in the year 303 A.D. at the personal order of the Caesar Galeria. His refusal to dispeople Christians, official self-recognition as an adept of the forbidden religion and victory of the Martyr Nestor, blessed by Demetrius to pick a fight with the murderer of the captivated Christians, became the reason for the severe punishment. 

The first templet was constructed in the place of his spearing and interment in the year 313 A.D. In the 5th century A.D. it was replaced by the three-aisled basilica. The new one was destroyed by fire in the 7th century A.D. and later reconstructed into the majestic five-aisled basilica. In the 20th century, the St. Demetrius Cathedral underwent renewal after the fire in 1917.

Temple history

This temple is older than 1700 years. For many centuries of the basilica’s existence it had undergone lots of destructions and desecrations: 

- Two fires: in the 7th century and in 1917;
- In 1185 it was plundered by Normans, and St. Demetrius's tomb was desecrated;
- In 1430 the basilica was plundered by Turks;
- In 1493 the church was turned into “Kasimie tzami” mosque and remained it until 1912.

At the moment the St. Demetrius Cathedral is one of the architectural monuments of the world heritage of UNESCO.

Architecture and interior decor

It is very ascetic, especially from outside. The Cathedral is constructed in an Epichristian Hellenistic style in the form of a quadrangle.The Basilica has no dome. A bell-tower with the cross on the roof is attached to the left front part of it. The church is built using bricks and stones from different more ancient constructions, including the Roman terms, in which St. Demetrius was killed. The Basilica is the biggest temple in Thessaloniki and, unlike other historical monuments, stands above the curb level.

The interior decoration of the Cathedral is rather ascetic, however, impressing with the antiquity and skill of architects. Inside there are four rows of the marble columns building 5 naves. The central nave ends with a magnificent bema. Restorers did all possible to save ancient mosaic frescos of the 7th - 8th centuries. Today these parts of decoration are the unique pieces of the architects’ work, preserved after the iconoclasm era in Byzantium. The ancient frescos also remained. 

Curative oil of consecration

According to the legend, relics of the St. Demetrius were plenteously secreting myrrh, and the myrrh had the curing properties. Therefore, the crypt was built under the temple. It was found by restorers at the beginning of the 20th century. This is an underground part of the temple under the bema, constructed as a marble vaulted awning supported by seven columns. The marble sink is situated under the awning. It was mounted there to collect the curative oil of consecration. Unfortunately, after the transformation of the basilica into the mosque, relics stopped secreting myrrh.

Relics of three Saints

Shrine with the relics of the St. Demetrius is settled down in a marble ciborium in the left nave of the basilica. The relics were not always stored here. At the time of crusades, they were stolen from the St. Demetrius Cathedral to disappear somewhere in Western Europe. Relics were found in Italy in 1520. After centuries-old negotiations, they were finally returned to Thessaloniki in the 20th century. The holy relics of the Saint martyress Anisiya and Saint Grigory Kallidis are also here.