In the Greek Orthodox Church many days are dedicated to a different saint or martyr.
If you are named after a saint or martyr in Greece it is a customary to celebrate your holy name day instead of or besides your birthday. The tradition started in Medieval times and has continued to this present day.
When it is someones name day there is an open house held and a feast is laid on for everyone who wants to come. Neighbours and friends or relatives usually call and can visit the house, without waiting for an official invitation. Happy Name Day cards can be given and the verbal greeting is XRONIA POLLA.
DIMITRIOS (Dimitra, Dimitris, Dimmi) is celebrated on 26 October each year.
Agios Dimitrios is one of the Saints who has a special place in the history of the Orthodox Christian Church. Therefore most families celebrating this name day will visit a service in church in the morning.
We attend Agios Dimitrios Church above the mountain village of Haradiatica (Charadiatikon).
After the church service the sweet bread that is brought to the church by the villagers in their traditional handwoven baskets, covered with white lace cotton napkins is blessed, before they take it home to their families. What remains is shared amongst everyone.
Koliva is distributed to the congregation. This is boiled wheat mixed with nuts and spices and used in the Eastern Orthodox rituals to commemorate the dead.
Afterwards we enjoy a feast with our extended Greek family which usually consists of plenty of meat , homegrown vegetables, lots of delicate cakes and local wine.
Due to the significance of Saint Dimitrios's horse, several local horses dressed in their celebration costumes, (one included a traditional samari's (saddle) often not seen due to being covered by a blanket), gallop around the church. The horses are then blessed by the Priest.
The views from this church are breathtakingly beautiful.
October 26 is the Feast Day of Agios Dimitrios
'Born in Thessaloniki, in 270 AD he came from a wealthy family and because he was athletic in appearance and heroic in spirit, he became a high ranking officer in the Roman Army at a very young age. (This is why he is depicted in Byzantine icons in military dress, either standing or riding a horse.) He is considered himself a soldier of Christ first, and a military soldier second. He spent most of his time as a devout missionary, preaching the gospel at secret meetings and converting pagans to the Christian faith.
At one of these meeting he was captured and placed in front of the Emperor Maximian, who wanted to learn the truth about the conversions.
Agios Dimitrios proclaimed his faith by saying;"....only in Christ do I believe". With that proclamation, Maximian ordered that Saint Dimitrios be sent to prison and subjected to the cruelest tortures.
Even though Agios Dimitrios was imprisoned, he did not stop preaching the Gospel to those that came to him. In jail he was visited by his follower, Nestoras. Nestoras was a man of small stature and had come to ask for his beloved teachers blessing to fight in the upcoming gladiator games. The Emperor had decided to use the games as a duel between christianity and paganism by challenging any Christian to fight against the athletic giant, Leo.
With the blessing of Agios Demitrios, Nestoras fought and killed Leo. Enraged at the loss of his favourite gladiator, the emperor commanded that Nestoras be beheaded on the spot. Recognising that Agios Dimitrios was the inspiring power behind Nesteras, the emperor ordered that Agios Dimitrios be executed by spear on October 26, 306 AD. Christians buried the body of Agios Dimitrios at the place of his execution and because of the beautiful scent that emanated from his tomb, he was named Mirovlitis or "The Myrrh Gusher"
The most ancient icon of Agios Dimitrios may be found in the temple in Thessaloniki where he is the patron saint. This is not just because he was born and died there, but because the people believe it was his intervention that saved the city during many attacks by Slavic nations, the Bulgarians, Arabs, Saracens and others.'(Greek City Times)
Church of Agios Dimitrios Thessaloniki
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