Bishop
Saint Demetian was born during the reign of Justin the Younger to pious parents, Theodore and Eudocia. After the death of his wife, he left the world and began to live in fasting. At the age of thirty, he was appointed bishop of the Melitene church. He was a good shepherd and brought benefit to the entire Greek kingdom as a champion of the common welfare.
Many times the saint was sent by King Maurice to Persia on matters of public administration, facilitating the conclusion of a peace treaty between the Greeks and the Persians. He deprived the rebel prince Varama of power, making him a vassal of the Greeks, and became a beloved friend of King Maurice. Having received gold and estates from the king, he distributed them to churches and hospices for the sustenance of the poor.
Upon arriving in Constantinople, the saint soon departed to the Heavenly King. His honorable body was buried with great honor in the presence of the king and a numerous assembly of clergy, and was later transferred to his native city of Melitene. The saint performed many miracles both during his life and after his death in glory to Christ our God.
