The wicked king Maximian, a friend of Diocletian, imprisoned Saint Demetrius for confessing Christ and indulged in spectacles. He boasted of the wrestler Lyaius, who had killed many Christians. In Thessalonica lived a young man named Nestor, close to Saint Demetrius, who, seeing the sufferings of the Christians, decided to fight Lyaius. He came to Saint Demetrius in prison, asked for prayers, and received a blessing.
Nestor, boldly challenging Lyaius to combat, declared that he hoped in the strength of Christ. The king, seeing his courage, became enraged, but Nestor, strengthened by prayer, defeated Lyaius, throwing him onto sharp spears. The people exclaimed, 'Great is the God of Demetrius!' The king, furious at the defeat, ordered the execution of Nestor and Demetrius. Both saints accepted martyrdom and now are crowned in the Kingdom of Heaven.
