View source for Church of Saint Demetrios (Thessalonica)

[[Image:StDemetriusChurchThessalonica.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Church of St. Demetrius in Thessalonica, Greece]]
The '''Church of Saint Demetrios''' in [[Thessalonica]], Greece is situated on the site of previous churches built over the ruins of the Roman bath where St. [[Demetrios of Thessaloniki|Demetrios the Myrrhgusher]] was imprisoned and [[martyr]]ed. The present structure is a reconstruction of the seventh century church that was destroyed by fire in 1917. The [[church]] is a [[basilica]] with five [[apse]]s, a [[narthex]], and transept.

==History==
The first structure, a small [[chapel]], was built over the ruins of a Roman bath, shortly after 313, This chapel and an earthen urn were discovered during excavations made when the present church was being rebuilt. The earthen urn contained earth with human blood, perhaps that of St Demetrios. 

During the fifth century, Eparch Leontios had a large basilica with three apses constructed on the site of the chapel. Between 626 and 634, the basilica burned down. Soon after a new basilica was built that had five apses. The church remained in use until Thessalonica was captured by the Ottoman Turks in 1493, who converted the church into a mosque. When Greece gained independence from the Turks in 1912, the Church of St. Demetrios was restored for Orthodox Christian services. In 1917, however, the church burned down.
[[Image:StDemetriusChurchplan.jpg|left|thumb|150px|Plan of the Church of St. Demetrius in Thessalonica]]
Immediately, efforts to restore the church began. During these efforts the naos and crypt were opened. The restoration, however, was stopped in 1938 and not resumed again until 1946. At this time systematics excavations were made and the new church with five apses was built. By 1949, construction had progressed so that services were able to be conducted. 

Preserved in the crypt of the new church is the bath in which St. Demetrios was martyred and the remains of the first chapel built on the bath. Also, recovered was a large marble basin that was used to collect the holy [[myrrh]] that emanated from the grave of the martyred saint, which gave rise to the appellation '' Myrrhgusher'' for St. Demetrios.

==External links==
*[http://www.serfes.org/lives/stdemetrios.htm Church of Aghios Demetrios]
*[http://www.macedonian-heritage.gr/Museums/Archaeological_and_Byzantine/Arx_Krypth_Ag_Dhmhtriou.html Museum in the Crypt of the Church of St Demetrios]

[[Category:Churches|Demetrios]]
[[Category: Churches in Greece|Demetrios]]