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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. [[Demetrius the Myrrhgusherof 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==
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]]
