Holy King Demetre the DevotedCOPYRIGHTED ART. Do not copy or deep-link to without prior permission from "Come and See" Icons, Books & Art.

March 16th
Troparion
O Holy Demetre, martyr and king, pray to God that our souls may be saved!   

King Demetre, grandson of Holy Queen Tamar, was orphaned by the age of ten.  His mother was killed when he was an infant and his father died when Demetre was ten years old.  When Demetre was twelve, the Georgian people sent him to the Mongol ruler of the time, Abaqa Khan, requesting that he recognize and instate him as king.  Abaqa Khan granted the request and King Demetre ruled Georgia wisely.  He ministered to the poor, the sick, and the orphaned by distributing his money amoung them.  He rebuilt churches, monasteries, and fortifications and established new during times of relative peace.  Unfortunately, Georgia became desperate from the constant exhaustion of it's soldiers being used for foreign wars by the Mongol ruler.  During this time of upheaval, a plot was made to uproot and kill the khan, then Arghun, Abaqa Khan's son.  The plot was discovered and the conspirators were executed.  Not being satisfied, the khan sought to root out any other possible conspirators.  King Demetre became a suspect and was summoned to the khan.  He is known to have said, "I am certain he intends to do me evil, but my kingdom will lie defenseless before him if I do not go.  How many Christians will die or become his slaves?  How many churches will be laid to waste?  Truly my life cannot be so valuable that I could live and bear this sin while many Christian souls are left to perish.  It is my wish to go to the khan.  God's will be done: if I am killed, I will be certain that my country is saved!"  He was questioned and even though they found no fault in him, they imprisoned him and chose to execute him.  When King Demetre learned of his execution, he prepared himself with prayer and fasting and partook of the Holy Gifts and gave up his soul to God.  Upon his death, the sky became dark and a gloom enveloped the surrounding city.  

This Icon is by the hand of Lasha Kintsurashvili.

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