Άγιος Δημήτριος - Saint Dimitrios

Born in Thessaloniki (280 AD - 305 AD), he is one of the greatest Martyrs of Christianity. A son to a rich and aristocratic family, he reached high ranks in the Roman army and became a Chiliarchos at the age of 22. He converted to Christianity when Galerius Maximilian was a Tetrarch and afterwards an Emperor, and was imprisoned because he refused to renounce his faith. In jail, he blessed the disciple of Nestor to beat the gentile wrestler Lyaios. This victory infuriated Maximilian, who beheaded Nestor and ordered the murder of Demetrios by lance at his chest. In Byzantine icons Saint Demetrios is depicted several times as a rider on a red horse (Saint George is depicted on a white horse) running over the unfaithful Lyaios.