The cult to St. Demetrius is connected with the town of Thessalonica where he was born and died as a Christian martyr. The saint’s life says that he lived in the time of Emperor Maximian (286–305) when the Christians suffered heavy persecutions. Demetrius was of noble birth and had a high military rank. He was sent to prison for professing Christianity but even there he performed miracles. He gave his blessing to his disciple Nestor to defeat with God’s help the pagan Lee (who had slaughtered many Christians) in the gladiator’s arena. Emperor Maximian ordered that Demetrius be pierced with a spear.