The Orthodox Church commemorates today the memory of Saint Dimitrianos, Bishop of Kythrea on Cyprus, Wonderworker, and Saint Paul the Confessor, Archbishop of Constantinople.
Saint Dimitrianos lived during the reign of the Emperor Theophilus who supported iconoclasm. He was born in the village of Syka in Kythrea to devout parents. He was married to a noble and Christian daughter, who soon died.
He then decided to dedicate himself to God and he became a monk. He was tonsured a Monk dedicating his life to the Church. Then he was ordained a Presbyter by the Bishop Efstathios of Kythrea, who succeeded him as Bishop of Kythrea.
He was a meek, approachable and courageous spiritual leader. Bishop Dimitrianos saw the barbarians, according to his Synaxarion, capturing his flock and transferring it by force to Babylon. The bishop of Kythrea followed his people into exile and captivity, and then, with his supplications and vigilance, God freed his people and returned to Cyprus.
He motivated the Christians to build the new Kythrea from Kefalovrysos to the south in the plain of Mesaoria. The main objective was to be protected from pirates and other enemies who would have visual contact from Famagusta.
He died in old age, leaving a sacred legacy to his descendants, as a brilliant pastor of Kythrea, where other holy Hierarchs were born who later participated in the Ecumenical Synods.
Source: Church of Cyprus
