Commemoration of the Great Earthquake

Commemoration of the great earthquake at Constantinople in 740, from which the city was delivered by the prayers of the Theotokos and Saint Demetrios.

On October 26, 740, in the reign of the iconoclast emperor Leo the Isaurian, a great earthquake struck Constantinople, destroying walls and churches. The people understood it as a call to repentance and turned to the Theotokos and Saint Demetrios, whose feast it was.

The Church has since kept the memory of this deliverance together with the feast of the Great Martyr.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, Commemoration of the Great Earthquake is commemorated on October 26. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on November 8 of the civil calendar.

Also commemorated on October 26

• 

  Demetrios the Great Martyr

  Martyr, Δημήτριος ο Μεγαλομάρτυς

  Great Martyr Demetrios of Thessaloniki, Myrrh-Streamer.

  Name days: Dimitrios, Dimitris, Dimitri, Mimis, Takis, Demetrius, Demetrios, Jimmy, Dmitri, Dmitry, Mitsos, Jim, Demetris, Dimitra, Demetra, Dimitroula, Mimi, Demi

• Loupos the Martyr

  Martyr, Λούππος

  Holy Martyr Loupos, servant of Saint Demetrios of Thessalonica.

• Joasaph of Dionysiou

  Martyr, Ιωάσαφ ο Οσιομάρτυς

  Holy New Monk-Martyr Joasaph of Dionysiou Monastery on Mount Athos, who suffered at Constantinople in 1536.

• Artemidoros and Basil

  Martyr, Αρτεμίδωρος και Βασίλειος

  Holy Martyrs Artemidoros and Basil.

• George of Ioannina (Translation of Relics)

  Saint, Γεώργιος ο εν Ιωαννίνοις

  Translation of the relics of the Holy New Martyr George of Ioannina.