Nestor of Thessaloniki

This article is about Nestor of Thessaloniki. For other saints and notable people called Nestor, see Nestor.

Nestor of Thessalonica (Greek: Νέστωρ της Θεσσαλονίκης) was a saint and wrestler known for having been the companion of St. Demetrius of Thessalonica (October 26). St. Nestor's feast day is celebrated on October 27.

Saint Nestor
Icon of St. Nestor. (St. Demetrius Church, Marko's Monastery near Skoplje, Macedonia, 14th century.)
Born	Thessaloniki, Roman empire
Died	October 27
Cause of death	beheading
Canonized	Pre-congregation
Patronage	wrestlers, athletes

Biography

Having been moved to act against the mighty Lyaeus, the most feared gladiator in Rome, who mocked and tormented the Christians in the arena, Nestor went to see the imprisoned St. Demetrius and asked for his blessing to fight and defeat Lyeios. With the blessing of the saint and faith in God, he entered the arena and mortally struck Lyeios.

Martyrdom of Nestor, depicted in the 11th century Menologion of Basil II.

Maximian, the emperor, was angered by this and ordered that Nestor be slain with his own sword.

Feast day

The year of his death is reported variously as 290, 296, or 306 AD, each on October 27.

External links

• The Passion (BHL 2122) and Miracles (BHL 2123) of St. Demetrius by Anastasius the Librarian tr. by David Woods
• Martyr Nestor of Thessalonica (OCA)
• Nestor the Martyr of Thessaloniki (GOARCH)
• Demetrios the Myrrhbearer & Great Martyr of Thessaloniki (GOARCH)

This article incorporates text from Nestor of Thessalonika at OrthodoxWiki which is licensed under the CC-BY-SA and GFDL.