The Rhetoric of Christianization in Thessaloniki: Saint Demetrios
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Date
2023-05
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The Ohio State University
Abstract
The origins of Saint Demetrios, the patron saint of Thessaloniki, Greece, are contentious, however the effects of growing following of the saint during the city's transition to Christianity can be examined. Considering how Byzantine history and rhetoric shaped the fabric of Saint Demetrios' cult, we explored the Christianization of Thessaloniki through the transition from late antique cults, the establishment of Hagios Demetrios, the changing depictions of the Saint, and the relics of Saint Demetrios. The martyr saint legitimizes Thessaloniki as a Christian city, conferring power on the city within the religion and develops a rhetoric that further solidifies the city's position.