Demetrius of Sliven was an Eastern Orthodox new martyr born in 1818 in Sliven, located within the Ottoman Empire. Raised in a poor family, he worked as a domestic servant after becoming an orphan. Following a momentary, impulsive decision to convert to Islam during a banquet, he realized his error and fled his hometown. Seeking to reclaim his faith, he eventually returned to the region to face the consequences of his actions, ultimately choosing to die for his Christian beliefs.
Life and death
After fleeing Sliven, Demetrius traveled through Razgrad and Ruse, where he met a local bishop. He later surrendered to the authorities in Zheravna, leading to his arrest in Sliven. Charged with apostasy under Islamic law, he endured a year of imprisonment and torture. His death sentence was confirmed by the government in Constantinople, and he was publicly executed by decapitation on January 30, 1841.
Veneration
The Orthodox Church honors him as a saint. In the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, his feast day is observed on January 29 to avoid overlapping with the feast of the Three Holy Hierarchs. While no Bulgarian Orthodox churches are dedicated to him, a church in Sliven belonging to the Old Calendarist tradition is named in his honor. He is also celebrated through an akathist hymn.