Relics of George. Life of the Holy Great Martyr George the Victorious
St. George the Victorious is one of the most revered great martyrs of the Christian Church. He was named so for his courage in the fight against his tormentors and for maintaining, in spite of everything, his faith and devotion to Christianity. The saint also became famous for his miraculous help to people. The life of St. George the Victorious is distinguished by many interesting facts, and the story of his first posthumous appearance to people is completely reminiscent of a fairy tale. It is not for nothing that events from the life of the holy saint are so interesting not only to adults, but also to children.
The miraculous appearance of St. George the Victorious
A long time ago, a huge snake appeared in the lake. There was no way for anyone to escape from it: the monster devoured everyone who wandered into the surrounding area. Local sages, after consulting, decided to appease the serpent by sacrificing their own children to him. Gradually it was the turn of the royal daughter herself, who was distinguished by her dazzling beauty.
On the appointed day, the girl was brought to the lake and left at the appointed place. People were left to watch the execution of the poor thing from afar. And this is what they saw, preparing to mourn the princess: out of nowhere, a stately horseman appeared in the clothes of a warrior and with a spear in his hands. He was not afraid of the snake, but crossed himself, rushed at the monster and killed it with a spear with one blow.
After this, the brave young man said to the princess: “Do not be afraid. Tie the snake with a belt and lead it to the city.” On their way, the people fled in horror when they saw the monster. But the warrior reassured them with the words: “Believe in our Lord, Jesus Christ. After all, it was he who sent me to deliver you from the serpent.” This is exactly how the miraculous appearance of St. George the Victorious happened to people, after the end of his life’s journey.
Life of the Holy Great Martyr
His earthly life turned out to be short. Therefore, the life of St. George the Victorious tells a little. The summary can be retold in a few paragraphs, but this saint went down in the history of Christianity as one of the most famous and revered great martyrs who accepted a calm and courageous death.
Birth and childhood
The life of the Great Martyr George the Victorious begins with his birth in Cappadocia. The saint's parents were pious and meek. was a martyr and accepted death for his faith. After which the mother, taking her son, moved to her homeland, Palestine. The boy was raised as a true Christian, received a good education, and thanks to his courage and remarkable strength, he soon entered military service.
Early years and service with the emperor
Already at the age of twenty, George had a whole cohort of invictiors (which means “invincible”) subordinate to him. With the title of commander of a thousand, the young man received the patronage of the emperor himself. However, he revered the Roman gods and was an ardent opponent of the Christian faith. Therefore, when, by decree of the emperor, they began to burn holy books and destroy churches, George distributed all his property to poor people and appeared in the Senate. There he publicly declared that Emperor Diocletian was a cruel and unjust ruler whom the people did not deserve. They tried to dissuade the handsome and brave young man, they begged him not to ruin his own glory and youth, but he was adamant. It is precisely this kind of unshakable faith that the life of St. George the Victorious, even in a brief summary, usually places at the head of all the virtues of the great martyr.
Trials and death
The young man was subjected to severe torture and then beheaded. Since he endured all the torture with courage and did not renounce Jesus Christ, St. George the Victorious was later included in This is the short life of St. George the Victorious.
The day of his execution took place on April 23, which corresponds to May 6 according to the new calendar. It is on this day that the Orthodox Church honors the memory of St. George the Victorious. His relics are kept in the Israeli city of Lod, and a temple named after him was built there. And the severed head of the saint and his sword are in Rome to this day.
Miracles of St. George the Victorious
The main miracle that describes the life of St. George the Victorious is his victory over the serpent. It is this plot that is often depicted on Christian icons: the saint is depicted here on a white horse, and his spear strikes the monster’s mouth.
There is another, no less famous miracle that occurred after the death of the Great Martyr George and his canonization. This story happened after the Arab people attacked Palestine. One of the invaders entered an Orthodox church and found the priest there praying in front of the image of St. George the Victorious. Wanting to show disdain for the icon, the Arab took out his bow and shot an arrow at it. But it so happened that the fired arrow pierced the warrior’s hand without causing any damage to the icon.
Exhausted from pain, the Arab called the priest. He told him the story of St. George, and also advised him to hang his icon over his bed. The life of St. George the Victorious made such a strong impression on him that the Arab accepted Christianity, and then even began to preach it among his compatriots, for which he subsequently accepted the martyrdom of the righteous man.
Real miracles happened to George during torture. The cruel torture lasted 8 days, but by the will of the Lord the young man’s body was healed and strengthened, remaining unharmed. Then the emperor decided that he was using magic and wanted to destroy him with poisonous potions. When this did not bring harm to George, they decided to publicly shame him and force him to renounce his faith. The young man was offered to try to resurrect a dead person. Imagine the shock of the gathered people when, after the saint’s prayer, the dead man actually rose from the tomb, and the earth shook according to the will of God.
The healing spring that flowed on the spot where the Church of St. George the Victorious was built can be called nothing less than a miracle. It is located exactly where, according to legend, the saint dealt with the serpent.
What can you tell children about St. George?
St. George the Victorious became famous for many things during his life. The life will be interesting for children too. For example, you can tell them that this saint is revered not only in our country, but also abroad. And his life became the best example of how true faith in God helps us overcome any trials.
Young listeners will also be interested in the miracles that the Lord showed to the people through this great martyr. Thanks to them, many lost people regained their faith and came to Christ. George the Victorious lived in the 3rd century, but his exploits and miracles strengthen people’s faith today, giving them strength to cope with troubles and gratefully accept everything that life has in store for us.
Children often ask questions about why on icons the spear in the hand of St. George is thin and thin? It’s not like a snake, you can’t even kill a fly. In fact, this is not a spear, but a real, sincere prayer, which was the main weapon of the great martyr. After all, only with prayer, as well as great faith in the Lord, does a person gain enormous strength, courage and happiness.
Facts related to St. George the Victorious
- The saint is known by several names. In addition to the title of Saint George, he is called George of Lydda and Cappadocia, and in Greek the name of the great martyr is written like this: Άγιος Γεώργιος.
- On May 6, St. George's Day, the memory of Queen Alexandra, wife of Emperor Diocletian, is also honored. She took George’s torment so deeply to her heart and believed in his own faith so much that she recognized herself as a Christian. After which the emperor immediately sentenced her to death.
- St. George the Victorious, whose life became a true example of courage and bravery, is especially revered in Georgia. The first church named after St. George was built there in 335. Several centuries later, more and more temples and chapels began to be built. In total, there were as many of them erected in different parts of this country as there are days in the year - 365. Today it is impossible to find a single Georgian church that does not have the image of St. George the Victorious.
- It’s also very popular in Georgia. It is given to everyone - from ordinary people to rulers from the greatest dynasties. It was believed that a person named after St. George would never fail in anything and would emerge victorious from any situation.
Sometimes it is difficult to believe that the life of St. George the Victorious really describes the events that actually happened. After all, there is so much inhuman torment, valor and indestructible faith in him that it is simply impossible for us, mere mortals, to imagine. However, the story of this saint is the best example of how, with the help of true faith, you can overcome any adversity.
Holy Great Martyr GEORGE THE VICTORIOUS (†303)
On May 6 (April 23), believers of the Orthodox Church celebrate the day of remembrance of the Holy Great Martyr George the Victorious, on the day of his repose.
The Holy Great Martyr George lived in 284-305. during the reign of the Roman Emperor Diocletian. He was the son of rich and noble parents who professed the Christian faith. When George was still a child, his father was tortured for confessing Christ. Having received an excellent education and being distinguished by his strong physique, beauty and courage, the young man already at the age of 20 became one of the people closest to the emperor.
Saint George was born in the city of Beirut ( in ancient times - Belit), in Cappadocia, no later than 276, in a family of rich and pious parents who raised him in the Christian faith.
Georgy received an excellent education and, distinguished by his physical strength, beauty and courage, entered military service at a young age.
For his excellent knowledge of military affairs, already at the age of 20, Georgy was appointed head of the famous cohort of invictiors (invincibles). During the war between the Romans and the Persians (296-297), George showed amazing courage, for which the emperor appointed him a comit (companion) - a close associate of the emperor, accompanying him during his travels and receiving maintenance.
Emperor Diocletian reigned from 284 to 305 and was an ardent adherent of the ancient Roman religion, spending huge sums of money on the construction of pagan temples. He accused Christian priests of witchcraft, with which, in his opinion, they thwarted all his endeavors. On February 23, 303, the emperor issued the first edict against Christians: “to destroy churches to the ground, burn sacred books and deprive Christians of honorary positions.”
Soon after this, the imperial palace in Nicomedia was twice engulfed in fire. This coincidence gave rise to unsubstantiated accusations of arson against Christians. The greatest persecution in the history of Christianity began. Diocletian drew his sword on God's righteous people. Instead of criminals, the prisons were filled with confessors of the true God. The first victims were Christians who served in the imperial army.
Once in the courtroom and hearing the lawless and terrible judgment about the extermination of Christians, George was inflamed with holy zeal for the faith. He distributed everything he had to the poor: gold, silver, precious clothes, freed the slaves on his estates and decided to stand to the death for Christ, embarked on the path of struggle with the emperor Diocletian, realizing that the time had come that would serve to save his soul.
At the last meeting of the emperor with like-minded people, George boldly spoke: “How long will it take you, king, and you, princes and advisers, to commit evil deeds? You are mistaken in worshiping idols. The true God is Jesus Christ, who is persecuted by you. I am a servant of Christ my God and have come here to testify to the truth.” The enraged king ordered his squires to imprison George, hammer his feet into stocks, and place a heavy stone on his chest. Then Diocletian ordered to bring a newly invented instrument of torture - a wheel with iron points driven into it. When, after the wheeling, everyone recognized the righteous man as dead, suddenly a thunderclap was heard and the words were heard: “Don’t be afraid, George! I'm with you!" George, healed by the Angel, himself came off the wheel, glorifying God. Seeing the miraculous salvation of George, the royal dignitaries Anthony, Protoleon and Queen Alexandra wanted to convert to Christianity. For confessing Christ, the king ordered the dignitaries to be seized, taken out of the city and their heads cut off. Queen Alexander was ordered to be locked in the palace, and Saint George was to be covered with quicklime for three days. Three days later, the emperor ordered the bones of the martyr to be dug up, but the servants found Saint George unharmed and brought him to the king.
“Tell George,” asked Diocletian, “where do you get such power and what magic do you use?” “Tsar,” answered George, you are blaspheming God. Seduced by the devil, you are mired in the errors of paganism and call the miracles of my God, performed before your eyes, enchantments.” Diocletian ordered boots with nails inside to be put on George’s feet and driven to the very dungeon with beatings and abuse.
The nobleman Magnentius suggested that Diocletian turn to the famous sorcerer Athanasius. When the sorcerer appeared at the palace, the emperor told him: “Either defeat and destroy George’s sorcery and make him submissive to us, or take his life.”
In the morning in court, Athanasius showed two vessels and ordered the convict to be brought. “If a madman drinks from the first vessel,” said the sorcerer, “he will be obedient to the royal will; from the second drink he will die.” Having drunk from both vessels, George remained unharmed, and Athanasius himself believed and confessed Christ as the omnipotent God before everyone. For this he was executed by the emperor.
Saint George was again imprisoned. The people, who believed in miracles and turned to Christianity, bribe the guards to see the saint and receive instruction and help.
The royal advisers asked to condemn George because many people were turning away from their pagan gods. The night before a new test, George prayed earnestly, and when he dozed off, he saw the Lord in a sleepy vision. Christ embraced him, placed a crown on the head of the martyr and said: “Do not be afraid, but dare. You will soon come to Me in the Heavenly Kingdom.”
Diocletian ordered George to be brought to the temple of Apollo and began to convince him to sacrifice to idols. Saint George turned to the statue of Apollo: “Do you want to accept a sacrifice from me, like a god?” The evil demon who lived in the idol announced the whole truth about himself: “I am not a god. The true God is Christ whom you confess.” “How dare you stay here when the servant of the true God has come?!” - said Georgy. After Saint George made the sign of the cross, the temple was filled with groans, the demons abandoned the idols and the statues collapsed.
Zealous pagans and priests rushed to beat the saint and demanded that the emperor kill George. Queen Alexandra, hearing the noise and screams, hurried to the temple and threw herself at the feet of George with the words: “God Georgiev, help me! You alone are omnipotent." Diocletian. Seeing Queen Alexandra at the feet of the condemned man, he asked in amazement: “What’s wrong with you, Alexandra? Why do you join the sorcerer and the sorcerer and shamelessly renounce our gods? Saint Alexandra turned away and did not answer the emperor. The enraged Diocletian immediately sentenced both to death.
The soldiers led the martyrs outside the city to the place of execution. The most noble queen joyfully followed Saint George. She prayed earnestly, calling on the name of the Lord, turning her eyes to heaven. On the way, the queen became exhausted, sat down on the road near the wall and surrendered her spirit to God.
When Saint George was brought to the place of execution, he asked to be freed from his shackles and began to pray out loud. Then Saint George bowed his head and was beheaded with a sword. The death of the Holy Great Martyr George occurred April 23, 303 , on Friday, at seven o'clock in the evening.
Passion-bearer George confessed Christ when the darkness of insane idolatry spread throughout the Universe and courageously endured the most severe torture to which human flesh has ever been subjected, and emerged from this battle victorious over the enemy of the human race, for which he was named the Victorious by the Holy Church.
For our benefit, edification and salvation, the merciful and humane God was pleased to magnify the name of St. George the Victorious with unusual miracles and signs performed by the saint after his blessed death. Of the many miracles performed by the Holy Great Martyrs George, the most famous is his victory over the spawn of the devil - a huge serpent.
In the saint’s homeland, near the city of Beirut, there was a lake in which lived a huge and terrible serpent, resembling a dragon in appearance. Coming out of the lake, he devoured people and sheep, devastated the surrounding area, filled the air with a poisonous stench, from which people were poisoned and died. To appease the monster, the residents, on the advice of the pagan priests, began to cast lots and give their children as sacrifices to the serpent. Finally, it was the turn of the king’s only daughter. The girl, distinguished by her unprecedented beauty, was led to the lake and left in her usual place.
While the people were looking at the princess from afar and expecting her death, Saint George suddenly appeared on a white horse with a spear in his hand and said to the queen: “Do not be afraid, girl, in the name of my God, Jesus Christ, I will save you and your people from the serpent.” .
Seeing the snake, he made the sign of the cross and with the words “In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit!” rushed at the monster, shaking his spear. The rider pressed the snake's larynx to the ground with a spear, and the horse began to trample the monster like a quiet dog. The residents fled. But Saint George stopped them: “Do not be afraid and trust in Almighty God. Believe in Christ. He sent me to deliver you from the serpent.” After these words, Saint George took out his sword and killed the snake, and the residents burned the monster. Seeing the great miracle, the king and the townspeople believed in Christ and received holy baptism.
The Holy Great Martyr George is the patron saint of the army. Many victories of the Russian army are associated with the name of St. George the Victorious; he is especially loved and revered by the people.
Saint George is widely revered not only in Russia, but also in Georgia, Arab countries and England.
He is considered the heavenly patron of Georgia and is the most revered saint among Georgians. In many languages, Georgia is called “Georgia,” and at one time a widely spread version was that this name was given in honor of the Holy Victorious.
Worship in Arab lands is associated with legends about many of his miracles, starting with the miracle of the serpent. Another notable miracle, reflected in the characteristic local iconography of the saint, is the miracle at Ramel. A certain Saracen shot at the icon of St. George with a bow, after which his hand became swollen and began to hurt unbearably, so much so that he was dying from pain. The Christian priest advised the Saracen to light a lamp in front of the icon of St. George at night, and in the morning to anoint his hand with oil from that lamp. The Saracen obeyed, and when his hand was miraculously healed, he believed in Christ. The other Saracens martyred him for this. This believing Saracen, even whose name has not reached us, is depicted in the local version of the icon of the miracle of the serpent as a small figure with a lamp in his hands sitting on the rump of a horse behind St. George. This image of St. George is common not only among local Orthodox Christians, but also among Copts. It also migrated to Greece and the Balkans.
St. George has also been the patron saint of England since the time of King Edmund III. The English flag represents the Cross of St. George. English literature has repeatedly turned to the image of St. George as the embodiment of “good old England.”
Troparion, tone 4:
As the liberator of the captives, and the protector of the poor, the physician of the infirm, the champion of kings, the victorious Great Martyr George, pray to Christ God to save our souls.
Troparion, same voice:
You fought a good deed, more passionately than Christ, by faith, and you denounced the tormentors of wickedness, and you offered a sacrifice acceptable to God: in the same way, you received the crown of victory, and through your holy prayers, you granted forgiveness to all sins.
Kontakion, tone 4:
Cultivated by God, you have shown yourself to be a most honest worker of piety, having collected for yourself the virtues of the handle: having sowed in tears, reap with joy. Having suffered through blood, you accepted Christ, and with your holy prayers granted forgiveness of sins to all.
Prayer 1 to the Great Martyr George:
Holy, glorious and all-praised Great Martyr George! Gathered in your temple and in front of your holy icon, people worshiping, we pray to you, known to the desires of our intercessor, pray with us and for us, beseeching God from His benevolence, that He may mercifully hear us asking for His goodness, and not abandon all ours to salvation and life needful petitions, and grants our country victory in the face of resistance; and again, falling down, we pray to you, victorious saint: strengthen the Orthodox army in battle with the grace given to you, destroy the forces of the rising enemies, so that they will be ashamed and put to shame, and let their insolence be crushed, and let them know that we have Divine help, and to everyone in sorrow and the current situation, show your powerful intercession. Pray to the Lord God, the Creator of all creation, to deliver us from eternal torment, so that we glorify the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and we confess your intercession now, and ever, and unto the ages of ages. A min.
Prayer 2 to the Great Martyr George:
Oh, all-validated, holy great martyr and wonderworker George! Look upon us with your quick help and beg God, the Lover of Mankind, not to judge us, sinners, according to our iniquities, but to deal with us according to His great mercy. Do not despise our prayer, but ask us from Christ our God a quiet and godly life, mental and physical health, fertility of the earth and abundance in everything, and may we not turn into evil what you have given us from the All-Bountiful God, but into the glory of His Holy Name and in glorification of your strong intercession, may He grant our country and the entire God-loving army victory over the adversaries and may it strengthen us with unchangeable peace and blessing. May His angel protect us saints with a greater militia, so that upon our departure from this life, we may be delivered from the wiles of the evil one and his difficult airy ordeals and present ourselves uncondemned to the Throne of the Lord of glory. Hear us, passion-bearing George of Christ, and pray for us unceasingly to the Trinitarian Lord of all God, so that through His grace and love for mankind, with your help and intercession, we will find mercy with the Angels and Archangels and all the saints at the right hand of the Just Judge and may we glorify Him with the Father and the Holy Spirit now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. A min.
1. Holy Great Martyr George the Victorious (St. George, George of Cappadocia, George of Lydda; Greek: Άγιος Γεώργιος) - one of the most revered saints in our Church, born in Cappadocia (rev. region in Asia Minor), in a Christian family.
2. His father accepted martyrdom for Christ when George was still a child. After the death of her husband, the saint's mother, who owned estates in Palestine, took her son home and raised him in strict piety. When the young man was 20 years old, his mother died, leaving him a rich inheritance.
3. Having reached the required age, George entered military service, where he, distinguished by intelligence, courage and physical strength, became one of the commanders and the favorite of Emperor Diocletian.
4. Having learned about the emperor’s decision to give all rulers complete freedom to deal with Christians, Saint George distributed his inheritance to the poor, appeared before the emperor and confessed himself to be a Christian. Diocletian immediately condemned his commander to torture.
"The Miracle of George about the Serpent." Icon, late 14th century
5. The inhuman torment of the saint continued for 8 days, but every day the Lord strengthened and healed his confessor.
6. Deciding that George was using magic, the emperor ordered the sorcerer Athanasius to be called. When the saint was not harmed by the potions offered by the sorcerer, the martyr was asked to resurrect the deceased in order to disgrace the faith of the saint and God in whom he believes. But, through the prayers of the martyr, the earth shook, the dead man stood up and left his tomb. Many believed then, seeing such a miracle.
Life icon of St. George
7. On the last night before the execution, the Lord Himself appeared to the martyr, who placed a crown on the head of the great martyr and said: “Do not be afraid, but dare and you will be worthy to reign with Me.”
8. The next morning Diocletian made a last attempt to break the saint and invited him to sacrifice to idols. Going to the temple, George expelled demons from the idols, the idols fell and were crushed.
The beheading of Saint George. Fresco by Altichiero da Zevio in the Chapel of San Giorgio, Padua
9. On the same day, April 23 (Old Style) 303, Saint George suffered a martyr’s death. Calmly and courageously, the Great Martyr George bowed his head under the sword.
10. On the day of St. George, the Church celebrates the memory of Queen Alexandra, the wife of Emperor Diocletian, who, seeing the faith and torment of the saint, professed herself a Christian and was immediately sentenced to death by her husband.
Paolo Uccello. Battle of St. George with the serpent
11. One of the most famous posthumous miracles of Saint George is his victory over the serpent (dragon), which devastated the land of a pagan king. When the lot fell to give the king’s daughter to be torn to pieces by the monster, the Great Martyr George appeared on horseback and pierced the serpent with a spear, saving the princess from death. The appearance of the saint and the miraculous salvation of people from the serpent led to the massive conversion of local residents to Christianity.
Tomb of St. St. George the Victorious in Lod
12. Saint George is buried in the city of Lod (formerly Lydda), in Israel. A temple was built over his tomb ( en:Church of Saint George, Lod), which belongs to the Jerusalem Orthodox Church.
In Cappadocia, in the noble family of the pagan Gerontius and the Christian Polychronia. George's mother raised him in the Christian faith. One day, having fallen ill with a fever, Gerontius, on the advice of his son, called on the name of Christ and was healed. From that moment on, he also became a Christian, and soon was honored to accept torture and death for his faith. This happened when Georgiy was 10 years old. The widowed Polychronia moved with her son to Palestine, where her homeland and rich possessions were.
Having entered military service at the age of 18, George stood out among other soldiers for his intelligence, courage, physical strength, military posture and beauty. Having soon reached the rank of tribune, he showed such courage in battle that he attracted attention and became the favorite of Emperor Diocletian - a talented ruler, but a fanatical adherent of the pagan Roman gods, who carried out one of the most severe persecutions of Christians. Diocletian, who did not yet know about George’s Christianity, honored him with the rank of comite and governor.
From the time George became convinced that the emperor’s unrighteous plan to exterminate Christians could not be canceled, he decided that the time had come that would serve to save his soul. He immediately distributed all his wealth, gold, silver and precious clothes to the poor, granted freedom to the slaves who were with him, and about those slaves who were in his Palestinian possessions, he ordered that some of them be freed and others transferred to the poor. After this, he appeared at a meeting between the emperor and the patricians about the extermination of Christians and courageously denounced them for cruelty and injustice, declaring himself a Christian and throwing the gathering into confusion.
When the Great Martyr George was in prison, people who believed in Christ because of his miracles came to him, gave gold to the guards, fell at the feet of the saint and were instructed by him in the holy faith. By invoking the name of Christ and the sign of the cross, the saint also healed the sick, who came to him in large numbers in prison. Among them was the farmer Glycerius, whose ox broke to death, but was brought back to life through the prayer of St. George.
In the end, the emperor, seeing that George did not renounce Christ and was leading more and more people to believe in Him, decided to arrange a final test and offered him to become his co-ruler if he made a sacrifice to the pagan gods. George followed the emperor to the temple, but instead of making a sacrifice, he expelled the demons that lived in the statues from there, causing the idols to be crushed, and the gathered people attacked the saint in rage. Then the emperor ordered his head to be cut off with a sword. So the holy sufferer departed to Christ in Nicomedia on April 23 of the year.
Relics and veneration
George's servant, who recorded all his exploits, also received a covenant from him to bury his body in the ancestral Palestinian possessions. The relics of Saint George were placed in the Palestinian city of Lydda, in a temple that received his name, and his head was kept in Rome in a temple also dedicated to him. Saint Demetrius of Rostov adds that his spear and banner were also preserved in the Roman temple. The right hand of the saint now resides on Mount Athos in the monastery of Xenophon in a silver shrine.
Great Martyr George began to be called the Victorious for his courage and spiritual victory over his tormentors who could not force him to renounce Christianity, as well as for his miraculous help to people in danger.
Saint George became famous for his great miracles, of which the most famous is his miracle about the serpent. According to legend, not far from the city of Beirut, there lived a snake in a lake that often devoured the people of that area. To quench the fury of the serpent, superstitious residents began to regularly give him a young man or a girl by lot to be devoured. One day the lot fell on the ruler's daughter. She was taken to the shore of the lake and tied, where she waited in horror for the monster to appear. When the beast began to approach her, a bright young man suddenly appeared on a white horse, struck the snake with a spear and saved the girl. This young man was Saint George, who by his appearance stopped the sacrifices and converted the inhabitants of that country, who had previously been pagans, to Christ.
The miracles of St. George gave rise to the veneration of him as the patron of cattle breeding and protector from predatory animals. St. George the Victorious has also long been revered as the patron of the army. “The Miracle of George about the Serpent” is a favorite subject in the iconography of the saint, who is depicted riding a white horse, slaying a serpent with a spear. This image also symbolizes the victory over the devil - the “ancient serpent” (Rev. 12:3; 20:2).
In Georgia
In Arab countries
In Rus'
In Rus', special veneration of the Great Martyr George spread from the first years after the adoption of Christianity. The blessed prince Yaroslav the Wise, in holy baptism George, following the pious custom of Russian princes to found churches in honor of their guardian angels, laid the foundation for a temple and a men's monastery in honor of the Great Martyr George. The temple was located in front of the gates of Hagia Sophia in Kyiv, Prince Yaroslav spent a lot of money on its construction, and a large number of builders took part in the construction of the temple. On November 26 of the year, the temple was consecrated by St. Hilarion, Metropolitan of Kyiv, and an annual celebration was established in honor of this event. On “St. George’s Day,” as it began to be called, or on “autumn George,” until the reign of Boris Godunov, peasants could freely move to another landowner.
The image of a horseman slaying a serpent, known on Russian coins from early times, subsequently became a symbol of Moscow and the Moscow State.
In pre-revolutionary times, on the day of remembrance of St. George, residents of Russian villages for the first time after a cold winter drove their cattle out to pasture, performing a prayer service to the holy great martyr and sprinkling houses and animals with holy water.
In England
St. George has been the patron saint of England since the time of King Edmund III. The English flag represents the Cross of St. George. English literature has repeatedly turned to the image of St. George as the embodiment of “good old England,” in particular in Chesterton’s famous ballad.
Prayers
Troparion, tone 4
As a liberator of captives/ and a defender of the poor,/ a physician of the infirm,/ a champion of kings,/ the victorious Great Martyr George,/ pray to Christ God// to save our souls.
Troparion, same voice
You fought a good fight, / more passionate than Christ, / through faith you also rebuked the tormentors of wickedness, / you offered a sacrifice acceptable to God. / Moreover, you also received a crown. You/ and through your prayers, O saints// you grant forgiveness of sins to all.
Kontakion, tone 4(Similar to: Ascended:)
Crafted by God, you showed yourself/ to be a most honest worker of piety,/ having gathered the handles of virtues for yourself:/ having sowed in tears, reaped with joy,/ having suffered through blood, you received Christ/ and prayed by yours, holy ones, by yours// you grant forgiveness of sins to all.
Kontakion from the Renewal Service of the Church of St. George in Lydda, tone 8(Similar to: Taken:)
To Thy chosen and speedy intercession/ having resorted, faithfully,/ we pray to be delivered, O passion-bearer of Christ,/ from the temptation of the enemy who sings of thee,/ and all sorts of troubles and bitterness, and we call: // Rejoice, martyr George.
Troparion from the service of the consecration of the Church of the Great Martyr. George in Kyiv, voice 4
Today the ends of the world bless you,/ Divine miracles have been fulfilled,/ and the earth rejoices, having drunk your blood./ The people of the city of Kiev celebrate the name of Christ/ with the consecration of the Divine Temple yours/ rejoiced with joy,/ passion-bearing George,/ chosen vessel of the Holy Spirit, servant of Christ./ Him pray with faith and supplication to those who come to your holy temple/ to grant cleansing of sins,// to pacify the world and save our souls.
Kontakion from the service of the consecration of the Church of the Great Martyr. George in Kyiv, voice 2(Similar: Solid:)
The divine and crowned great martyr of Christ George, / in the face of victory over his enemies, / having gathered by faith in the consecrated temple, let us praise, / whom God was pleased to create in him I am his // One to rest in the saints.
Used materials
- St. Dimitry Rostovsky, Lives of the Saints:
1. Holy Great Martyr George the Victorious (St. George, George of Cappadocia, George of Lydda; Greek: Άγιος Γεώργιος) - one of the most revered saints in our Church, born in Cappadocia (rev. region in Asia Minor), in a Christian family.
2. His father accepted martyrdom for Christ when George was still a child. After the death of her husband, the saint's mother, who owned estates in Palestine, took her son home and raised him in strict piety. When the young man was 20 years old, his mother died, leaving him a rich inheritance.
3. Having reached the required age, George entered military service, where he, distinguished by intelligence, courage and physical strength, became one of the commanders and the favorite of Emperor Diocletian.
4. Having learned about the emperor’s decision to give all rulers complete freedom to deal with Christians, Saint George distributed his inheritance to the poor, appeared before the emperor and confessed himself to be a Christian. Diocletian immediately condemned his commander to torture.
"The Miracle of George about the Serpent." Icon, late 14th century
5. The inhuman torment of the saint continued for 8 days, but every day the Lord strengthened and healed his confessor.
6. Deciding that George was using magic, the emperor ordered the sorcerer Athanasius to be called. When the saint was not harmed by the potions offered by the sorcerer, the martyr was asked to resurrect the deceased in order to disgrace the faith of the saint and God in whom he believes. But, through the prayers of the martyr, the earth shook, the dead man stood up and left his tomb. Many believed then, seeing such a miracle.
Life icon of St. George
7. On the last night before the execution, the Lord Himself appeared to the martyr, who placed a crown on the head of the great martyr and said: “Do not be afraid, but dare and you will be worthy to reign with Me.”
8. The next morning Diocletian made a last attempt to break the saint and invited him to sacrifice to idols. Going to the temple, George expelled demons from the idols, the idols fell and were crushed.
The beheading of Saint George. Fresco by Altichiero da Zevio in the Chapel of San Giorgio, Padua
9. On the same day, April 23 (Old Style) 303, Saint George suffered a martyr’s death. Calmly and courageously, the Great Martyr George bowed his head under the sword.
10. On the day of St. George, the Church celebrates the memory of Queen Alexandra, the wife of Emperor Diocletian, who, seeing the faith and torment of the saint, professed herself a Christian and was immediately sentenced to death by her husband.
Paolo Uccello. Battle of St. George with the serpent
11. One of the most famous posthumous miracles of Saint George is his victory over the serpent (dragon), which devastated the land of a pagan king. When the lot fell to give the king’s daughter to be torn to pieces by the monster, the Great Martyr George appeared on horseback and pierced the serpent with a spear, saving the princess from death. The appearance of the saint and the miraculous salvation of people from the serpent led to the massive conversion of local residents to Christianity.
Tomb of St. St. George the Victorious in Lod
12. Saint George is buried in the city of Lod (formerly Lydda), in Israel. A temple was built over his tomb ( en:Church of Saint George, Lod), which belongs to the Jerusalem Orthodox Church.