St. George the Victorious

Saint George was born in Cappadocia, Asia Minor, of wealthy parents and was orphaned very young. At the age of 18 he enlisted in the army of Emperor Diocletian, who ruled from 284 to 305 A.D. Young George displayed exceptional bravery and soon became a colonel and gained the favor of Diocletian. However, when the emperor, whose name in history became synonymous with the most relentless and unparalleled persecution of Christians, ordered George to arrest and torture Christians, not only did he decline but with courage confessed before Diocletian that he himself was a Christian.

"You are a Christian? And aren't you ashamed; you, my brave general? Aren't you afraid of losing your life at such a young age? Aren't you afraid of death? Deny this delusion and enjoy life. "I am a Christian," replied George. "Life without Christ means nothing to me."

This response angered Diocletian. He ordered George to be tortured. He only intended to force him to deny his faith, but the beatings and sharp knives that cut into his flesh did not for a moment weaken the young martyr in his search for the Truth. Diocletian became enraged and ordered his execution about the year 303 A.D. His remains were taken by Christians to Lydda of Palestine, his mother's birthplace. A few years later Constantine the Great, the first emperor of the Byzantine Empire, built a temple at the site of his tomb.

Many miracles and many acts of bravery have been attributed to St. George. Through the ages, several legends have been transmitted to us, which depict St. George as a handsome horseman who has saved Christians, freed captured children and even killed dragons. In his icons, he is usually shown fighting a dragon on horseback, with a spear or a sword in his hands. According to tradition, he saved the people of a city from the menace of a dragon which, while hiding by the town spring, devoured everyone who went there for water. St. George fought the dragon and killed the beast thus saving the city and its people.

St. George is the patron Saint of England and of the Greek Army; he is the joy and boast of Holy Orthodoxy and Exarch of martyrs.

Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone

Liberator of captives, defender of the poor, physician of the sick, and champion of kings, O trophy-bearer, Great Martyr George, intercede with Christ God that our souls be saved.

Kontakion in the Fourth Tone

Cultivated by God, you became manifest as an honorable tiller gathering for yourself the sheaves of virtue. For you sowed with tears but reaped with gladness; in the contest you competed with your blood and came away with Christ. By your intercessions, O Holy One, all are granted forgiveness of sins.

Of the many miracles worked by the holy Great Martyr George, the most famous are depicted in iconography. One is of the saint's native city of Beirut were many idol-worshippers. Outside the city, near Mount Lebanon, was a large lake, inhabited by an enormous dragon-like serpent. Coming out of the lake, it devoured people, and there was nothing anyone could do, since the breath from its nostrils poisoned the very air.

On the advice of the demons inhabiting the idols, the local ruler came to a decision. Each day the people would draw lots to feed their own children to the serpent, and he promised to sacrifice his only daughter when his turn came. That time did come, and the ruler dressed her in her finest attire, then sent her off to the lake. The girl wept bitterly, awaiting her death. Unexpectedly for her, St George rode up on his horse with spear in hand. The girl implored him not to leave her, lest she perish.

The saint signed himself with the Sign of the Cross. He rushed at the serpent saying, "In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." St George pierced the throat of the serpent with his spear and trampled it with his horse. Then he told the girl to bind the serpent with her sash, and lead it into the city like a dog on a leash.

The people fled in terror, but the saint halted them with the words: "Don't be afraid, but trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and believe in Him, since it is He Who sent me to save you." Then the saint killed the serpent with a sword, and the people burned it outside the city. Twenty-five thousand men, not counting women and children, were then baptized. Later, a church was built and dedicated to the Most Holy Theotokos and the Great Martyr George. (from www.oca.org)