Celebrated by the whole Christian world, Greatmartyr George was slain by Emperor Diocletian in the year 303.
The holy martyr is appropriately considered the intercessor for all Christians and the patron saint of many. He is regarded with special reverence among the Georgian people, since he is believed to be the special protector of their nation. Historical accounts often describe how St. George appeared among the Georgian soldiers in the midst of battles.
The majority of Georgian churches (in villages especially) were built in his honor and, as a result, every day there is a feast of the great-martyr George somewhere in Georgia. The various daily commemorations are connected to one of the churches erected in his name or an icon or a particular miracle he performed.
November 10/23 marks the day on which St. George was tortured on the wheel. According to tradition, this day of commemoration was established by the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Nino, the Enlightener of Georgia. St. Nino was a relative of St. George the Trophy-bearer.
She revered him deeply and directed the people she had converted to Christianity to cherish him as their special protector.
Today, Metropolitan Luke of Zaporozhye and Melitopolsky, whose Ukrainian Orthodox flock are enduring violent persecution by the government and by the state church, writes:
Christ is among us, my dear readers!
In memory of George the Victorious.
What is the ideal of modern man’s life? Live in a way that you can get as much pleasure, enjoyment, joy and as little effort as possible. A special object of envy is those who have received everything they need for a full life from birth through inheritance.
Now imagine a man not only rich but also handsome, who has it all, but instead of living for his pleasure, he goes to terrible torment. How can modern youth understand this? Who can adopt this?
That’s what St. George the Victorious did. Having everything he can afford to live a rich life, he voluntarily gave up on the cross for the name of Christ. The torture this martyr endured was unbelievable. But it was his patience that turned a large number of people to the Lord. Even today, as we know from the lives of our modern saints, the great martyr George takes an active part in the life of the Church.
What can you say about this to current people? Yes, you cannot forbid to live beautifully, and spending years for pleasure is also a tempting thing. But that’s what the trouble is. Those who live like a selfish person are guaranteed a place in hell. This is not my guess, this is what the Gospel parable of the rich man and Lazarus teaches us. No one remembers the names of the people who lived in the land of the rich. They will forget even those who were once well-known to the world. But St. George the Victorious is still remembered. And not because he once gloriously moved in faith, but because he still lives among the living. If people could only see for a moment what God has prepared for those who love Him, then they would not be able to exchange all the earthly goods.
According to an ancient tradition, today is a day off in Georgia. On the Feast of George the Great Martyr, all people go to temples. And in my homeland, which now especially needs prayers and God’s help, the authorities are fighting against the Church. Instead of uniting the people, we are divided and temples are empty… Though we are Christ’s small flock, and those who are persecuted, but we have a wise Shepherd, Christ, who will never leave us. Surrounding His faithful with angels and saints, He leads us along the thorny path to the High Fatherland, if only we, like George the Great Martyr, would not turn away from the true path and be afraid of the ghosts of this sinful raging world.
