Description

Saint George: The Life of the Great Martyr

Saint George the Great Martyr and Trophy-Bearer was born in Cappadocia in 275 AD to Christian parents. When his father was martyred for Christ, his mother and the ten-year-old George moved to her homeland in Palestine. At the age of 18, George enlisted in the Roman army. He quickly rose to higher ranks, earning the title of count.

Emperor Diocletian, in his attempt to eradicate Christians, gathered all officials to lead the relentless campaign against them. George, being among them, confessed before the emperor that he was a Christian.

Diocletian became enraged and imprisoned George, subjecting him to a series of tortures. The executioners tied George to a large wheel. As the wheel turned, sharp iron blades began to cut his body. Then, a voice from heaven was heard saying, “Do not be afraid, George, for I am with you,” and an angel freed the saint, healing his wounds.

They then threw George into a pit with lime and water, hoping to dissolve his bones. However, George remained unharmed. Diocletian then ordered that George be forced to wear scalding shoes with iron nails and be made to walk. Saint George prayed and walked without being harmed.

Next, they whipped George, wounding his whole body. Yet he continued to shine like an angel. He was imprisoned once again. Then, in a dream, Saint George saw Christ announcing that he would receive the crown of martyrdom. The next morning, soldiers led George before Diocletian. Once again, George refused to sacrifice to idols, and Diocletian ordered his beheading.

George’s faithful servant, Pasikratis, fulfilling the saint’s wish, took the relic of the great martyr, along with the relic of his mother, Saint Polychronia, and transported them to Lydda in Palestine. From there, the Crusaders took them to the West. The Church commemorates the memory of Saint George on April 23rd.

Lithograph of Saint George

Using a lithographed copy of Byzantine art, the iconographer, a monk from Mount Athos, created this artwork following the traditional method of artificial aging, a technique commonly used in the Garden of the Virgin.