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, along with the ten-year-old George, moved to her hometown in Palestine. At the age of 18, George enlisted in the Roman army. He quickly rose to higher ranks, gaining the title of count.

Emperor Diocletian, in his attempt to eradicate Christians, gathered all the officials to lead the deadly 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 spun, sharp iron edges began to cut his body. Then a voice was heard from heaven saying, “Do not fear, George, for I am with you,” and an angel appeared, freeing the saint and healing his wounds.

Next, they threw George into a pit filled with lime and water, hoping to dissolve his bones. However, George remained unharmed. Diocletian then ordered that George be made to wear red-hot shoes with iron nails and forced to walk. Saint George prayed and walked without suffering any harm.

Then, they whipped George, wounding his entire body. He continued to shine like an angel. He was imprisoned 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 the idols, and Diocletian ordered his beheading.

The faithful servant of George, Pasikrates, fulfilling the saint’s wish, took the relic of the great martyr and, along with that of his mother, Saint Polychronia, brought 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 of Mount Athos, created this work following the traditional method of artificial aging, which is practiced in the Garden of the Virgin Mary.