Saint George the Righteous. Life of Saint George the Victorious

St. George the Victorious - one of the most revered great martyrs 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 reminds people of 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 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 such an indestructible faith that the life of St. George the Victorious, even in summary, usually puts the great martyr at the head of all virtues.

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 ranked among such short life 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 Israeli city Lod, 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 Orthodox church and found the priest there praying before 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 they were erected in different corners There are as many 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 best example how with the help of true faith you can overcome any adversity.

How the be-di-tel in the spiritual sconce has a Po-be-do-nos-cem. Later, this epithet was re-thought in connection with the victory of St. George the Victorious over the serpent (compare the plot of the tale “The Miracle of the Serpent” ).

In a special way, according to St. George the Victorious, we stipulate that there are a large number of va-ri-an-tov of his life - “Mu-che -no-che-st-va”, is divided into two main groups: ka-no-no-che-skuyu and apok-ri-fi-che-skuyu. The text of the apo-cryphical “Mu-che-ni-che-st-va” is stored in 6 red-dak-tsi-yah, sis-te-ma-ti-zi-ro-van- nykh K. Krum-bacher. In accordance with the apocryphal lives, St. George the Victorious suffered torment under the legendary Persian king Da-dia-ne (Da-kia- no, Yes-tia-ne) in the city of Lid-da (Di-os-po-le Pa-le-stin-skom). During the transition from the early to the Middle Byzantine era, a number of substantives were introduced into the text of “Much-no-che-st-va” veins from me: Persian king Da-di-an was turned into the Roman emperor Di-ok-le-tia-na, Lid-da for-me-not-na to Ni-ko-mi-dia. According to the Middle Byzantine hagio-graphic tradition, St. George the Victorious was born in Cap-pa-do-kii in the family of Christian-sti-an-ki Po-li -chro-nii and language-no Geron-tia, so-ci-al-noe pro-is-ho-zh-de-nie of something var-i-ru-et-sya in different lives-re-dak-tsi-yah from the Persian warrior to se-na-to-ra-stra-ti-la-ta from Se-va-sto-po-li-sa Ar -Myan-skogo (in the northern part of Asia Minor). At a young age, St. George the Victorious entered military service in the Roman army and served in the war with the Persians (296-297) ; later became tri-bu-nom and ko-mi-tom. Under Emperor Di-ok-le-tia-n, when the persecution of Christianity began, St. George the Victorious, vi-di-mo, os-ta-vil-served, gave away his property to the poor and appeared at the imperial council in Niko-mi-dia, where he denounced the pagans for the blues. niya im-pe-ra-to-ra. Further history of St. George the Victorious, his own history of his testimony and suffering for Christ, co-derivative there are three plot blocks: the first torture and imprisonment - the miraculous spa and healing of the saint according to the will of God; about the language of sacrifice under the emperor, the confidence of those near and dear to them then, new tortures - miraculous spas and healings of the saint; agreements from im-per-ra-to-ra brought-sacrifices to the pagan gods, resurrection by the will of God of a certain deceased -she-th as before-ka-za-tel-st-vo is-tin-no-sti of the Christian faith, co-de-yan-noe ra-di of the holy, disgraceful to them, subsequently imprisoned, brought down by the saints of the pagan gods .

In the right-glorious East, the cult of St. George the Victorious has been established since the 4th century. In addition to the main center of the saint in the city of Lid-da, the churches of St. George have been built in many cities since the 4th century -dah Pa-le-sti-ny, Kap-pa-do-kii, in other regions of Asia Minor, in Georgia, on the Pe-lo-pon-nes peninsula, in Kon-stan- ti-no-le, and also in Christian Egypt. In the South Slavic lands (Bol-garia, Ma-ke-do-nia, Serbia), the cult of St. George the Victorious was established under the non-medium Byzantine influence; in the 1st half of the 11th century, he was also established in the Kievan Rus thanks to the activities of Prince Yaroslav Vla -di-mi-ro-vi-cha Mud-ro-go. At the same time, since the 11th century in the South Slavic lands and in the Kievan Rus, the cult of the saint, as a rule, bu-du-chi as-so- tion-ro-van-nym with the princely, royal or royal power, inextricably connected with the st-nov-le-ni-go -su-darst-ven-no-sti, co-bi-ra-ni-em and protect-that land, fight in the clan-new and di-na-stic inter-do -uso-bi-tsah (compare, direction, Ne-ma-ni-chi). In the 4th-6th centuries, the cult of the holy race was also in the Latin West, where already at the end of the 6th century Gri-go-ri-em of Tours and Ve- na-tsi-em For-tu-na-tom (who died around 600) were the first literary works created based on the mo-ti-you lives of the saints Togo. In the XII - early VIII centuries, from the Arabs-khri-sti-an, the chi-ta-nie of Saint Ge-or-gy (Arabic Jird-jis) passed to the ara-bam-mu-sul- ma-nam; at the beginning of the 8th century, the life of the saint - one of the main non-ko-ranic figures - was re-re-ve-de-but on Arabic and in the apocryphal re-edition I included at-Ta-ba-ri (died in 923) in “Is-to-riya of the pro-ro-kovs and kings”. According to him, Jird-jis, more than once he was subjected to torture and execution at the behest of King Mo-su-la , but every time he returned to life according to the will of Al-la-ha, he was one of the disciples of the apostles of Isa (Ii-su- sa). In the Middle East, Saint George often associates and expects the same with al -Ha-drom - one of the 4 immortals (next to Isa-II-su-s, Il-ya-som-Elijah the pro-ro-k and Id-ri-s, oto -waiting for the Biblical prophet Enoch). In the Byzantine hagio-graphic tradition, a significant number of sayings are sacred to St. George the Victorious, among which the most -Westerns “The Miracle about the Serpent”, “The Miracle about the Colon-not-Widows”, “The Miracle about the Re-formation of Sa-ra-tsin”, etc. Remembrance Day - April 23 (May 6).

The iconography of St. George the Victorious in the main vari-an-tahs was formed by the 6th century. He is depicted as a young man, with a short-mouthed look in his hair, sometimes in a long hi-to-not and a cloak, like mu-che-ni-ka (en-kau-sti-che-skaya icon “God-mother on the throne, with ar-khan-ge-la-mi and standing before -mi saints Theo-do-rom and Ge-or-gi-em", VI century, monastery of St. Eka-te-ri-ny on Si-nai), sometimes - in short tu-ni-ke, dos-pe-khah and cape, like a warrior (fresco on the table of the Northern Church in Bau-te, Egypt). In the first case, his icon-no-graphic at-ri-bu-ta-mi was served by a cross or a palm branch, in the second - a spear, a sword, a shield , later I know. The life cycles of St. George the Victorious, which appeared in the mi-nia-ty-ry of the Byzantine mi-no-lo-gi-ev in the 11th century, are well-known -clean-pro-stration in the mo-nu-mental life-in-pi-si (frescoes of Ge-or-gi-ev-sko-go near-de-la So- fiy-sko-go so-bo-ra in Kiev, 1040s) and in iko-no-pi-si (icon “St. George with a life of 20 glue- max", 13th century, monastery of St. Eka-te-ri-ny on Si-nai). Since the 12th century, we have known the image of St. George the Victorious sitting on a throne and drawing a sword from its sheath (relief from with St. Mark, Ve-ne-tion), as well as St. George the Victorious - rider, galloping on a horse (sometimes with spa-sen- nym from-ro-kom) or in ra-zha-sche-sho-dra-ko-na. In the art of the Byzantine circle, the holy region is in the conditioned antique dos-pe-hi; the chu-do-vi-sche has the appearance of an as-pi-da with two la-pa-mi and a snake-like body. The last plot, which received the title “Miracle of St. George about the Serpent” in Russian tradition, was used keys in the art of Asia Minor, Russia and Western Europe. The com-po-zi-tsi-on-nay scheme has been used almost without change until the present day (a rare example of re-re- -kom-po-new-ki - with the tsar-rev-noy on the first plane - on the car-ti-ne Ya. Tin-to-ret-to, around 1560, National Gallery, London). In Western European life, St. George the Victorious is usually depicted in knightly armor, fighting with a monster dra-ko-nom: “Battle of St. George with dra-ko-nom” by P. Uch-chel-lo (circa 1470, National Gallery, London), cycle of car- tin V. Car-pach-cho for Scuo-la-San-George-jo-de-gli-Schia-vo-ne in Ve-ne-tion (1502-1507), “Battle of St. George” gia with dragon" by Ra-fa-el (1505-1506, National Gallery of Arts, Washington), "St. George, in ra-zha- shchiy dr-ko-na” P.P. Ru-ben-sa (1606-1607, Pra-do, Mad-rid), “The battle of St. George with the dragon” G. Mo-ro (1889-1890, National Gallery, London).

In the sculpture there are tall reliefs and statues of Ge-or-gia-warrior (relief wooden icon from the church St. George in Omor-fok-li-sya, Kas-to-ria, 13th century; statue of Do-na-tel-lo in the church of Or-san-mi-ke-le, Floren- tion, etc.), re-same - Ge-or-gia-horse-man (statu-tui from the Spas-sky gates of the Moscow Kremlin, 1464, fragments - in the museum -yah of the Moscow Kremlin, State Tretyakov Gallery, etc.). In the small plastic, St. George the Victorious is depicted on body icons, crosses, mo-nots, pe-cha-tyahs, etc.

The most famous miracle of St. George is the liberation of Princess Alexandra (in another version, Elisava) and the victory over the devilish serpent.

San Giorgio Schiavoni. St. George fights the dragon.

This happened in the vicinity of the Lebanese city of Lasia. The local king paid an annual tribute to the monstrous serpent who lived among the Lebanese mountains, in deep lake: by lot, one person was given to him to be eaten every year. One day, the lot fell to the daughter of the ruler himself, a chaste and beautiful girl, one of the few residents of Lasia who believed in Christ, to be devoured by a snake. The princess was brought to the serpent's lair, and she was already crying and awaiting a terrible death.
Suddenly a warrior on horseback appeared to her, who, having overshadowed himself sign of the cross, struck with a spear the serpent, who by the power of God was deprived of demonic power.
Together with Alexandra, George came to the city, which he had saved from a terrible tribute. The pagans mistook the victorious warrior for an unknown god and began to praise him, but George explained to them that he served the true God - Jesus Christ. Many townspeople, led by the ruler, listening to the confession of the new faith, were baptized. On the main square a temple was built in honor of the Mother of God and St. George the Victorious. The rescued princess took off her royal clothes and remained at the temple as a simple novice.
From this miracle originates the image of St. George the Victorious - the conqueror of evil, embodied in a snake - a monster. The combination of Christian holiness and military valor made George an example of a medieval warrior-knight - a defender and liberator.
This is how the Middle Ages saw St. George the Victorious. And against its background, the historical St. George the Victorious, a warrior who gave his life for his faith and defeated death, somehow got lost and faded.

In the rank of martyrs, the Church glorifies those who suffered for Christ and accepted a painful death with His name on their lips, without renouncing their faith. This is the largest rank of saints, numbering thousands of men and women, old people and children, who suffered from pagans, godless authorities of various times, and militant infidels. But among these saints there are especially revered ones - the great martyrs. The suffering that befell them was so great that the human mind cannot comprehend the power of patience and faith of such saints and only explains them with the help of God, as everything superhuman and incomprehensible.

Such a great martyr was George, a wonderful young man and courageous warrior.

George was born in Cappadocia, a region in the very center of Asia Minor, which was part of the Roman Empire. Since early Christian times, this region was known for its cave monasteries and Christian ascetics who led in this harsh region, where they had to endure the heat of the day and the cold of the night, droughts and winter frosts, an ascetic and prayerful life.

George was born in the 3rd century (no later than 276) into a rich and noble family: his father, named Gerontius, a Persian by birth, was a high-ranking nobleman - a senator with the dignity of a stratilate *; mother Polychronia is a native of the Palestinian city of Lydda ( modern city Lod near Tel Aviv) - owned extensive estates in her homeland. As often happened at that time, the couple adhered to different beliefs: Gerontius was a pagan, and Polychronia professed Christianity. Polychronia was involved in raising his son, so George absorbed Christian traditions from childhood and grew up to be a pious young man.

*Stratilate (Greek Στρατηλάτης) is a highly titled person in the Byzantine Empire, the commander-in-chief of the army, who sometimes combined the management of some part of the empire with military activities.

From his youth, George was distinguished by physical strength, beauty and courage. He received an excellent education and could live in idleness and pleasure, spending his parents' inheritance (his parents died before he reached the age of majority). However, the young man chose a different path for himself and entered the military service. In the Roman Empire, people were accepted into the army at the age of 17-18, and the usual period of service was 16 years.

The marching life of the future great martyr began under the emperor Diocletian, who became his sovereign, commander, benefactor and tormentor, who gave the order for his execution.

Diocletian (245-313) came from a poor family and began serving in the army as a simple soldier. He immediately distinguished himself in battles, since there were plenty of such opportunities in those days: the Roman state, torn apart by internal contradictions, also suffered raids from numerous barbarian tribes. Diocletian quickly went from soldier to commander, gaining popularity among the troops thanks to his intelligence, physical strength, determination and courage. In 284, the soldiers proclaimed their commander emperor, expressing their love and trust in him, but at the same time presenting him with the difficult task of governing the empire during one of the most difficult periods of its history.

Diocletian made Maximian, an old friend and comrade-in-arms, his co-ruler, and then they shared power with the young Caesars Galerius and Constantius, adopted by custom. This was necessary to cope with riots, wars and the difficulties of destruction in different parts states. Diocletian dealt with the affairs of Asia Minor, Syria, Palestine, Egypt, and made the city of Nicomedia (now Ismid, in Turkey) his residence.
While Maximian suppressed uprisings within the empire and resisted the raids of Germanic tribes, Diocletian moved with his army east - to the borders of Persia. Most likely, during these years the young man George entered the service in one of Diocletian’s legions passing through his native land. Then the Roman army fought with the Sarmatian tribes on the Danube. The young warrior was distinguished by his courage and strength, and Diocletian noticed such people and promoted them.

George especially distinguished himself in the war with the Persians in 296-297, when the Romans, in a dispute for the Armenian throne, defeated the Persian army and drove it across the Tigris, annexing several more provinces to the empire. George, who served in cohort of Invictors(“invincible”), where they were placed for special military merits, was appointed military tribune - the second commander in the legion after the legate, and later appointed committee- this was the name of the senior military commander who accompanied the emperor on his travels. Since the comites formed the emperor’s retinue and at the same time were his advisers, this position was considered very honorable.

Diocletian, an inveterate pagan, treated Christians quite tolerantly for the first fifteen years of his reign. Most of his closest assistants, of course, were like-minded people - adherents of traditional Roman cults. But Christians - warriors and officials - could quite safely advance along career ladder and occupy the highest government positions.

The Romans generally showed great tolerance towards the religions of other tribes and peoples. Various foreign cults were freely practiced throughout the empire - not only in the provinces, but also in Rome itself, where foreigners were only required to respect the Roman state cult and perform their rites privately, without imposing them on others.

However, almost simultaneously with the advent of Christian preaching, the Roman religion was replenished with a new cult, which became the source of many troubles for Christians. It was cult of the Caesars.

With the advent of imperial power in Rome, the idea of a new deity appeared: the genius of the emperor. But very soon the veneration of the genius of the emperors grew into the personal deification of the crowned princes. At first, only dead Caesars were deified. But gradually, under the influence of Eastern ideas, in Rome they became accustomed to considering the living Caesar as a god, they gave him the title “our god and ruler” and fell on their knees before him. Those who, through negligence or disrespect, did not want to honor the emperor were treated as the greatest criminals. Therefore, even the Jews, who otherwise firmly adhered to their religion, tried to get along with the emperors in this matter. When Caligula (12-41) was informed about the Jews that they did not sufficiently express reverence for the sacred person of the emperor, they sent a deputation to him to say: “We make sacrifices for you, and not simple sacrifices, but hecatombs (hundreds). We have done this three times already - on the occasion of your accession to the throne, on the occasion of your illness, for your recovery and for your victory.”

This is not the language Christians spoke to emperors. Instead of the kingdom of Caesar, they preached the kingdom of God. They had one Lord - Jesus, so it was impossible to worship both the Lord and Caesar at the same time. During the time of Nero, Christians were forbidden to use coins with the image of Caesar on them; Moreover, there could be no compromises with the emperors, who demanded that the imperial person be titled “Lord and God.” Christians' refusal to make sacrifices pagan gods and to deify the Roman emperors was perceived as a threat to the established bonds between the people and the gods.

The pagan philosopher Celsus addressed Christians with admonitions: “Is there anything bad in acquiring the favor of the ruler of people; After all, it is not without divine permission that power over the world is obtained? If you are required to swear in the name of the emperor, there is nothing wrong with that; for everything you have in life you receive from the emperor.”

But Christians thought differently. Tertullian taught his brothers in faith: “Give your money to Caesar, and yourself to God. But if you give everything to Caesar, what will be left for God? I want to call the emperor a ruler, but only in the ordinary sense, if I am not forced to put him in the place of God as a ruler” (Apology, ch. 45).

Diocletian eventually also demanded divine honors. And, of course, he immediately encountered disobedience from the Christian population of the empire. Unfortunately, this meek and peaceful resistance of the followers of Christ coincided with increasing difficulties within the country, which aroused open rumors against the emperor, and was regarded as a rebellion.

In the winter of 302, co-emperor Galerius pointed out to Diocletian the “source of discontent”—Christians—and proposed to begin persecuting the Gentiles.

The emperor turned for a prediction regarding his future to the temple of Apollo of Delphi. The Pythia told him that she could not make a divination because she was being interfered with by those who were destroying her power. The priests of the temple interpreted these words in such a way that it was all the fault of Christians, from whom all the troubles in the state originated. So the emperor’s inner circle, secular and priestly, pushed him to commit main mistake in his life - to begin persecution of believers in Christ, known in history as the Great Persecution.

On February 23, 303, Diocletian issued the first edict against Christians, which ordered "to destroy churches to the ground, burn holy 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. Following this, two more decrees appeared - on the persecution of priests and on obligatory sacrifice to the pagan gods for everyone. Those who refused sacrifices were subject to imprisonment, torture and death. Thus began the persecution that claimed the lives of several thousand citizens of the Roman Empire - Romans, Greeks, people from barbarian peoples. The entire Christian population of the country, quite numerous, was divided into two parts: some, for the sake of deliverance from torment, agreed to make pagan sacrifices, while others confessed Christ to death, because they considered such sacrifices to be a renunciation of Christ, remembering His words: “No servant can serve two.” masters, for either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be zealous for one and not care about the other. You cannot serve God and mammon” (Luke 16:13).

Saint George did not even think about worshiping pagan idols, so he prepared for torment for the faith: he distributed gold, silver and all the rest of his wealth to the poor, and granted freedom to his slaves and servants. Then he appeared in Nicomedia for a council with Diocletian, where all his military leaders and associates gathered, and openly declared himself a Christian.

The assembly was amazed and looked at the emperor, who sat in silence, as if struck by thunder. Diocletian did not expect such an act from his devoted military leader, longtime comrade-in-arms. According to the Life of the Saint, the following dialogue took place between him and the emperor:

“George,” said Diocletian, “I have always marveled at your nobility and courage; you received a high position from me for your military merits.” Out of love for you, as a father, I give you advice - do not condemn your life to torment, make a sacrifice to the gods, and you will not lose your rank and my favor.
“The kingdom that you now enjoy,” answered George, “is impermanent, vain and transitory, and his pleasures will perish along with it.” Those who are deceived by them receive no benefit. Believe in the true God, and He will give you the best kingdom - an immortal one. For his sake, no torment will frighten my soul.

The emperor became angry and ordered the guards to arrest George and throw him into prison. There he was stretched out on the prison floor, his feet were put in stocks, and a heavy stone was placed on his chest, so that it was difficult to breathe and impossible to move.

The next day, Diocletian ordered George to be brought in for interrogation:
“Have you repented or will you be disobedient again?”
“Do you really think that I will be exhausted from such a small torment?” - answered the saint. “You’ll sooner get tired of torturing me than I’ll get tired of enduring torment.”

The angry emperor gave the order to resort to torture to force George to renounce Christ. Once upon a time, during the years of the Roman Republic, torture was used only on slaves in order to extract testimony from them during the judicial investigation. But during the Empire, pagan society became so corrupted and brutalized that torture began to be often used on free citizens. The torture of Saint George was particularly savage and cruel. The naked martyr was tied to a wheel, under which the torturers placed boards with long nails. Rotating on the wheel, George’s body was torn apart by these nails, but his mind and lips prayed to God, at first loudly, then more and more quietly...

Michael van Coxie. Martyrdom of St. George.

- He died, why didn’t the Christian God deliver him from death? - said Diocletian when the martyr completely calmed down, and with these words he left the place of execution.

This, apparently, is the end of the historical layer in the Life of St. George. Next, the hagiographer tells about the miraculous resurrection of the martyr and the ability he acquired from God to emerge unharmed from the most terrible torment and executions.

Apparently, the courage shown by George during the execution had a strong influence on the local residents and even on the emperor’s inner circle. The Life reports that during these days many people accepted Christianity, including a priest of the temple of Apollo named Athanasius, as well as Diocletian’s wife Alexandra.

According to the Christian understanding of the martyrdom of George, this was a battle with the enemy of the human race, from which the holy passion-bearer, who courageously endured the most severe torture to which human flesh has ever been subjected, emerged victorious, for which he was named the Victorious.

George won his last victory - over death - on April 23, 303, on the day of Good Friday.

The Great Persecution ended the era of paganism. The tormentor of St. George, Diocletian, just two years after these events was forced to resign as emperor under pressure from his own court circle, and spent the rest of his days on a distant estate growing cabbage. The persecution of Christians after his resignation began to subside and soon ceased completely. Ten years after the death of George, Emperor Constantine issued a decree according to which all their rights were returned to Christians. Was created on the blood of martyrs new empire- Christian.

November 23 is the Day of Remembrance of St. George the Victorious. It is believed that it was on this day that George was wheeled on the wheel by order of Emperor Diocletian for his devotion to the Orthodox faith. But an angel appeared, laid his hand on the tormented George, and he was healed. Having seen the miraculous healing, many of the pagans went to Orthodox faith. St. George the Victorious is one of the most revered Orthodox saints and the heavenly patron of Georgia. His memory is honored with special reverence.

George did not renounce his faith under terrible torture

According to legend, George's parents were deeply religious Christians. He himself rose to the rank of senior military commander in the army of Emperor Diocletian. But when persecution of Christians began in the country, George appeared in the Senate, declared that he was Orthodox, and distributed all his property to the poor. Diocletian's persuasion to abandon these views was in vain. Because of this, George was subjected to terrible torture.

He was wheeled on the wheel, but an angel healed his wounds, he was thrown into quicklime, and forced to run in boots with nails inside. They broke his legs and arms, fed him poison, beat him with whips, but he did not give up his ideas and remained unharmed. Then the emperor ordered his head to be cut off.

How St. George is revered in different countries

There is a version that, as happened quite often with Christian saints, the cult of St. George was put forward in opposition to the pagan Dionysus. Like this or not, this saint is highly revered in many countries. Traditionally, George is considered the patron saint of farmers, shepherds, warriors and travelers. Probably precisely in connection with the last fact this saint is very popular among the gypsies.

Orthodox Christians in Bulgaria, Serbia and Macedonia pray to him to send rain. Georgians turn to Saint George with requests for good luck in hunting, for healing, for the offspring of livestock, for protection from evil, for childbearing. St. George's Day is officially declared a non-working day in Georgia.

Europeans believe that prayers addressed to this saint relieve contagious diseases and poisonous snakes. Saint George is well known to the Islamic peoples of Africa under the name Jirjis and the peoples of the Middle East under the name al-Khidr.

The oldest Russian temple was erected in honor of St. George the Victorious

The wooden Church of St. George the Victorious near the village of Rodionovo, built in 1493, is considered the oldest wooden church in Russia, which stands in its historical place. This temple is closed, but every year on St. George’s Day, May 6, a service is held in this temple. However, everyone who gets to Rodionovo can find the monk Methodius, who opens the doors of the church to everyone.

Relics of St. George the Victorious

The name of St. George the Victorious is inextricably linked with the Xenophon Monastery of Holy Mount Athos. The first temple on this site, according to legend, was built in 520 by a wealthy senator and dedicated this temple to the holy martyr Demetrius. A new cathedral on this site was built in 1819. Today it is the largest temple on Mount Athos with an iconostasis made of colored marble. Among the shrines that are kept in the monastery are the miraculous and St. George, the relics of the apostles Barnabas and Philip, the holy great martyr Theodore Tyrone, saints Modest and Marina, as well as the holy great martyr George.

Since October 30, the relics of the saint, with the blessing of Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople, have been in Ukraine. On December 5, the Ark with the right hand of the Great Martyr George the Victorious will be greeted at the Holy Dormition Odessa cathedral, where the relics will remain for a little more than a day. A prayer service will be held at the shrine with the reading of an akathist, and everyone who comes to the temple will be able to pray to the saint.

St. George the Victorious - patron saint of Moscow

The appearance of the city of Moscow is associated with the name of St. George the Victorious. When the Grand Duke of Kyiv Vladimir Monomakh had a son, he named him Yuri. St. George the Victorious became his heavenly patron, and the prince’s seal depicted St. George dismounted and drawing a sword (there was no snake in that image). According to legend, Yuri Dolgoruky was traveling from Kyiv to Vladimir and on the way stopped to stay with the boyar Kuchka. The prince did not like the reception, and at first he decided to execute the boyar, but having loved his possessions, he gave the order to found the city of Moscow there. And for the coat of arms of the new city he gave the image of his heavenly patron.

After the Great October Revolution, the coat of arms of Moscow was abolished, and in 1925 Moscow became the first city with revolutionary symbols. Instead of St. George, all the attributes of a workers' and peasants' state appeared on the coat of arms - a red star. A hammer and sickle, rye ears and a cogwheel, symbolizing the link between the village and the city, as well as the emblem of electrification - a dynamo.

The image of St. George was returned to Moscow during the Great Patriotic War - a cavalryman striking a swastika with snake heads, clearly inspired by the motifs of the ancient Moscow coat of arms.

The historical coat of arms of the 1781 model was returned to Moscow on November 23, 1993 by order of the mayor of the capital. It’s a bit of a pity that the appearance on the coat of arms is preserved medieval knight, which is far from the Orthodox image of the saint, but the main thing is that Moscow is again under the protection of Saint George the Victorious.

GEORGE THE VICTORIOUS

St. George the Victorious

There is very little reliable information about the life of St. George the Victorious. According to legend, he was born in Asia Minor in Cappadocia. The son of rich and noble parents, he served in the army and converted to Christianity.

Two significant facts are known about his life.
The first is the battle with the dragon (serpent).
The second one is martyrdom at the hands of the Romans.

George was born on May 12, 270 at 12 o'clock at night in Cappadocia in Asia Minor. George's parents were of a noble and wealthy family, Lycians by nationality.
All men on his father's side served in the army, so his future was determined long before George grew up. He became the fourth child in the family, having an older brother and two sisters. The children grew up in love, although they were not allowed liberties. The word of their parents was law for them. Georgy grew up to be a very affectionate, gentle and caring child. When he was seven years old, his mother died. The boy took this loss very hard.

The child withdrew into himself, could sit in one place for hours, he was not interested in games or food. If he was not invited to eat, he could not come to the table for a week. Neither persuasion nor severity helped. His father's mother, a naturally gloomy and cruel woman, began to raise him. And Georgy so missed warmth and affection!

The thirst for knowledge became his only outlet. The family did not disagree with this, and therefore he did not feel a shortage of teachers. In addition to school, Georgy also studied at home. He read a lot, he was especially interested in religious literature, and he studied languages.

By the age of sixteen, the young man had grown to almost 180 cm tall. Broad shoulders, brown eyes, dark brown hair. And a pleasant smile all over your face. Georgy gave his smile to everyone and everyone, not skimping on good emotions. George did not want to serve in the army at all; he had a completely different dream - to become a teacher. But his father was adamant in his decision to send him to serve in the army. At sixteen and a half years old, George was enrolled in a detachment created under the emperor to fight dissidents, that is, Christians. This detachment was headed by a colleague of Father George. The more George served in the army, the more disillusioned he became with his service and the Roman faith. More and more often, it was not the duty of a warrior that awoke in his soul, but the desire to help those whom he was forced to pursue.

Once George helped avoid death young man from the Christian community, and he became his faithful squire. Through his squire, George whenever he could, warned Christians about the danger. He looked for and could not find a way out for himself; refusal to serve was equated to treason, and for this there was only one punishment - the death penalty.

At twenty-five years old, a young man accepts two vital important decisions: first - become a Christian and second - as soon as the opportunity presents itself, leave the army.

On December 17, 295, George secretly received baptism. And two months later, he and his squire left his detachment at night, which was at that time in Egypt.
The young men go to the region bordering Egypt - Libya. Knowledge of the languages that Georgy was taught as a child helped him to communicate calmly with local residents.

Georgy decided to see the world and the lives of other people, but for this he needed to wait some time, because he knew that they would look for him as a deserter who had left his military unit without permission. They head to the village of Selena, which at that time numbered about two thousand inhabitants. In its vicinity there were huge snake(this type of reptile has completely died out before it survives to this day). The size of this monster simply amazed the imagination - about ten meters in length and a meter in diameter.

George killing the serpent.
The Holy Great Martyr George is often depicted on icons as a horseman sitting on a white horse and slaying a terrible serpent with a spear. Image of St. George on horseback - a sign of victory.

When this monster was about to attack its prey, it, emitting bubbling sounds, spread two huge folding ears on the sides of its head. At that moment, from the outside it seemed that the snake had not one, but three heads. This snake once fed only on small animals, but over the years it became more and more difficult for it to chase prey.

One day, a hunter passed by the snake and was wounded after a fight with a tiger. The smell of fresh blood attracted the monster, which attacked the unfortunate man - he never returned home from the hunt. The snake tasted human flesh, and this day became a tragic day for the villagers. Because the reptile, having acquired a taste for it, began to hunt exclusively people.

People in the village began to disappear every seven to ten days. The local shaman announced to the village that evil spirits began to be angry with them and, in order to restrain their anger, it was necessary to sacrifice young girl. At a general meeting of all village residents, it was decided to cast lots - who exactly would be this victim?
The choice fell on the daughter of the tribal elder.
Preparations for the ritual of sacrifice were already in full swing when George and his companion appeared on horseback in the vicinity of the village. They drove along a forest road that meandered among the hills, now rising and now falling down. In the distance, smoke could already be seen rising above the village. When there were less than three hundred meters left to the village, the travelers heard an ominous sound approaching them from the direction of the forest. The hissing mixed with bubbling and crackling sounds, none of them had ever heard anything like it before.

Both warriors had not yet come to their senses when a snake appeared right in front of them and took a fighting stance in all its glory. The travelers were saved only by the fact that they were on horses, and George’s quick reaction, developed over his years of service, allowed him to be the first to attack the enemy.

He pulled out a spear and pierced the snake with it. While his companion was recovering from the fear he had suffered, Georgy had already managed to chop this vile creature into pieces with his sword.

Having finished with the snake, they went to the village to call someone for help. They knew that snake meat had always been considered a delicacy among Africans.

It was only then that the villagers saw who the real culprit was mysterious disappearances of people. Thanks to George, people realized that they should not blindly trust their shaman.

The entire village came out to honor the victorious warrior. George was offered a gift that could not be refused without causing offense to the entire tribe. The rescued girl was offered to him as a wife. The young man was young and handsome, the vow of celibacy had not yet been invented, for obvious reasons he had nowhere to rush yet, and George accepted the offer to stay in the village.

Here he begins to preach and talk about faith, about Jesus Christ. Six months later, at the tribal council, it was decided to convert the entire village to Christianity. These were the first Christians in Libya, and St. George the Victorious was the first to bring the faith of Christ to this country!

Georgy lived in Selene for about seven years. His beautiful wife bore him two sons and a daughter. But the desire to see other countries, to visit the homeland of Jesus, to once again communicate with those who carry his faith on Earth, grew stronger and stronger in him every day.

God rewarded George with a wife not only beautiful, but also wise. Seeing her husband's mental suffering, the woman insists on George's journey. Little did she know that she would never see her beloved again.

From Libya, George headed to Egypt, and then - by ship - to Gaul. Over the course of a year, he visited Greece, Persia, Palestine, Syria, and on April 27, 303, St. George the Victorious arrived in Nicomedia in Asia Minor.

Damian. "St. George resurrects a fallen ox", Georgia

A week later he was captured by soldiers of the Roman army.
He was charged with desertion and preaching a forbidden faith.

George was kept in a local prison for two months, tortured and demanding that he renounce the faith of Christ. Having achieved nothing, the torturers chose the most cruel punishment for George at that time. He was chained in a stone chamber, standing with his arms outstretched in different directions. After torture, George’s arms and legs were torn to blood. The smell of fresh blood attracted prison rats, and they began to gnaw at his living body, and he stood and could not move his arm or leg at that moment. St. George the Victorious lived for another twelve days, then losing consciousness, then regaining consciousness. His tormentors did not receive any screams or pleas for help from him.

He died on July 11, 303; George was thirty-three years old. His body was not even buried.

Michael van Coxie. "Martyrdom of St. George"

The beheading of St. George (fresco by Altichiero da Zevio in the Chapel of San Giorgio, Padua

Fifty years later, the prison was destroyed by an earthquake, burying a cell under the ruins, which became the grave of the holy martyr. But, according to Christian tradition, 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. The head of the saint is kept in the Roman basilica of San Giorgio in Velabro.

Tomb of St. St. George the Victorious in Lod

The immortal soul of St. George the Victorious continues to work miracles.

He patronizes the military, pilots and those who believe in him and ask for protection.

This saint has become extremely popular since early Christianity. He suffered torment in Nicomedia, and soon he began to be revered in Phenicia, Palestine, and then throughout the east. In Rome in the 7th century there were already two churches in honor of him, and in Gaul he has been revered since the 5th century.

REVERENCE OF SAINT GEORGE

According to one version, the cult of St. George, as often happened with Christian saints, was put forward in opposition to the pagan cult of Dionysus; temples were built on the site of the former sanctuaries of Dionysus and holidays were celebrated in his honor on the days of Dionysus.
George is considered the patron saint of warriors, farmers (the name George comes from the Greek γεωργός - farmer) and shepherds, and in some places - travelers. In Serbia, Bulgaria and Macedonia, believers turn to him with prayers for rain. In Georgia, people turn to George with requests for protection from evil, for good luck in hunting, for the harvest and offspring of livestock, for healing from illnesses, and for childbearing. IN Western Europe It is believed that prayers to St. George (George) help get rid of poisonous snakes and contagious diseases. Saint George is known to the Islamic peoples of Africa and the Middle East under the names Jirjis and al-Khadr.

In Rus' since ancient times, St. George was revered under the name Yuri or Yegory. In the 1030s Grand Duke Yaroslav founded the monasteries of St. George in Kyiv and Novgorod and ordered throughout Rus' to “create a holiday” of St. George on November 26 (December 9).

In the Russian lands, the people revered George as the patron saint of warriors, farmers and cattle breeders. April 23 and November 26 (old style) are known as spring and autumn St. George's Day. On spring St. George's Day, peasants drove their cattle out to the fields for the first time after winter. Images of St. George have been found since ancient times on grand ducal coins and seals.

Church of St. George the Victorious on Poklonnaya Hill in Moscow

The Temple of St. George the Victorious is mentioned in chronicles along with other churches built. According to ancient records kept in this church until 1778, the St. George Church was founded in the Grand Duke's court in 1129 by Prince Yuri Dolgoruky in honor of “his angel” St. Great Martyr George. Probably, at the beginning it was built according to the same architectural type as other ancient stone churches of the Vladimir-Suzdal land of the 12th and 13th centuries, for example the Spassky Cathedral in Pereslavl-Zalessky...
The construction of the white-stone temple was completed already in 1157 by his son, the blessed saint.

Memorial Days

In the Orthodox Church, St. George the Victorious is commemorated:
- April 23/ the 6th of May;
- the 3rd of November/ November 16- renovation (consecration) of the Church of the Great Martyr George in Lydda (IV century);
- 10th of November/ November 23- Wheeling of the Great Martyr George (Georgian celebration);
- November 26/December 9 - consecration of the Church of the Great Martyr George in Kyiv in 1051. Celebration of the Russian Orthodox Church, popularly known as autumn St. George's Day (November 26).

In the West, St. George is the patron saint of chivalry, participants crusades; he is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers.

Georgia, enlightened by the holy Christian faith Equal to the Apostles Nina(† 335), a relative of the holy Great Martyr George the Victorious († 303, commemorated April 23), especially honors Saint George as her patron. One of the names of Georgia is in honor of George (this name is still preserved in many languages of the world). In honor of the Great Martyr, Saint Nina established a holiday. It is still celebrated in Georgia on November 10 - in memory of the wheeling of St. George.
The first temple in honor of St. George was built in Georgia in 335 by King Mirian at the burial site of St. Nina, from the 9th century. the construction of churches in honor of George became widespread.
In 1891, in the Caucasus, near the village of Kakhi, Zagatala district, a new temple was built on the site of an ancient one in honor of the Holy Great Martyr George the Victorious, to which many pilgrims of different faiths flock.
The life of the saint was first translated into Georgian at the end. X century In the 11th century When translating the Great Synaxarion, George Svyatogorets completed a brief translation of the life of George.
The Cross of St. George is present on the flag of the Georgian church. It first appeared on Georgian banners under Queen Tamara.

In Ossetian traditional beliefs, the most important place is occupied by Uastirdzhi (Uasgergi), who appears as a strong gray-bearded old man in armor on a three- or four-legged white horse. He patronizes men. Women are forbidden to pronounce his name, instead they call him Lægty dzuar (patron of men). Celebrations in his honor, as in Georgia, begin on November 23 and last a week. Tuesday of this holiday week is especially revered. The cult itself is syncretic in nature: with the beginning of the spread of Christianity in Alania (5th century) and before its final adoption (10th century), a certain deity from the pantheon of ethnic Ossetian religion, the cult of which dates back to the times of the Indo-Iranian community, was subjected to transformation by the Church. As a result, the deity took the name George, and the name of the holiday in his honor (Dzheorguyba) was borrowed as a result of the significant influence of Georgian Orthodoxy from Georgian language. Otherwise, the cult of the patron remained ethnic in nature.

On November 3, the Russian Church commemorates the renovation of the Church of the Holy Great Martyr George in Lydda.
The Holy Great Martyr George suffered during the cruel persecution of the Church of the Roman Emperor Diocletian. During his suffering, being imprisoned, Saint George asked the prison guard to allow his servant into his prison, and when the servant was admitted to him, he begged him to transfer his body after death to Palestine. The servant fulfilled his master's request exactly. Taking the headless body of the great martyr from prison, he buried it with honor in the city of Ramla.
During the reign of the pious Emperor Constantine, devotees of the holy great martyr built a beautiful temple in Lydda in his name. At the time of its consecration, the incorruptible relics of the holy great martyr were transferred from Ramla to this temple. This event happened on November 3rd. It is not known whether the annual celebration of this day was already established even then - in any case, in the month of the Syrian Church from the year 1030, November 3 is celebrated as a holiday.
Subsequently, the magnificent temple of the Great Martyr, which was one of the main decorations of the city of Lydda, fell into great desolation. Only the altar and the very tomb of the great martyr remained intact, where Christians continued to conduct their worship. Attention to this temple on the part of Orthodox Rus' awoke in the second half. XIX century The donations of benefactors and the abundant funds allocated by the Russian government made it possible for Lydda to again see this temple landscaped and embellished. The consecration of the renovated temple took place in 1872 on November 3, on the anniversary of the day on which it was consecrated for the first time. The memory of this significant event The Russian Church commits on this day and to this day; In honor of this celebration, many monasteries and churches were built in Rus'.

Blessed and ever-memorable prince Russian land Yaroslav, son Prince Equal to the Apostles Vladimir, wanted to create a temple in honor of the Great Martyr George, that is, in the name of his Angel, since Yaroslav received the name George in holy baptism. He chose a place for this temple not far from the St. Sophia Cathedral, precisely to the west of it, towards the Golden Gate.
When they began to build this temple, there were few workers.
Seeing this, Yaroslav called tiun and asked him:
– Why are there few workers at the temple of God?
Tiun replied:
– Since this is a sovereign matter (that is, the temple is being built at the prince’s own expense), people are afraid that they will not be deprived of payment for their work.
Then the prince ordered to carry his treasures under the arches of the golden gates in carts and announce to the people at the auction that everyone could receive from the prince a nogat a day for work. And many workers appeared, the work went more successfully, and the temple was soon completed.
Its consecration was performed on November 26, 1051 by Metropolitan Hilarion. The prince commanded that the day of consecration be celebrated throughout Russia every year in honor of the Holy Great Martyr George. The Holy Great Martyr George is considered the primary guardian of shepherds and flocks on the grounds that after his repose, he repeatedly assisted his neighbors, appearing on horseback. Therefore, on Georgiev or, in popular parlance, on Yegoryev’s day, pious residents of villages and hamlets in Russia usually drive their cattle out to pasture for the first time after winter, and perform the holy act. prayer service to the great martyr with sprinkling of St. water for shepherds and flocks.

By praying to St. George the Victorious, Christians ask for strengthening of faith.
If you are unjustly oppressed, ask the prayer of St. George the Victorious for holy protection and protection.
A powerful prayer to St. George the Victorious during disasters.
St. George the Victorious is the heavenly patron of Russia, Georgia and Ossetia. He is depicted on the coat of arms of Moscow. In times of disasters, invasions of enemies, and dominance of non-believers, the Orthodox people have always been helped by prayer to the holy Victorious.

Prayers to the Holy Great Martyr George the Victorious
First prayer

O 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 the good things given to us by you from the All-Bountiful God into evil, but into the glory of the Holy One in His name and in glorification of your strong intercession, may He grant our country and all the God-loving army victory over the adversaries and strengthen us with unchangeable peace and blessing. May His angel protect us saints with a militia, so that we, upon our departure from this life, may be delivered from the wiles of the evil one and his difficult airy ordeals, and may 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 by His grace and love for mankind, with your help and intercession we may find mercy, with the angels and archangels and all the saints at the right hand of the Just Judge of the world, and He will be glorified with the Father and Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Second prayer

Holy, glorious and all-praised Great Martyr George! Gathered in your temple and before 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 mercy, may he 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. Amen.

Troparion to the Great Martyr George the Victorious

Troparion, tone 4
You fought a good fight, more passionately than Christ’s George, and for the sake of faith you exposed the tormentors’ wickedness: but you made an acceptable sacrifice to God. In the same way, you received the crown of victory, and through your holy prayers, you granted forgiveness of sins to all.

Troparion, voice of the same
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, tone 4
Today the ends of the world bless you, having been fulfilled with divine miracles, and the earth rejoices, having drunk your blood. At the name of Christ, the people of the city of Kyiv rejoiced with joy at the consecration of your Divine Temple, passion-bearer George, chosen vessel of the Holy Spirit, servant of Christ. Pray with faith and prayer to those who come to your holy temple to grant the cleansing of sins, to pacify the world and save our souls.