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The Holy Great Martyr George
(ca. 275-281–April 23, 303)This glorious and victorious saint was born in Cappadocia the
son of wealthy and virtuous parents. His father suffered for
Christ and his mother then moved to Palestine.
When George grew up, he entered the military, where in his
twentieth year, attained the rank of a Tribune and as such was
in the service of the Emperor Diocletian. When Diocletian began
the terrible persecution against Christians, George came before
him and courageously confessed that he is a Christian.
The emperor had him thrown into prison and ordered that his feet
be placed in a stockade of wooden hobbles and that a heavy stone
be placed on his chest. After that, the emperor commanded that
George be tied to a wheel under which was a board with large
nails and he was to be rotated until his entire body became as
one bloody wound. After that, they buried him in a pit with only
his head showing above the ground and there they left him for
three days and three nights.
Then George was given a deadly poison to drink by some
magician. But, through all of these sufferings, George
continuously prayed to God and God healed him instantly and
saved him from death to the great astonishment of the people.
When he resurrected a dead man through his prayer, many then
accepted the Faith of Christ. Among these also was Alexandra,
the wife of the Emperor Athanasius, the chief pagan priest and
the farmers: Glycerius, Valerius,
Donatus and Therinus. Finally the emperor ordered George and his wife Alexandra
beheaded. Blessed Alexandra died on the scaffold before being
beheaded. St. George was beheaded in the year 303 A.D.
The miracles which have occurred over the grave of St. George
are without number. Numerous are his appearances, either in
dreams or openly, to those who have invoked him and implored his
help from that time until today. Enflamed with love for Christ
the Lord, it was not difficult for this saintly George to leave
all for the sake of this love: rank, wealth, imperial honor, his
friends and the entire world. For this love, the
Lord rewarded
him with the wealth of unfading glory in heaven and on earth and
eternal life in His kingdom. In addition, the Lord bestowed upon
him the power and authority to assist all those in miseries and
difficulties who honor him and call upon his name.
- from The Prologue from Ohrid: Lives of Saints by St. Nikolai
Velimirovich, Bishop of Zica
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