the holy martyr st. George is greatly
revered in the Orthodox Church many
churches carry his name as do many
families and individual people his
initial fame stems from a legend where
he valiantly rode down from heaven on a
horse and rescued a young woman by
slaying a demon in the form of a dragon
but there is much more to st. George
than just legends of heroism st. George
grew up as a devout Christian in
Cappadocia when he was fairly young his
father was martyred at the hands of a
Roman persecution and he and his mother
were forced to move to Palestine
those saint-georges grew up fatherless
his mother was able to raise him to be a
good and pious man he found quick
success in his service and soon rose to
the rank of military commander his
success would not continue however for
soon Diocletian would tighten his grip
on the Christian community in Rome and
Saint George would have to make a choice
between his earthly success and his God
st. George knew that he could never turn
his back on the thing his father died
for and immediately began making
preparations to fight the Emperor's
ruthless persecution he began his
protest in the Senate where he openly
spoke out against diocletian's
intentions and revealed himself as a
Christian the moment came when Saint
George had to decide what he loved more
his life or his God valiantly st. George
sealed his fate by saying nothing in
this inconstant life can weaken my
resolve to serve God though the threat
of torture loomed ominous in the
distance st. George gathered his courage
telling the Emperor prophetically that
you will grow tired of tormenting me
sooner than I will tire of being
tormented the Emperor took on the
challenge and first ordered him to be
tied naked to a wheel and rolled over
boards pierced with sharp pieces of iron
though the sharp edges tour at the
Saints mortal bodies his spirit could
not be broken just as the Emperor had
assumed George was dead the whole land
seemed to grow dark and Thunder boomed
as God's voice called down from the
heavens fear not George for I am with
you suddenly a light shone in the
darkness and an angel of the Lord came
down and healed him this miracle lit a
fire in the hearts of the Christians
inspiring them to do as George did and
fight for their God two of these
Christians were Saints anatoly's and
proto Liam who like George had been
officials in the Roman army casting
aside their worldly success they
followed st. George's example and were
martyred for Christ
Diocletian had many more gruesome
tortures to give the saint over to first
he had st. George placed in a deep pit
which was covered over with lime after
three days they unearthed him and the
saint came out cheerful and well next
they put him in irons sandals with
red-hot nails and they drove him back to
the prison with whips like an animal in
the morning he was led back to the
Emperor he asked him cheerfully and with
healed feet if he liked his shoes
commenting on the fact that they were
just his size
finally they beat him with ox thongs and
the Saint suffered far beyond the
capability of the average man
concluding that he was being helped by
magic Diocletian summoned the sorcerer
Athanasius to take away the Saints
powers or poison him
Automation save st. George - goblets one
that would have silenced him and one
that would have killed him the valiant
martyr drank both and suffered no effect
from either these miracles had continued
to increase the number of Christians and
Diocletian began to grow desperate he
made one final attempt to shake George's
Constitution by offering to make him his
co administrator if he denounced
Christianity and sacrificed to the pagan
gods the holy martyr pretended to be
interested and they went to the temple
once there st. George went up to the
idol made the sign of the Cross and
spoke to it asking are you the one who
wants to receive from me a sacrifice
befitting God
the idol replied I am NOT a god and none
of those like me is a God either the
only God is he whom you preach we are
fallen angels and we deceive people
because we are jealous st. George cried
out how dare you remain here when I the
servant of the true God have entered
then noises and wailing were heard from
the idols and they fell to the ground
and were shattered suddenly the people
around went into a frenzy of confusion
the pagan priests and many in the crowd
took the holy martyr tied him up and
began to beat him for what he had done
calling for his immediate execution
amongst the chaos diocletian's wife
Empress Alexandra pushed through the
crowd crying out oh god of George help
me for you alone are powerful at the
feet of st. George Alexandre professed
Christ and was immediately sentenced to
death alongside the martyr finally the
invincible Saint was killed by beheading
because of st. George the pagan era was
coming to an end and Christianity was
preparing to triumph within ten years
Saint Constantine would issue the Edict
of Milan allowing religious freedom to
Christians while Constantine was
credited for dealing the final blow to
the pagans of Rome Saint George will
always be remembered as the valiant
soldier who fought for God until he
breathed his last SiC and champion of
Kings trophy bearer great martyr George
intercede with Christ God that our souls
may be sir
you