The Life of St. George the Great Martyr.

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The Life of

St. George

The Great Martyr and Trophy Bearer

according to the
Synexarion - Book of Saints

Celebrated April 23rd / May 6th

St. George is the protector of Christians, the patron of all who fight for righteousness.

Born in the Eastern Empire around the year 280 A.D., in the city of Cappadocia of Asia Minor, to a Christian family that was wealthy and of noble origin.

His father, himself, martyred for his faith. After his father's death, George's mother took him to Palestine where she had some farm land.

He followed the usual career of young nobleman and joined the Roman army, where his ability and charm brought him quick promotion. The Emperor heard about him and as a result made him a Tribune or an officer in the Empirical Guard.

One story says that he was a friend of Constantine another officer, who later became the first Christian Emperor. The legend says that St. George came with Constantine to Britain and visited some holy places as Glastonbury and Caerleon.

On his return to Nicomedia, the capital of the Eastern Empire where Diocletian settled, he met the fierce storm of persecution.

The Persecution

Diocletian gave orders for the issue of a formal edict against the Christians on February 23, in the year 303 A.D., being the feast of Termhlalia. The provisions of this edict which was published on the next day in the market place, were as follows: "All churches should be leveled to the ground. All sacred books to be burned. All Christians who hold any honorable rank are not only to be degraded, but to be deprived of civil rights. Also, All Christians who are not officials are to be reduced to slavery."

With great courage, the young man George, pushed his way through the market place to read the proclamation.

Then in front of the awestricken crown, he deliberately tore down the Imperial edict and threw it away. Consequently he was arrested and brought to the presence of Diocletian.

Some historians believe that St. George was not the young man who tore the proclamation, but as the edict was proclaimed and the great Church in Nicomedia was ransacked and destroyed by the pretorian guard, he liberated his slaves, distributed all his wealth to the poor and prepared himself for martyrdom.

He entered Diocletian's palace and rebuked him for his behavior against the Christians.

The Emperor tried to seduce him by promises that he would be granted a higher position in the Empire. But as these promises failed to attract him, the Emperor began to threaten him with unbearable tortures that he will inflict on him. Lastly he put him in prison.

Diocletian knew that nothing, except sin, could destroy the strength, and demolish the integrity of this Saint. Thus he arranged for a very beautiful woman to spend the night with him in prison and try to debauch him.

Saint George who could only look forward to heavenly joy, began to pray and within a short while he managed to swing her heart to the Christian faith. Soon she seriously began to inquire about salvation, and by the morning she declared that she found her true Bridegroom Jesus Christ. With great courage she announced her Christianity to the Emperor and his men, then joined the other saintly martyrs.