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Saint George - the saint who conquers and inspires with his faith

Byzantine Orthodox icon of St. George, 14th century, Constantinople
Photo: Archive

After the wonderful spring Christian holidays of Lazarus Saturday, Palm Sunday and the Resurrection of Christ, now comes the turn of St. George's Day, when the Bulgarian Orthodox Church commemorates the day of one of its first martyrs. 
Young George entered the army, where he proved to be a good soldier and quickly rose in the military hierarchy to the personal guard of Emperor Diocletian. In 303, the ruler issued an edict to persecute Christians throughout the Roman Empire, and George was ordered to participate in the persecutions. Instead, the brave warrior revealed that he was a Christian and criticized the emperor's decision. 
The sufferings, in the name of the Christian faith, which St. Great Martyr George endured, were particularly severe, which for today's Christians seem overwhelming. During the tortures, he miraculously survived, which led many to believe in Christ, and others publicly announced without fear that they were Christians. 

Following the example of the Saviour who defeated death and suffering, St. George accepted martyrdom in the name of Salvation. In order to break his faith, they made him resurrect a long-buried dead man, and with his prayers, the saint managed to bring the dead man back to life. 

At the sight of the miraculous resurrection, those present believed and turned to God, but were killed immediately, and George continued to perform miracles and enlighten the people around him with his faith. 

Finally, Christ himself appeared to him and, consoling him, placed a crown on his head, with a promise to reign with him in the Kingdom of Heaven.‎

St. George was killed on April 23. This date was marked by the Orthodox Church in Bulgaria until 1916, but with the introduction of the Gregorian calendar, his feast day was moved to May 6.


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Publication by Rositsa Petcova



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