| Sometimes, what is stressed is the willingness to give up everything for Christ. In the service to the forty martyrs of Sebastea, St. John of Damascus enumerates with a touch of compassion all that the saints left behind: “disdaining their military trade, lives, youthfulness and fortune, the glorious forty martyrs inherited Christ instead.” 142 Two high-ranking Roman soldiers in Syria, Sergius and Bacchus (October 7), refusing to sacrifice to the idols under Maximian (284–305), were stripped from their insignia and paraded though the streets in humiliating clothing. Exiled to the frontiers of Syria, they were tortured and beheaded. “Having been stripped of kindred, fatherland and honor for the sake of Christ,” we read, “you rejoiced.” 143 A special case is that of Gordius (January 3), a centurion who left the army when persecutions began in the early fourth century. “When all defiled themselves with marrow and blood [i.e. sacrificed to the idols],” St. Basil the Great writes in his homily on the day of the saint, “this courageous man threw down his military belts and left the city. Holding in contempt all power, all glory and wealth, kinship, friends or slaves… he withdrew in the most inaccessible desert, preferring to live with the animals rather than with idolaters.” These words are reflected in his service, where we read that “having heard the words of Christ, in rejoicing he left the corruptible army and was mobilized by the heavenly King.” 144 Also, the saint is hailed, “having left behind all earthly considerations and retired in the desert, O martyr, you obtained the heavenly life!” 145 In 320, Gordius returned from the desert to Caesarea, where he openly declared himself a Christian and was beheaded. Some texts go further yet. They not only praise the choice for the heavenly over the earthly King but also underscore the inferior value of earthly armies. “You renounced the corruptible army that brings corruption (i.e. death), and loved the army of life to the end,” 146 is sung in memory of St. Theodore Tyro ‘the recruit’ (February 17; 1 st Saturday of Great Lent), starved to death in 206 for refusing to sacrifice to the idols. The Great Martyr George the Victory-Bearer (April 23) “despised military service on earth, desiring to achieve heavenly glory.” 147 “No longer so you shed blood,” we read in the ikos of the kontakion of St. Theodore Stratelates, “but rather grant streams of healing.” |
| On the Feast Day of the Triumph of Orthodoxy, the Primates of the Local Orthodox Churches Celebrate Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of Great Martyr George in Phanar Constantinople, March 10, 2014 On March 9, 2014, the feast day of the Triumph of Orthodoxy, the first Sunday of Great Lent, the Primates of the Local Orthodox Churches, having gathered in Istanbul to discuss matters pertaining to the convening of a Pan-Orthodox Council, celebrated Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of Great Martyr George the Victory-Bearer in Phanar, the residence of the Patriarch of Constantinople. His Holiness Patriarch Irinej of Serbia performed matins preceding the Liturgy. Divine Liturgy was then celebrated by His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople; His Beatitude Pope Theodore III, Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa; His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III of the Holy City of Jerusalem and All Palestine; His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia; His Holiness Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II; His Holiness Patriarch Irinej of Serbia; His Beatitude Patriarch Daniil of Romania; His Holiness Patriarch Neofit of Bulgaria; His Beatitude Archbishop Chrysostomos II of New Justiniana and All Cyprus; His Beatitude Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece; His Beatitude Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana and All Albania, and His Beatitude Metropolitan Savva of Warsaw and All Poland. Hierarchs of the Local Orthodox churches, clergymen and a multitude of worshipers prayed at the service. Among them were King Simeon II of Bulgaria, Mr Andrey Karlov, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Turkey, as well as members of the Russian diplomatic corps. During divine services, prayers were sung in Greek, Church Slavonic, Georgian, Serbian, Arabic, Romanian and Albanian. After the Gospel reading, the epistle of the Primates of the Orthodox Churches was read from the ambo. The decisions of the meeting, which convened from March 6-9, 2014, were signed by Patriarch Bartholomew, Patriarch Theodore, Patriarch Theophilos, Patriarch Kyrill, Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia, Patriarch Irinej, Patriarch Daniil, Patriarch Neofit, Archbishop Ieronymos, Archbishop Anastasios and Metropolitan Savva. |
| Saint Edmund the Martyr, King of East Anglia and Patron-Saint of England Commemorated November 20/December 3 Dmitry Lapa Icon of St. Edmund, with Life. Today, the best-known patron saint of England is the Great-martyr St. George the Victory-Bearer. However, the country has also its own native patron saint—Edmund the Martyr, King of East Anglia, one of the most venerated early Orthodox saints of the country to whom over 60 ancient churches were dedicated. Let us recall his life. The early English kingdom of East Anglia was formed in about 520 AD. It corresponded to the present-day English counties Suffolk and Norfolk (and from the mid-seventh century—also eastern Cambridgeshire). Orthodox Christianity was introduced into East Anglia under King Raedwald who ruled from c. 599 till 624. The Christianization of this kingdom was carried out chiefly in the 630s and 640s and eventually this region became one of the most religious ones in the whole of England, with a host of monasteries, convents, churches and saints. Many of them are still remembered in local place names. Before St. Edmund, East Anglia produced two holy kings, both of whom were martyrs: Sigebert (+ c. 635) and Ethelbert (+ 794). The founders of the royal dynasty of East Anglia were the Wuffingas; however, after the martyrdom of Ethelbert this dynasty ceased to exist. As the ninth century was marked by the Danish raids on England which caused the destruction of many churches, archives and documents, it is not known exactly to which dynasty St. Edmund belonged. It is known that after 794, East Anglia was largely taken over by the powerful kingdom of Mercia, and then Wessex. However, it managed to survive. King Aethelweard of East Anglia died in c. 855 and Edmund, who presumably was his son, became his successor. There is very little contemporary evidence on St. Edmund. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle in 890 writes that “in 870 the Danish Army went across Mercia into East Anglia and took winter quarters at Thetford, and the same winter St. |
| He also pointed out that the good brotherly relations between the Churches of Antioch and Russia are steeped in history, and added, “Together, our two Churches have undergone many afflictions and shared a lot of joyful moments. For many centuries, we have being supporting each other. I hope and believe that our eventful visit, brief as it is, will make its small contribution to further progress of our bilateral relations, becoming yet another sign of love between the Russian Church and the Church of Antioch, which is a martyr and confessor, the Church where Christ’s disciples were first called Christians.” He also asked his companions and the brethren of the monastery to “pray for Russia and the Russian Orthodox Church as it is going through a difficult period in its history,” “while our brothers and sisters in Ukraine are suffering fr om outright persecutions,” he added. While in the monastery, the pilgrims saw ancient frescoes in the Dormition Church dating back to the 6th – 8th century, visited the Churches of St Paisios of the Holy Mountain and Archangel Michael, and venerated the relics of the Venerable Martyr Jacob and other martyrs of Hamatoura. The guests also visited the ancient cave Church of St. John the Baptist. After the brotherly repast and exchange of gifts, Metropolitan Anthony thanked the abbot and the brethren for their warm welcome and asked them to pray for the unity of the Church, as well as for the Orthodox Christians in Ukraine “where bishops are being imprisoned because they remain loyal to the canons and unmask falsehoods, wh ere churches are being taken away fr om priests and parishioners, wh ere authorities promise to ban the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.” To conclude their pilgrimage, Metropolitan Anthony and other delegation members visited the Skete of the Holy Great Martyr George the Victory-Bearer. DECR Communication Service /Patriarchia.ru Календарь ← 12 апреля 2024 г. (30 марта ст.ст.) пятница Прп. Иоанна Лествичника (649). Свт. Софрония, еп. Иркутского (1771). |
| Celebrating Victory with St. George Today is an altogether special day on our church calendar. We celebrate the memory of the Holy Great-Martyr and Trophy-Bearer George, the wondrous God-pleaser, who during times of pagan persecution in the Roman Empire gave his life in martyrdom for fidelity to the Lord. The Lord granted him enormous power, for God grants power to people for their fidelity and faith. It is no accident whatsoever that the holy martyrs became symbols of victory in war: the Holy Great-Martyr George, the Great-Martyr Theodore Stratelates, and many others, because the same thing is required of warriors as of martyrs: faith and fidelity. Faith in God and faith that a warrior is doing the right thing; both this faith and this conviction in the rightness of his cause should accompany fidelity even unto death. It is no accident that the Great Patriotic War [WWII] ended on the day of the Holy Great-Martyr George the Trophy-Bearer. We celebrate Victory Day on the anniversary of the signing of capitulation, which took place in Berlin on May 8 (because of the time difference in Moscow, the time of capitulation was after midnight, for which reason Victory Day is marked on May 9). But the war ended on May 6, on the day of the Great-Martyr and Trophy-Bearer George, who has always been the patron saint of the city of Moscow. This is not simply a coincidence or turn of events. The war began on the Sunday of All Saints of Russia. Those who conspired to step foot onto our sacred land on June 22, 1941, did not know our church calendar. On the day when all our faithful people were appealing to God, asking mercy of the Holy God-pleasers who had shown forth in our land – it was on this very day, as a great sacrilege and mockery of people’s spiritual life, that bombs began to rain down on the heads of our people. There were probably people, as always, who said: “How can this be? On such a holy day! Where are God’s saints? Why didn’t they defend our land? Why have bombs fallen on us?” This is how we normally react to things we do not understand. Much happens in our life that we cannot make out and understand. When something happens that does not correspond to our expectations, we turn to God in confusion: “Lord, where are You?” Some in bewilderment, some with grumbling, and some with derision: “Where are You?” |
| The Greatmartyr George, for his manliness and for his spiritual victory over the torturers, who could not force him to renounce Christianity, and likewise for his wonderworking assistance to people in danger is additionally called the " Victory-bearer " . The relics of Saint George the Victory-bearer were placed in the Palestinian city of Lydda, in the church that bears his name, while his head was preserved in Rome, in the church that is also dedicated to him. On icons, the Greatmartyr George is depicted sitting on a white horse and smiting a dragon with a spear. This depiction is based on tradition and relates to the posthumous miracles of the holy Greatmartyr George. It is said that not far from the place where Saint George was born in the city of Beirut, in a lake lived a dragon which frequently devoured people of that locale. What kind of beast that was, a python, crocodile or large lizard is not known. In order to appease the wrath of that dragon, the superstitious inhabitants of that locale began regularly by lot to give up to it a youth or maiden to be eaten. Once the lot fell on the daughter of the ruler of that locale. They took her to the shore of the lake and tied her up where she began to await in terror the appearance of the dragon. When the beast began to approach her, suddenly a radiant youth appeared on a white horse who smote the dragon with a spear and saved the maiden. This youth was the holy Greatmartyr George. By such a miraculous appearance he caused the extermination of youths and maidens to cease in the environs of Beirut and converted to Christ the inhabitants of that country, who until then were pagans. One may suppose that Saint George " s appearance on a horse to defend the inhabitants from a dragon and likewise the description in his life of the miraculous reviving of a farmer " s only ox, served as the cause for honoring Saint George as a protector of animal husbandry and as a defender from predatory beasts. In prerevolutionary times, on the day of Saint George " s commemoration, the inhabitants of Russian villages, for the first time after the cold winter, would drive their animals out to pasture, after having performed a moleben to the holy Greatmartyr along with the sprinkling of homes and animals with holy water. |
| And it is by no means coincidental that the war was completed on the day of Christ’s Pascha and the feast day of the Holy Great-Martyr George the Trophy-Bearer. How remarkable it is that we call this saint not simply the Great-Martyr, but the Trophy-Bearer [lit., Victory-Bearer], he who bears victory. Not only because he was victorious over evil, victorious over those who martyred him in the beginning of the fourth century, when he was martyred on the orders of the Emperor Diocletian, the last Roman Emperor who persecuted Christians, but also because his name is linked to very many victories. It is also remarkable that his image is on the Muscovite arms. We believe that victory in the Great Patriotic War also took place through his prayers for our grievously suffering nation, which had travelled in the first half of the twentieth century the terrible roads of bloodshed, civil conflicts, revolution, and wars. The nation that had so cherished faith seemed to have lost this faith entirely, and needed to hearken to this terrible thunderbolt of war in order that the Orthodox faith might again be in an instant resurrected in people’s hearts. Many soldiers went into battle accompanied by the name of God. How many had the prayer of Psalm 90 in their uniforms, which had been carefully sewn there by mothers, wives, and sisters! Our nation achieved victory with prayer and faith. Neither this sacrifice nor this prayer could have been rejected by the Lord, and George the Trophy-Bearer entered unseen on his white horse into the defeated Berlin. And every time that we celebrate the divine services in this church on Poklonnaya Hill, which is so associated with our victories – both in 1812 over Napoleon, and in 1945 over the other invaders – we especially pray to the Lord and the Holy Great-Martyr George, that he would not abandon our Fatherland, that our nation would never deviate from the faith of our fathers, and that, relying on this believe, we might grow in spirit and become invincible. |
| After futile persuasions to deny Christ, the Emperor ordered that the saint be subjected to various tortures. Saint George was confined in a dungeon, where they placed him supine on the ground; his legs they confined in stocks, and on his breast they placed a heavy stone. But Saint George manfully endured the sufferings and glorified the Lord. Then George’s torturers began to refine their cruelty. They beat the Saint with oxhide whips, subjected him to the wheel, threw him into quicklime and forced him to run in shoes with sharp nails inside. The holy Martyr endured everything patiently. Finally, the Emperor ordered the Saint’s head to be cut off. Thus, the holy sufferer departed unto Christ in Nicomedia in 303 AD. The Greatmartyr George, for his manliness and for his spiritual victory over the torturers, who could not force him to renounce Christianity, and likewise for his wonderworking assistance to people in danger is additionally called the “Victory-bearer”. The relics of Saint George the Victory-bearer were placed in the Palestinian city of Lydda, in the church that bears his name, while his head was preserved in Rome, in the church that is also dedicated to him. On icons, the Greatmartyr George is depicted sitting on a white horse and smiting a dragon with a spear. This depiction is based on tradition and relates to the posthumous miracles of the holy Greatmartyr George. It is said that not far from the place where Saint George was born in the city of Beirut, in a lake lived a dragon which frequently devoured people of that locale. What kind of beast that was, a python, crocodile or large lizard is not known. In order to appease the wrath of that dragon, the superstitious inhabitants of that locale began regularly by lot to give up to it a youth or maiden to be eaten. Once the lot fell on the daughter of the ruler of that locale. They took her to the shore of the lake and tied her up where she began to await in terror the appearance of the dragon. When the beast began to approach her, suddenly a radiant youth appeared on a white horse who smote the dragon with a spear and saved the maiden. This youth was the holy Greatmartyr George. By such a miraculous appearance he caused the extermination of youths and maidens to cease in the environs of Beirut and converted to Christ the inhabitants of that country, who until then were pagans. |
| Diocletian believed that the martyr was accepting his offer, and he followed him to the pagan temple with his retinue and all the people. Everyone was certain that Saint George would offer sacrifice to the gods. The saint went up to the idol, made the Sign of the Cross and addressed it as if it were alive: “Are you the one who wants to receive from me sacrifice befitting God?” The demon inhabiting the idol cried out, “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.” Saint 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. There was general confusion. In a frenzy, pagan priests and many of the crowd seized the holy martyr, tied him up, and began to beat him. They also called for his immediate execution. The holy empress Alexandra tried to reach him. Pushing her way through the crowd, she cried out, “O God of George, help me, for You Alone are All-Powerful.” At the feet of the Great Martyr the holy empress confessed Christ, Who had humiliated the idols and those who worshipped them. Diocletian immediately pronounced the death sentence on the Great Martyr George and the holy Empress Alexandra, who followed Saint George to execution without resisting. Along the way she felt faint and slumped against a wall. There she surrendered her soul to God. Saint George gave thanks to God and prayed that he would also end his life in a worthy manner. At the place of execution the saint prayed that the Lord would forgive the torturers who acted in ignorance, and that He would lead them to the knowledge of Truth. Calmly and bravely, the holy Great Martyr George bent his neck beneath the sword, receiving the crown of martyrdom on April 23, 303. The pagan era was coming to an end, and Christianity was about to triumph. Within ten years, Saint Constantine (May 21) would issue the Edict of Milan, granting religious freedom to Christians. |
| Victory in the Great Patriotic War was a Miracle of God On May 6, 2015, on the feast day of the Holy Great-Martyr George the Trophy-Bearer, on the eve of the seventieth anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War [WWII], His Holiness, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow celebrated the Liturgy in St. George’s Memorial Church on Poklonnaya Hill in Moscow. Following the completion of the divine service, the Primate of the Russian Church addressed the faithful with the following Primatial homily: Your Graces! Respected Father Alexis, abbot of the Athonite Monastery of Xenophontos! Your Reverence, Fr. Seraphim, rector of this holy church! Dear Fathers, brothers, and sisters! I cordially greet and congratulate you all on this great feast day. It was certainly by God’s dispensation that this day, May 6, coincided with the feast of Pascha in 1945 and was welcomed by our entire nation as Victory Day. And we know that it was on May 9 that German signed its capitulation. Behind the victory of our nation, the seventieth anniversary of which we will celebrate with you, is the untold misery and suffering of our people. In the whole history of mankind there has never been such suffering. No other people has offered twenty-seven million lives on the altar of victory. And today these twenty-seven million lives cry out to heaven when someone attempts to rob them of their exploit and rob them of their victory. We will never forget that it was namely our nation that broke the back of the terrible enemy before which all of Western Europe retreated, and which was broken only thanks to the courage and sacrifice of twenty-seven million people, although their military might, organization, and international support surpassed us many times over. Victory in the Great Patriotic War was a miracle of God. It is enough to imagine that the enemy stood literally a few kilometers from where we are standing – but was unable to enter Moscow. The very same enemy that had conquered all of Europe, which was marvelously well-armed and trained! Of course, we bow down before the exploit of our soldiers and our entire nation, which stood up to defend Moscow and all of Russia. From the human point of view, it is impossible fully to explain this victory. And the Church, which regards human history through the prism of the religious perception of life, witnesses to the fact that victory in the Great Patriotic War was a miracle of God. But miracles never take place for no reason. This miracle would never have occurred had not millions of human lives been sacrificed for victory, had not our entire nation not exerted itself, dedicating its ultimate strength to defeating the enemy. And, by God’s mercy, we defeated them. |
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