St. George: Martyr and Miracle Worker

Although devotion to St. George has waxed and waned over the centuries in the West, his feast is kept with great solemnity in the Christian East. For those following the Byzantine Rite, April 23 is designated a vigil-rank feast, meaning that monasteries and large parish churches celebrate the All-Night Vigil (Great Vespers, Matins, and First Hour (Prime)) in his honor. In addition to the rich collection of hymnography dedicated to the saint, readings from the Old Testament and the Gospel of St. Luke are also called for during this service. Even when April 23 falls on a Sunday after Easter, allowances are made to combine St. George’s liturgical service with the Sunday Resurrection hymns.

According to traditional accounts, St. George was born in the late 3rd century in or around Cappadocia (modern-day Turkey) and served in the Roman army under the Emperor Diocletian. While early historical records differ on peripheral details, it appears St. George met martyrdom during the Diocletian persecution in 303 AD for refusing to renounce the Faith. With respect to St. George’s life, Pope St. Gelasius I is said to have remarked in 494 AD that George is among those whose “whose names are justly reverenced among men, but whose actions are known only to God.”

This compact assessment is summarized in the collect for the martyr recited during the Divine Office and Mass: “O God, Who dost gladden us through the worthy deeds and prayers of thy blessed martyr George, mercifully grant that all they which seek thy mercy through him may effectually obtain the gift of thy grace.” The Byzantine parallel to this prayer, known as a troparion, is slightly more expansive in its praise: “As a liberator of captives, a helper of the poor, and a physician of the infirm, O champion of kings, victorious great martyr George, entreat Christ God, that our souls be saved.”

Whatever the historicity of specific acts of charity St. George is believed to have carried out during his earthly pilgrimage, the vesperal hymns capture beautifully the saint’s imitation of Christ’s passion and his steadfastness.

As one valiant among the martyrs, O passion-bearer George, assembling today, we praise thee; for, having finished the race, thou didst keep the Faith, and hast received from God a crown for thy victory. Him do thou entreat, that those who celebrate thy most honored memory with faith be delivered from corruption and misfortunes.

Thou didst suffer for the Savior, O glorious one, voluntarily emulating His death by thy death, and thou reignest with Him in splendor, arrayed in a robe dyed bright purple in thy blood, adorned with the scepter of thy sufferings, magnificent in the crown of victory time without end, O great martyr George.

When St. George’s cult made its Western expansion following the First Crusade, martial imagery and legends began to surround him. The story of St. George slaying a dragon also took on several forms and became a cornerstone of his veneration in countries such as England and France. Though contemporary Christians are disinclined from taking these accounts at face value, they point to at least one undeniable truth, namely St. George’s willingness to be a soldier for Christ, preferring to accept victory in a death that leads to everlasting life rather than surrender to the world. As another hymn frames it:

Armed with the breastplate of Faith, the shield of grace and the spear of the Cross, thou wast invincible to the adversaries, O George; and having vanquished the hordes of the demons as a divine champion, thou joinest chorus with the angels, and, invoked by the faithful, dost help, sanctify and save them.

Despite the historical record’s limits, the esteem in which St. George is held is evidenced by the multiplication of additional feasts dedicated to his life, martyrdom, relics, and churches in both the East and West. For instance, Poland celebrates St. George on April 24 while Toulouse, France sets October 15 aside to honor his relics. Ukrainian Catholics keep November 23 as a day honoring the Church of St. George in Kyiv, which was built in 1051 AD. Christians living in and around Lydda (modern-day Lod, Israel), the location of St. George’s martyrdom, hold numerous annual celebrations his honor.

May the prayers of St. George the Martyr continue to shield Catholics today from the temptations of the world while keeping them strong in the Faith.

The Miracle of St. George and the Muslim

Editor’s Note: The following is a translation of St. Gregory of Dekapolis’s 8th century recollection of a miracle wrought by St. George whereby a Saracen (Muslim) was converted to the Faith. It appeared originally as part of, "What an Infidel Saw that a Faithful Did Not: Gregory Dekapolites (d. 842) and Islam," Greek Orthodox Theological Review 31 (1986), pp 47-67.

Nicholas, the strategos, called Joulas, has related to me that in his town, which the Saracens call in their language “Vineyard”, the Emir of Syria sent his nephew to administer some works under construction in the said castle. In that place there is also a big church, old and splendid, dedicated to the most glorious martyr St. George. When the Saracen saw the church from a distance, he ordered his servants to bring his belongings and the camels themselves, twelve of them, inside the church so that he may be able to supervise them from a high place as they were fed.

As for the priests of that venerable church, they pleaded with him saying: “Master, do not do such things; this is a church of God. Do not show disrespect towards it and do not bring the camels inside the holy altar of God.” But the Saracen, who was pitiless and stubborn, did not want even to listen to the pleas of the presbyters. Instead, he said to his servants, in Arabic: “Do you not do what you have been commanded to do?” Immediately his servants did as he commanded them. But suddenly the camels, as they were led into the church, all, by the command of God, fell down dead. When the Saracen saw the extraordinary miracle he became ecstatic and ordered his servants to take away the dead camels and throw them away from the church; and they did so.

As it was a holiday on that day and the time for the Divine Liturgy was approaching, the priest who was to start the holy service of preparation of the gifts was very much afraid of the Saracen; how could he start the bloodless sacrifice in front of him! Another priest, co-communicant to him, said to the priest who was to celebrate the Liturgy: “Do not be afraid. Did you not see the extraordinary miracle? Why are you hesitant?” Thus, said the priest, without fear started the holy service of offering.

The Saracen noticed all these and waited to see what the priest was going to do. The priest began the holy service of offering and took the loaf of bread to prepare the holy sacrifice. But the Saracen saw that the priest took in his hand a child which he slaughtered, drained the blood inside the cup, cut the body into pieces, and placed them on the tray!

As the Saracen saw these things, he became furious with anger and, enraged at the priest, he wanted to kill him. When the time of the Great Entrance approached, the Saracen saw again, and more manifestly, the child cut into four pieces on the tray, his blood in the cup. He became again ecstatic with rage. Towards the end of the Divine Liturgy, as some of the Christians wanted to receive the Holy Communion and as the priest said, “With the fear of God and faith draw near,” all the Christians bent their heads in reverence. Some of them went forward to receive the holy sacrament. Again, for a third time, the Saracen saw that the priest, with a spoon, was offering to the communicants from the body and the blood of the child. The repentant Christians received the holy sacrament. But the Saracen saw that they had received communion from the body and the blood of the child, and at that he became filled with anger and rage against everybody.

At the end of the Divine Liturgy the priest distributed blessed bread to all Christians. He then took off his priestly vestments and offered to the Saracen a piece from the bread. But he said in Arabic: “What is this?” The priest answered: “Master, it is from the bread from which we celebrated the Liturgy.” And the Saracen said angrily: “Did you celebrate the Liturgy from that, you dog, impure, dirty, and killer? Didn’t I see that you took and slaughtered a child, and that you poured his blood into the cup, and mutilated his body and placed on the plate members of his, here and there? Didn’t I see all these, you polluted one and killer? Didn’t I see you eating and drinking from the body and blood of the child, and that you even offered the same to the attendants? They now have in their mouths pieces of flesh dripping blood.”

And the Saracen said: “Is this not what I saw?” And the priest: “Yes, my Lord, this is how it is; but myself, being a sinner, I am not able to see such a mystery, but only bread and wine as a figuration of the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. Thus, even the great and marvelous Fathers, the stars and teachers of the Church, like the divine Basil the Great, and the memorable John Chrysostom and Gregory the Theologian, were unable to see this awesome and terrifying mystery. How can I see it?”

When the Saracen heard this he became ecstatic and he ordered his servants and everybody who was inside to leave the church. He then took the priest by the hand and said: “As I see and as I have heard, great is the faith of the Christians. So, if you so will, Father, baptize me. And the priest said to the Saracen: “Master, we believe in and we confess our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who came to the world for our salvation. We also believe in the Holy Trinity, the consubstantial and undivided one, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the one Godhead. We believe also in Mary, the ever-virgin mother of light, who has given birth to the fruit of life, our pre-announced Lord, Jesus Christ. She was virgin before, virgin during, and virgin after giving birth. We believe also that all the holy apostles, prophets, martyrs, saints, and righteous men are servants of God. Do you not realize, therefore, my master, that the greatest faith is that of the Christians?”

And the Saracen said again: “I beg you, Father, baptize me.” But the priest answered: “Far from that. I cannot do such a thing; for if I do and your nephew the Emir hears of that, he will kill me and destroy this church, too. But if it is, indeed, your wish to be baptized, go to that place in the Sinai Mountain. There, there is the bishop; he will baptize you.”

The Saracen prostrated himself in front of the presbyter and walked out of the church. Then, one hour after nightfall, he came back to the priest, took off his royal golden clothes, put on a poor sack of wool, and he left in secret by night. He walked to Mount Sinai and there he received holy baptism from the bishop. He also learned the Psalter, and he recited verses from it every day.

One day three years later he [the former Saracen] said to the bishop: “Forgive me, Master, what am I supposed to do in order to see Christ?” And the bishop said: “Pray with the right faith and one of these days you will see Christ, according to your wish.” But the former Saracen said again: “Master, give me your consent to go to the priest who offered me instruction when I saw the awesome vision in the church of the most glorious martyr George.” The bishop said: “Go, in peace.”

Thus, he went to the priest, prostrated himself in front of him, embraced him and said to him: “Do you know, Father, who I am?” And the priest: “How can I recognize a man whom I have never seen before?” But, again, the former Saracen said: “Am I not the nephew of the Emir, who brought the camels inside the church, and they all died, and who during the Divine Liturgy saw that terrifying vision?” When the priest looked at him, he was amazed and praised God seeing that the former Arab wolf had become a most calm sheep of Christ. He embraced him with passion and invited him to his cell to eat bread.

And the former Saracen said: “Forgive me, Master and Father, but I want and have a desire to see Christ. How can I do that?” And the priest said: “If you wish to see Christ go to your nephew and preach Christ to him. Curse and anathematize the faith of the Saracens and their false prophet Muhammad and correctly preach the true faith of the Christians without fear, and thus you will see Christ.”

The former Saracen left in earnest. By night he was knocking at the door of the Saracen forcefully. The guards at the gate of the house of the Emir asked: “Who is yelling and knocking at the door?” And he answered: “I am the nephew of the Emir who left some time ago and was lost. Now I want to see my uncle and tell him something.” The guards of the gate conveyed this to the Saracen immediately: “Master, it is your nephew who left some time ago and was lost.” The Emir, heaving a sigh, said: “Where is he?” They said: “At the gate of the palace.” He then ordered his servants to go and meet him with lights and candles. They all did as the king, Emir, commanded and they took the monk, the former Saracen, by the hand and presented him to the Emir, his uncle.

When the Emir saw him, he was very glad. He embraced him with tears in his eyes and said to him: “What is this? Where were you living all this time? Aren’t you my nephew?” And the monk said: “Don’t you recognize me, your nephew? Now, as you see, by the Grace of God the Most High I have become a Christian and a monk. I have been living in desert places so that I may inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. I hope in the unspeakable compassion of the All-sovereign God to inherit his kingdom. Why are you hesitating yourself, too, Emir? Receive the holy baptism of the right-believing Christians in order to inherit eternal life, as I hope to do.”

The Emir laughed, scratched his head and said: “What are you chattering about, you miserable one; what are you chattering? What has happened to you? Alas, you pitiful one! How did you abandon your life and the scepters of reign, and roam around as a beggar, dressed in these filthy clothes made of hair?”

The monk responded to him: “By the grace of God. As far as all the things I used to have when I was a Saracen, these were [material] property and were of the devil. But these things that you see me wearing are a glory and pride, and an engagement with the future and eternal life. I anathematize the religion of the Saracens and their false prophet.”

Then the Emir said: “Take him out, for he does not know what he is chattering about.” They took him away and put him in a place in the palace where they gave him food and drink. And he spent three days there, but he took neither food nor drink. He was praying to God earnestly and with faith. Going down to his knees he said: “O Lord, I have hoped in thee, let me never be ashamed, neither let my enemies laugh me to scorn.” And again: “Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy steadfast love; according to thy abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.” And again: “Enlighten my eyes, Lord God, that I may not fall asleep into death; that my enemy may never say, ‘I have overpowered him’. ‘Strengthen my heart, O Lord,’ so that I may be able to fight the visible deceiver, the Saracen; so that the evil devil may not stamp on me and make me fear death, for your holy name.” He then made the sign of the cross and said: “The Lord is my enlightenment and my savior. Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the protector of my life. From whom will I hesitate?” And again he cried out to the Emir: “Receive holy baptism in order to gain the immeasurable kingdom of God.”

Again, the Emir gave orders for him to be brought in front of him. He had prepared for him clothes exceedingly beautiful. And the Emir spoke: “Enjoy, you pitiful one, enjoy and rejoice for being a king. Do not disdain your life and your youth which is so beautiful, walking instead mindlessly like a beggar and a penniless one. Alas, you pitiful one. What do you think?”

The monk laughed and replied to the Emir: “Do not weep at what I have in mind. I am thinking how to be able to fulfill the work of my Christ and that of the priest who has sent me, and has been my teacher. As for the clothes you have prepared for me, sell them and give the money to the poor. You, too, should abandon the temporary scepters of the reign, so that you may receive scepters of an eternal life. Do not rest your hope on things of the present but on things which are of the future, and do not believe in the pseudo-prophet Muhammad, the impure, the detestable one, the son of hell. Believe, rather, in Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the crucified one. Believe that the one Godhead is a consubstantial Trinity; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, a Trinity of one essence, and undivided.”

The Emir laughed again and said to the officials who had gathered in the palace: “This man is mindless. What shall we do with him? Take him out and expel him.” Those, however, sitting by the king said: “He meant to desecrate and corrupt the religion of the Saracens. Do you not hear how he curses and anathematizes our great prophet?”

The monk and former Saracen cried out loudly: “I feel sorry for you Emir because you, unfortunate one, do not want to be saved. Believe in our Lord Jesus Christ, the crucified one, and anathematize the religion of the Saracens and their false prophet, as I did.”

And the Saracen Emir said: “Take him out as I am ordering you. He is mindless and does not know what he is talking about.”

Those sitting by with him said: “Well, you heard that he anathematized the religion of the Saracens and that he is blaspheming against the great prophet, and you say, ‘He does not know what he is talking about’? If you do not have him killed, we will also go and become Christians.”

And the Emir said: “I cannot have him killed because he is my nephew and I feel sorry for him. But you take him and do as you please.”

And they got hold of the monk with great anger, they dragged him out of the palace and submitted him to many tortures to try to make him return to the previous religion of the Saracens. But he did not. Instead, he was teaching everybody in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth to believe and be saved.

The Saracens dragged him out of the city, and there they stoned to death this most pious monk, whose name was Pachomios.

On that night a star came down from heaven and rested on top of the most pious martyr, and everybody was able to see it for forty days; and many of them became believers.

With the prayers of the most blessed martyr, of the all-pure Mother of God Mary, who is ever-virgin, and of all of the saints; for the remission of our sins. Amen.