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St. George The Roman
"The Prince Of Martyrs"
"The Great Martyr"
A Brief Biography Of St. George The Roman:
St. George was born about 280 AD of a Christian family that was wealthy
and of noble origin, in the city of Capadocia, a city of the Eastern Empire,
in Asia Minor. 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 Im- perial Guard. One story says that he was a frilled 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. One story says that he was a frilled 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. Diocletian gave orders for the issue of a formal
edict against the Christians on February 23, in the year 303 AD, 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 also to be
deprived of civil rights. Also, All Christians who are not officials are
to be reduced to slavery". In great courage, the young man George, pushed
his way through the market place to read the proclamation, and then in
front of the awe-stricken 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.
The great church in Nicomedia was ransacked and destroyed by the Praetorian
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.
ST. GEORGE'S CHASTITY: 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. St. 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 milliard joined the other saintly martyrs.
ST. GEORGE'S SUFFERlNGS: It is not the purpose of this paper
to go through the tortures that were applied to St. George, in depth,
but to bring to light his utmost love for Christ, by listing sore of them.
His body was torn, by a special instrument that had metallic teeth and
our Lord Jesus rose him, after his death and many pagans were converted.
He was put in active lime, and the water was poured on it. Again the Lord
returned him back to life. The emperor became very agitated, imagining
that the Saint was using magic. He called his top magician, Anasius and
requested him to prepare a lethal poison to kill St. George. The Saint
signed over the tap with the sign of the cross before drinking it; of
course no harm came to him. The Emperor's councilors informed him that
St. George's magic was in fact contained in the sign of the Cross itself.
Another cup was also given to the Saint, but this time with his hands
tied behind his back. The Saint signed it by his head saying: "shall I
drink it from here or here or here or here!" During all these tortures,
although the Saint had enough pails and sufferings of his own, but nevertheless
kept on talking to Diocletian about the powers of the Christian faith.
At the end the Emperor asked him if he could raise a dead man he knew
of. St. George prayed to our Lord and the dead man came back to life.
The result of that was the conversion of the dead man and the magician
as well as many others. They all were martyred.
IN THE EMPEROR'S PALACE: When all methods failed to incite St.
George, the Emperor invited him in his palace to entertain him. He offered
him an appointment as a prince if he only sacrificed once to the idols.
The Saint replied "Tomorrow you will see the powers of your gods" At the
palace, St. George met Empress Alexandra, who lad a fair idea about the
Saint's God. She spoke with him, but the conversation quickly changed
its course and the Saint began to preach to her about Jesus Christ, the
Savior of the world. On the following day many people went to the temple
to witness St. George's sacrifice to the idols. The Saint stretched his
hands, raised his eyes to Heaven and in a moment, the idols collapsed
and fell to the ground! The crowds shouted "we believe in George's God"
At this, the Emperor and his men put an end to the lives of the new Christians,
St. George, and Empress Alexandra in 23 Baramouda, 303 AD. St. George
was buried in his mother's home that was situated on the seashore at Lydda,
in Palestine. Before long his fame was spread all over the world. King
Constantine, who took over after Diocletian, considered that St. George
was the true model of the young Christian man, and ordered a church to
be built over his grave. In Egypt, the Copts call him, "The Prince of
Martyrs", and built over 200 churches named after him. Moreover he is
a personal friend of the majority of the Copts, who believe in the power
of his prayers for them. The Greeks call him "the Great Martyr".
HIS FlGHT WITH THE DRAGON: Legends grew up about this Saint,
but the most famous one is about his fight with the dragon, which was
documented in a book called "the Colden l,egend" by James de Voragine,
a bishop of Genoa. It happened when St. George was once stationed with
the Roman army near Salone in Libya, North Africa. In that area a Dragon
which was described as a huge crocodile with scaled wings, had eaten so
many of the coun- try folks around Salone that the remaining lot fled
to the town and took shelter behind its walls. There, the dragon was positioned
outside the city gates, and nobody could get in or out. Moreover its poisonous
breath was so lethal that as it snored over the city wall, people could
actually drop dead in the nearby area. In order to keep the beast away
from the walls, two sheep were tethered every day, some distance away.
The system worked fine until they ran out of sheep and the miserable people
could not think of any other alternative but to sacriSlce one child everyday.
One day the lot fell on the king's daughter, Sabra, a girl of fourteen.
sometimes called Cleodolinda. Dressed in her most splendid clothers, as
for her wedding, the poor girl was taken outside the city walls. While
she was waiting for the dragon, weep- hlg, George the tribune came up
mounting his white horse. On hearing the story he decided to put an end
to that tragedy, and decided to kill the dragon. "Fair girl" he said,
"do not be afraid for I will save you life with the aid of my I ord Jesus
Christ". When lhe dragon appeared George the hero got engaged with the
wild beast in a great combat. Finally he managed to wound it with his
lance so badly that it could fight no more. Now the two of them tied a
rope around its neck, and dragged it to the town. There in the market
place, George cut off its head in front of all the cheering hlhabitants,
and the people of the whole town were baptized and became Christians.
The above story seems to be exaggerated, which is perhaps true, and it
could have started by a fight between St. George and an ordinary crocodile.
However, it became very popular all over the world, because of its spiritual
meaning that St. George defeated the devil by the Cross and his righteousness
in Christ.
Let us ask him to intercede on our behalf that the
Lord may forgive us our sins… Amen.
St. George The Alexandrian
St. George El
Mozahem
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