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Saint of the Day
Introduction
This page is designed to highlight the lives of some of those whom we in the Orthodox Church consider to be saints. Most of the biographies will be taken from the website of the Orthodox Church in America.
Saint
May 26, 2009
Greatmartyr George the New at Sofia, Bulgaria
The Holy Martyr
George the New was born into an illustrious Bulgarian family, living in the
capital city of Bulgaria, Sredets (now the city of Sofia). St George's
childless parents, John and Mary, in their declining years entreated the
Lord to send them a child. Their prayer was answered, and they baptized the
infant with the name of the holy Great Martyr George (April 23).
Young George received a fine upbringing, he attentively studied the Holy
Scriptures, and he was pious and chaste. His parents died when George was
twenty-five. At that time Bulgaria found itself under the rule of the Turks,
who forcibly converted Christians to Islam.
Once, several Moslems tried to convert George. They put a fez on the saint's
head. This is a red circular hat which Moslems wear to enter their house of
prayer. But George threw the fez on the ground. The Turks brought the martyr
to their governor with beatings and abuse.
The governor was impressed with St George's appearance and bearing, and he
urged him to accept Islam, promising honors and wealth from Sultan Selim
(1512-1520). The saint boldly and steadfastly confessed his faith in the
Lord Jesus Christ, and reproached the errors of Islam. The governor in a
rage gave orders to beat St George with rods, but the saint persevered in
his confession of faith in Christ.
The governor ordered the tortures to be increased. The passion-bearer bore
all his sufferings, calling on the Lord Jesus Christ for help. Then they led
the martyr through the city to the beat of a drum and shouts: "Do not insult
Mohammed nor abase the Moslem faith".
Finally, a large fire was lit in the city, to burn St George. Weakened by
his wounds, the saint fell to the ground. They threw him into the fire still
alive, and they threw corpses of dogs on top of him so that Christians would
not be able to find the relics of the martyr.
Suddenly, a heavy rain fell and extinguished the fire. With the onset of
darkness, the place where the body of the martyr was thrown was illumined
with a bright light. They gave permission to a certain Christian priest to
take the venerable relics of the martyr for burial. Informed about the
occurrence, Metropolitan Jeremiah and his clergy went to the place of
execution. In the ashes of the fire they located the body of the holy Martyr
George and carried it to the church of St George the Great Martyr in the
city of Sredets.