Even a person who is absolutely unbelieving and has nothing to do with Orthodoxy knows some of the Christian saints by sight. Take, for example, Saint Nicholas. A huge number of children around the world are familiar with a person named Santa Claus. But this is St. Nicholas of Myra, according to Catholics. Or, say, George the Victorious. This name is well known to many Russians, and if not, then we all see it every day without exception - on the reverse side of coins of a certain denomination. Memorial Day of the Great Martyr George the Victorious falls on November 23 according to the new style.
The Origin and Childhood of the Great Martyr George the Victorious
George the Victorious was born into a family of wealthy, but pious and God-fearing people. His birthplace was the city of Beirut, located at the foot of the mountains of Lebanon, in the Asia Minor region called Cappadocia.
George's father was a martyr who lost his life for his faith at a time when the saint was almost in infancy. After the death of her husband, the mother of the saint of God left her shelter, moving to her homeland, to Palestine. There the virtuous widow continued to raise her child alone. She did everything so that George received an excellent education.
Time passed, and a smart, quick-witted, courageous and pious young man grew up from a little boy. He became a military man and quickly turned from a private into a military leader. Soon the talented young man was noticed by the Roman ruler Diocletian himself and made him one of his advisers. All this time, George professed Christianity and did not renounce the true faith after receiving a new position. However, no one, especially the emperor, even knew about it.
Confession
When the reign of Diocletian was coming to an end, the crowned pagan considered it his duty to preserve the power of the Roman capital, which he had been reviving for many years. He ordered a council of the Senate to be convened in Nicomedia, at which he announced that everyone should make efforts to destroy Christianity. From now on, the rulers of all regions of the empire had every right to inflict reprisals on the followers of the Christian faith.
Saint George immediately reacted to the statement of the emperor. He distributed his wealth to the orphans and the poor, and he himself appeared before the representatives of the Senate and admitted that he professed Christianity. In addition, the saint spoke out against the decision of Diocletian and began to persuade those present to convert to the religion of Jesus. Hearing such speeches, the emperor began to exhort George, to persuade him to change his mind and make a sacrifice to the pagan deities. However, the saint of God flatly refused to betray the one Lord. This time the emperor became very angry. The ruler gave the order to the guards to throw George into prison. Those, armed with spears, began to push the saint out of the hall, but failed to hurt him, because the steel of the weapon became soft in contact with the body of the righteous. In the end, George nevertheless ended up in a dungeon, moreover, in stocks on his feet and with a stone on his chest.
Torment of St. George the Victorious
The next morning the prisoner was taken for interrogation. But the emperor and his people could not achieve a renunciation of the faith of the young man. Then, at the command of Diocletian, the saint was subjected to the torment of being on the wheel. During the torture, George loudly called Jesus Christ, and then fell silent. Deciding that the martyr had expired, the emperor ordered his body to be removed from the wheel and set off to offer thanksgiving sacrifices to the pagan gods. After his departure, darkness suddenly thickened and those present heard a voice like thunder, comforting the sufferer. After that, an unearthly light arose and an Angel appeared near the instrument of torture. The servant of God touched St. George and he received healing.
The guards, frightened, grabbed George and dragged him to the temple to the emperor. He, though surprised, but inflicted even greater mockery on the saint. The young man was beaten mercilessly, thrown into a container with slaked lime, forced to walk on nails. In the end, he was executed by cutting off his head. The martyrdom of Saint George took place around the year 303.
The relics of the righteous were laid in the temple named after the Lord's saint in the city of Lida, located there, in the Palestinian lands. In one of the Roman churches, also consecrated in honor of the sufferer, the holy head of George later turned out to be.
Nickname and images
Some of you probably had this question: why is George called the Victorious? The answer to it is contained in the biography of the righteous man. In the face of the fighters against Christianity, this bright young man showed himself to be a principled, courageous and incredibly courageous person. After all, he not only himself revealed to his pagan enemies his belonging to the religion of Christ, but also patiently endured the suffering inflicted on him. It can be said that George the Victorious won a spiritual victory over the monsters, having departed into the Kingdom of God.
As a rule, St. George the Victorious is depicted as beating a serpent with a sharp spear. At the same time, George sits on a snow-white horse. The reason for such a writing of the saint of God on the canvases was an event confirmed by tradition. The latter is most directly related to the miracles that happened after the death of the saint. There was a time when a serpent lived in a lake near the city of Beirut, where George the Victorious came from. This terrible monster regularly killed local residents, who eventually became his dinner. Some argued that the outwardly terrible beast looked like a giant lizard, others that it looked like a crocodile, while others attributed to the snake all the signs of a boa constrictor. To prevent the serpent from rampaging especially, the inhabitants of the surroundings periodically held a draw, as a result of which a young boy or a red maiden became the next victim of the monster. And so, one day the lot fell on the daughter of a local ruler. The girl was tied to the trunk of a tree growing on the shore of the lake, and left to be torn to pieces by the beast. The poor victim was completely alone, barely alive with fear.
And then the serpent appeared from the bowels of the reservoir. He began to approach the girl, but suddenly a beautiful young man on a white horse appeared in front of the girl. A spear flashed in the hands of the young man, and immediately the weapon flew into the monster, killing it outright. The mysterious young man was, of course, St. George the Victorious. After this miraculous event, many who lived in the area believed in Christ and became Christians.
And a few words about signs and customs. George the Victorious has always been especially honored in Russia. Even before the revolution of 1917, the peasants on one of the days of memory of the saint (and there are many of them today) opened the pasture season, and also sanctified houses and sprinkled cattle with holy water. During the days of serfdom, on St. George's Day, as the holiday dedicated to St. George the Victorious was then called, serfs could change the owner only once a year. This custom existed before the beginning of the rule of Russia by Boris Godunov.
An interesting tradition existed among the persons of the princely family. Each prince considered it his duty to build temples consecrated in the name of his own patron saint. The construction of St. George's churches was initiated by Prince Yaroslav the Wise, who received the name of George at Baptism. The first such temple, founded by the Kiev ruler, stood not far from the gates of Hagia Sophia.
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George the Victorious is one of the most revered great martyrs of the Christian church. He was named so for his courage in the fight against the tormentors and the preservation, against all odds, of his faith and devotion to Christianity. The saint became famous for his miraculous help to people. The life of George the Victorious is distinguished by many interesting facts, and the story of his first posthumous appearance to people does resemble a fairy tale. No wonder the events in the life of the saint are so interesting not only for adults, but also for children.
The miraculous appearance of George the Victorious
A long time ago, a huge snake wound up in the lake. There was no passage from him: the monster devoured everyone who wandered in the vicinity. The local wise men, after conferring, decided to propitiate the serpent by sacrificing their own children to him. Gradually the turn came to the royal daughter herself, who was distinguished by her dazzling beauty.
On the appointed day, the girl was brought to the lake and left at the appointed place. People remained to watch the execution of the poor thing from afar. And this is what they saw, preparing to mourn the princess: out of nowhere, a stately horseman appeared in the clothes of a warrior and with a spear in his hands. He was not afraid of the snake, but crossed himself, rushed at the monster and struck him down with a spear with one blow.
After that, the brave young man said to the princess: “Do not be afraid. Tie the snake with a belt and lead to the city. On their way, the people fled in horror when they saw the monster. But the soldier reassured them with the words: “Believe in our Lord, Jesus Christ. It is he who sent me to deliver you from the serpent.” This is exactly how the miraculous appearance of St. George the Victorious happened to people, after the end of his life.
Life of the Holy Great Martyr
His earthly life was short. Therefore, the life of George the Victorious tells a little. The summary can be retold in a few paragraphs, but this saint entered the history of Christianity as one of the most famous and revered great martyrs who accepted a calm and courageous death.
Birth and childhood
The life of the Great Martyr George the Victorious begins with his birth in Cappadocia. The saint's parents were pious and meek. was a martyr and died for his faith. After that, the mother, taking her son, moved to her homeland, to Palestine. The boy was raised a true Christian, received a good education, and thanks to his courage and remarkable strength, he soon entered military service.
Young years and service with the emperor
Already at the age of twenty, George had a whole cohort of invictiors (which means "invincible") in submission. With the rank of commander, the young man received the patronage of the emperor himself. However, he revered the Roman gods and was an ardent opponent of the Christian faith. Therefore, when, by decree of the emperor, they began to burn sacred books and destroy churches, George distributed all his property to poor people and appeared in the Senate. There he publicly declared that the emperor Diocletian was a cruel and unjust ruler whom the people did not deserve. They tried to dissuade the beautiful and brave young man, they begged him not to ruin his own glory and youth, but he was adamant. It is precisely such an unshakable faith that the life of George the Victorious, even in a brief summary, usually puts at the head of all the virtues of the great martyr.
Trials and death
The young man was subjected to severe torture, after which he was beheaded. Since he courageously endured all the tortures and did not renounce Jesus Christ, George the Victorious was later ranked among the short life of George the Victorious.
The day of his execution took place on April 23, which corresponds to May 6 according to the new calendar. It is on this day that the Orthodox Church honors the memory of George the Victorious. His relics are kept in the Israeli city of Lod, where a temple named after him was built. And the severed head of the saint and his sword are in Rome to this day.
Miracles of George the Victorious
The main miracle that describes the life of St. George the Victorious is his victory over the serpent. It is this story that is often depicted on Christian icons: the saint is depicted here on a white horse, and his spear strikes the monster's mouth.
There is another, no less famous miracle that happened after the death of the Great Martyr George and his canonization. This story happened after the Arab people attacked Palestine. One of the invaders went into an Orthodox church and found the priest there praying in front of the image of George the Victorious. Wanting to show disdain for the icon, the Arab took out his bow and shot an arrow at it. But it so happened that the fired arrow pierced the warrior's hand without causing any damage to the icon.
Exhausted from pain, the Arab called the priest. He told him the story of St. George, and also advised him to hang his icon over his bed. The life of George the Victorious made such a strong impression on him that the Arab converted to Christianity, and then he even began to preach it among his compatriots, for which he later accepted the martyrdom of the righteous.
Real miracles happened to George during the torture. Cruel tortures lasted for 8 days, but by the will of the Lord, the body of the young man was healed and strengthened, remaining unharmed. Then the emperor decided that he was using magic, and wanted to kill him with poisonous potions. When this did not bring harm to George, they decided to publicly shame him and force him to renounce his faith. The young man was offered to try to resurrect a dead person. What was the shock of the assembled people when, after the prayer of the saint, the dead really rose from the tomb, and the earth shook at the will of God.
The healing spring that gushed at the place where the church named after St. George the Victorious was built can also be called a miracle. It is located exactly where, according to legend, the saint dealt with the snake.
What can you tell children about St. George?
George the Victorious became famous for a lot of things in his life. Life and for children will be interesting. For example, you can tell them that this saint is revered not only in our country, but also abroad. And his life has become the best example of how true faith in God helps us overcome any trials.
The young listeners will also be interested in the miracles that the Lord showed the people through this great martyr. Thanks to them, many who had gone astray regained their faith and came to Christ. George the Victorious lived in the 3rd century, but his exploits and miracles strengthen the faith of people even today, giving strength to cope with troubles and gratefully accept everything that life has in store for us.
Children often ask questions about why on the icons the spear in the hand of St. George is thin and thin? It's not like a snake, you can't even kill a fly. In fact, this is not a spear, but a real, sincere prayer, which was the main weapon of the great martyr. After all, only with prayer, as well as great faith in the Lord, a person has tremendous strength, courage and happiness.
Facts related to George the Victorious
- The saint is known by several names. In addition to the title of Saint George, he is called George of Lydda and Cappadocia, and in Greek the name of the great martyr is written like this: Άγιος Γεώργιος.
- On May 6, on the day of St. George, the memory of Empress Alexandra, the wife of Emperor Diocletian, is also honored. She took the torment of George so deeply to her heart and believed in his own faith so much that she recognized herself as a Christian. After that, the emperor immediately sentenced her to death.
- George the Victorious, whose life has become a true example of courage and courage, is especially revered in Georgia. The first temple named after St. George was built there in 335. Several centuries later, more and more temples and chapels began to be built. In total, they were erected in different parts of this country as many as there are days in a year - 365. Today it is impossible to find a single Georgian church that would not have the image of St. George the Victorious.
- It is also very popular in Georgia. It is given to everyone - from ordinary people to rulers from the greatest dynasties. It was believed that a person named after St. George would not know failure in anything and would emerge victorious from any situation.
It is sometimes difficult to believe that the life of George the Victorious really describes the events that really happened. After all, there are so many inhuman torments, valor and unshakable faith in it, as it is simply impossible for us, mere mortals, to imagine. However, the story of this saint is the best example of how any adversity can be overcome with the help of true faith.
This saint is numbered among the great martyrs and is one of the most revered in the Christian world. According to the life, he lived in the III century AD. e. and died at the beginning of the IV century - in 303. George was born in the city of Cappadocia, which was at that time on the territory of modern Turkey. The second common version is that he was born in the city of Lydda (the original name is Diospolis), which is in Palestine. Currently, this is the city of Lud, located in Israel. And the saint grew up in Cappadocia, in a family of noble and wealthy parents who professed Christianity.
What do we know about George the Victorious
By the age of 20, a physically strong, courageous and educated young man became one of the associates of the Roman emperor Diocletian, who appointed him a military tribune (commander of 1000 soldiers).
During the mass persecution of Christians that began, he distributed all his property, freed the slaves and announced to the emperor that he was a Christian. He was subjected to painful torture and beheaded in the city of Nicomedia (now Izmit) on 23.04. 303 years (old style).
Transcription of the name of the saint in the folklore of the peoples of the world
In separate sources, he is also mentioned under the names Yegoriy the Brave (Russian folklore), Dzhirdzhis (Muslim), St. George of Lydda (Cappadocia), and in Greek primary sources as Άγιος Γεώργιος.
In Russia, after the adoption of Christianity, one canonical name George (translated from Greek as "farmer") was transformed into four, different in terms of legislation, but common, according to the Orthodox Church: George, Yegor, Yuri, Yegoriy. The name of this saint revered by different nations has undergone similar transformations in many other countries. Among the medieval Germans, he became Jorge, among the French - Georges, among the Bulgarians - Görgi, among the Arabs - Djergis. The customs of glorifying St. George under pagan names have been preserved. The most famous examples are Khyzr, Keder (Middle East, Muslim countries) and Uastirdzhi in Ossetia.
Patron saint of farmers and pastoralists
The Great Martyr George the Victorious is revered in many countries of the world, but in Russia the cult of this saint was of particular importance. George is positioned in our country as the patron of Russia, of the whole people. It is no coincidence that his image is included in the coat of arms of the Russian state. Thousands of churches bore (and bear) his name - both having a long history and newly built ones.
Most likely, such veneration is based on the pagan ancient Russian cult of Dazhdbog, who before Baptism was considered in Russia to be the ancestor and patron of the Russian people. St. George the Victorious superseded many ancient Russian beliefs. However, the people attributed to him those features that they had previously endowed with Dazhdbog and the gods of fertility, Yarilo and Yarovit. It is no coincidence that the dates of veneration of the saint (April 23 and November 3) practically coincide with the celebration by the pagans of the beginning and completion of agricultural work, to which the aforementioned gods contributed in every possible way. In addition, it is generally accepted that George the Victorious is also the patron and protector of cattle breeding.
Very often, the said saint was called among the people George the Water-bearer, because on the day when the Church celebrates the memory of this great martyr, special walks were made for the blessing of water. According to the opinion rooted in the people, the water consecrated on this day (Yuriev's dew) had a very beneficial effect on the future harvest and on the cattle, which on this day, called Yuryev, were first driven out of the stall after a long winter to pastures.
Guardian of Russian lands
In Russia, they saw in George a special saint and guardian of the Russian lands, elevating him to the rank of a demigod hero. According to popular notions, Saint Yegoriy, with his word and deeds, “arranges the land of Light Russia” and, having completed this work, takes it under his personal supervision, affirming in it “baptized faith.”
It is no coincidence that in the Russian “spiritual verses” dedicated to Yegoriy the Brave, the theme of dragon fighting, which is especially popular in Europe and symbolizes the triune role of George (G.) as a hero, a preacher of the true faith and a chivalrous defender of innocence doomed to be slaughtered, is simply omitted. In this monument of writing, G. turns out to be the son of a certain Sophia the Wise - the queen of the city of Jerusalem, in Holy Russia - who spent 30 years (we recall Ilya of Muromets) in the dungeon of the “tsar of Demyanishcha” (Diocletian), then, miraculously getting rid of the prison, carried to Russia, Christianity and at the end of the road, in an honest arena, eradicates basurmanism in Russian land.
St. George on the state symbols of Russia
Almost until the 15th century, this image, without any additions, was the coat of arms of Russia, and its image was knocked out in Ancient Russia on Moscow coins. This holy great martyr began to be considered in Russia the patron saint of princes.
After the battle, which took place on the Kulikovo field, it began to be considered that George the Victorious was the patron of the city of Moscow.
Having taken the place of the state religion, Christianity assigns St. George the Victorious, together with a number of other great martyrs from the military class (Fyodor Stratilat, Dmitry Thessalonica, etc.), the status of the heavenly patron of the army of the Christ-loving and ideal warrior. The noble origin makes this saint a model of honor for the noble estate in all Christian states of the world: for princes - in Russia, for the military nobility - in Byzantium, for knights - in Europe.
Assigning to the saint the symbolism of Jesus Christ
The stories about the cases when St. George the Victorious appeared as a commander of the crusader troops in Palestine made him, in the eyes of believers, the commander of the entire army of Christ. The next logical step was the transfer to him of the emblem, which was originally the emblem of Christ himself - a red cross on a white background. It began to be considered that this is the personal coat of arms of the saint.
In Aragon and England, the coat of arms of George the Victorious became for a long time the official symbols of the states. On the flag of England ("Union Jack"), he remained until now. For some time it was the coat of arms of the Genoese Republic.
It is believed that George the Victorious is the heavenly patron of the Republic of Georgia and the most revered saint in this country.
The figure of the holy great martyr on ancient coins
For quite a long time it was believed that the images of George the Victorious that appeared on Russian coins and seals in the 13th-14th centuries were stylized images of some ancient Byzantine saint George.
But lately, the version that behind the considered image of St. George is hiding Georgy Danilovich, the Russian Tsar Khan, who ruled in Russia at the beginning of the XIV century and began the great so-called "Mongol conquest" has been sounding louder and louder lately. He is Genghis Khan.
Who, when and why changed Russian history in this way? It turns out that historians have long known the answers to these questions. This substitution took place in the 18th century, during the reign of Peter I.
Whose image was minted on the coins of Russia
In official documents of the 13th-17th centuries that have come down to us, the rider on coins and seals who fights the dragon is interpreted as a symbol of the king or the grand duke. In this case, we are talking about Russia. In support of this thesis, the historian Vsevolod Karpov cites information that it is in this form that Ivan III is depicted on the wax seal, which was sealed with a letter of 1497, which is also confirmed by the corresponding inscription on it. That is, on seals and money, a horseman with a sword in the 15th-17th centuries was interpreted as a grand duke.
This explains why George the Victorious on Russian money and seals is often depicted without a beard. Ivan IV (the Terrible) ascended the throne at a fairly young age and did not have a beard at that time, so the money and seals bore the imprint of the beardless George the Victorious. And only after the maturity of Ivan IV (after his 20th birthday) did the beard return to coins.
When the personality of the prince in Russia began to be identified with the image of George the Victorious
Even the exact date is known, starting from which, in Russia, the Grand Duke began to be depicted in the image of George the Victorious. These are the years of the reign of the Novgorod prince Yuri Danilovich (1318-1322). The coins of that period, which originally had a one-sided image of a holy rider with a naked sword, soon receive on the reverse side a drawing called purely in Slavonic - “rider in a crown”. And this is none other than the prince himself. Thus, such coins and seals inform everyone that George the Victorious and Yuri (George) Danilovich are one and the same person.
In the 18th century, the heraldic commission established by Peter I decides to consider that this victorious horseman on Russian emblems is George the Victorious. And in the reign of Anna Ioannovna, he officially begins to be called a saint.
Russian roots of the "Byzantine saint"
Most historians cannot or do not want to understand that this saint was not a Byzantine one, but was one of the first state leaders, khans, who appeared in Russia.
In the calendar there is a mention of him as the holy Grand Duke Georgy Vsevolodovich, the actual “duplicate” of Georgy Danilovich, whom the historians of the Romanov dynasty put in the XIII century, along with the great “Mongolian” conquest.
Until the 17th century, Russia knew very well and remembered well who Saint George really was. And then they simply threw it away, like the memory of the first Russian tsars, replacing it with a "Byzantine saint." This is where heaps of inconsistencies in our history begin, which are easily eliminated, one has only to return to the present history.
Temples erected in honor of George the Victorious
Cult religious buildings, the consecration of which took place in honor of this holy great martyr, were erected in many countries of the world. Of course, the vast majority of them were built in countries where the official religion is Christianity. Depending on the denomination, the spelling of the saint's name may vary.
The main buildings are churches, cathedrals and chapels built in various countries of Europe, Africa and Asia. The most famous of them are:
1.Church of Saint George. Church of St. George the Victorious, belonging to the Jerusalem Orthodox Church. Built in Lore. According to legend, it was erected over the tomb of the saint.
The new church building was erected in 1870 on the site of the old basilica with the permission of the Ottoman (Turkish) authorities, who controlled the area at that time. The church building is located on the same site as the El-Khidr mosque, so the area of the new building occupies only part of the territory of the former Byzantine basilica.
The church contains the sarcophagus of St. George.
2. Monastery of Xenophon. The right hand (part of the hand) of this holy great martyr in a silver reliquary is kept in the monastery of Xenophon (Μονή Ξενοφώντος), located on Mount Athos (Greece). The date of foundation of the monastery is considered to be the 10th century. His Cathedral Church is dedicated to George the Victorious (the old building - katholikon - dates back to the 16th century, the new one - to the 19th).
3. St. Yuriev Monastery. The first monasteries in honor of this saint were founded in Russia in the 11th century (1030) by Grand Duke Yaroslav in Novgorod and Kiev. Since the saint was better known in Kievan Rus under the names of Yuri and Yegoriy, the monastery was founded under one of these names - St. Yuriev.
This is one of the most ancient monasteries on the territory of our state, which are still active today. It has the status of a male monastery of the Russian Orthodox Church. It is located near Veliky Novgorod on the Volkhov River.
The main temple of the monastery was St. George's Cathedral, the construction of which began in 1119. The work was completed 11 years later, and on July 12, 1130, the cathedral was consecrated in the name of this saint.
4. Church of San Giorgio in Velabro. The religious building of San Giorgio in Velabro (Italian transcription of the name San Giorgio al Velabro) is a temple located on the territory of modern Rome, on the former Velabr swamp. According to legend, it was here that Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome, were found. This is the oldest temple of St. George the Victorious located in Italy. The severed head and sword that belonged to this saint are buried under the main altar, which is made of marble in the cosmatesco style. The work is dated to the 12th century.
The holy relics are in the chapel under the altar. There is an opportunity to worship these relics. Until recently, another shrine was kept here - the personal banner of the saint, but it was donated to the Roman municipality on April 16, 1966, and now it is stored in the Capitoline Museums.
5. Chapel-reliquary Sainte-Chapelle. Part of the relics of George the Victorious is kept in the Sainte-Chapelle (French transcription of the name Sainte Chapelle), a Gothic chapel-reliquary located in Paris. The relic was preserved by the King of France, Louis the Saint.
Temples built in Russia in the XX-XXI century
Of those built relatively recently and also consecrated in the name of St. George, we should mention the Church of the Great Martyr George the Victorious, which was founded on 05/09/1994 in honor of the fiftieth anniversary of the victory of our people in the Great Patriotic War on Poklonnaya Hill and consecrated on 05/06/1995, as well as the Church of George the Victorious in Koptev (Northern AD, Moscow). It was erected in 1997 in the best traditions of northern Slavic architecture of the 17th century. The construction of the temple was timed to coincide with the celebration of the 850th anniversary of Moscow.
Saint George the Victorious. An icon that has survived the ages
Bas-reliefs and icons dating back to the 5th-6th centuries are considered the very first of the images of this saint that have come down to us. On them, George, as befits a warrior, is depicted in armor and always with a weapon. At the same time, he is not always depicted riding a horse. The oldest are the images of the saint and the icon of George the Victorious, discovered in the monastery church of the Copts, located in the city of Al Bawiti (Egypt).
It is here that a bas-relief appears for the first time, which depicts St. George on horseback. He strikes with a cross with a long shaft, like a spear, a kind of monster. Most likely, it was meant that this is a pagan totem cast down by the saint. The second interpretation is that the monster personified universal evil and cruelty.
Later, the icon of George the Victorious, on which he is depicted in a similar way, began to appear in an ever-increasing number of variants, and the struck monster was transformed into a serpent. Scientists are inclined to think that the composition originally indicated was not an illustration of a specific event, but was an allegorical depiction of the victory of the spirit. But it was the image of the snake fighter that became especially popular among the people. And not because of allegorical pathos, but due to the fact that it is very close to mythological and fairy tale motifs.
The hypothesis of the origin of the story of the victory of the saint over the serpent
However, the official church showed extreme caution and a negative attitude towards icons containing allegorical images. In 692, the Council of Trulli officially confirmed this. Most likely, after him, the legend of George's victory over the monster appeared.
In a religious interpretation, this icon is called the “Miracle of the Serpent”. George the Victorious (photo of the icon is given in the article) did not renounce the true faith, despite all the temptations to which his tormentors subjected him. That is why this icon miraculously helped Christians in danger more than once. At the moment, there are several versions of the icon of St. George the Victorious. You can see photos of some of them on this page.
Canonical icon depicting this saint
The image, considered classical, is a saint who sits on a horse (most often white) and slays a snake with a spear. It is the snake, which is especially emphasized by the ministers of the church and heraldry scholars. Since the dragon in heraldry is always a positive character, but the serpent is only negative.
The legend of the victory of the saint over the serpent was interpreted not only in the literal sense (which was inclined in the West, using this interpretation for the revival and cultivation of the declining institution of chivalry), but also allegorically, when the liberated princess was associated with the church, and the cast down serpent was associated with paganism . Another interpretation that takes place is the victory of the saint over his own ego. Take a look - here he is, St. George the Victorious. The icon speaks for itself.
Why did the people recognize St. George as the guardian of the Russian land
It would be a mistake to associate the highest popularity of this saint solely with the pagan heritage “transferred” to him and fabulously mythological recognition. The theme of martyrdom did not leave parishioners indifferent. It is the story of this side of the “feat of the spirit” that is dedicated to the very numerous icons of George, known to the general public much less canonical. On them, as a rule, the saint himself, depicted in full growth, is located in the center, and along the perimeter of the icon there is, similarly to a storyboard, a series of so-called “everyday stamps”.
And today George the Victorious is highly revered. The icon, the meaning of which can be interpreted in different ways, has a demonic aspect, which forms the basis of the cult of this saint. It has always been associated in Russia with an uncompromising struggle against foreign invaders. That is why George in the XIV-XV centuries becomes an extremely popular saint in Russia, symbolizing precisely the fighter-liberator and defender of the people.
icon painting schools
In the iconography dedicated to St. George, there are eastern and western directions.
Among the followers of the first school, George the Victorious is depicted more spiritually. The photos let you see it. As a rule, this is a young man of a very average build, very often beardless, without a helmet and heavy armor, with a thin spear in his hands, sitting on an unrealistic horse (spiritual allegory). Without visible physical tension, he pierces with his spear as unrealistic as his horse (also a spiritual allegory), a snake with paws and wings.
The second school depicts the saint in a more mundane and realistic way. It is first and foremost a warrior. A man with developed muscles, in full combat gear, in a helmet and armor, with a thick spear on a powerful and quite realistic horse, with prescribed physical effort, pierces with his heavy spear an almost realistic snake with paws and wings.
The prayer to George the Victorious helps people to gain faith in victory during the years of difficult trials and enemy invasions, in which they ask the saint to protect the lives of military people on the battlefield, for patronage and protection in military affairs, for the protection of the Russian state.
The image of George on the coins of the Russian Empire
On the coins, the image of a horseman piercing a serpent appears almost immediately after the saint's martyrdom. The first money known today with similar images dates back to the reign of Constantine the Great (306-337).
The same plot can be seen on coins dating back to the reign of Constantius II (337-361).
On Russian coins, the image of a similar rider appears at the end of the 13th century. Since the warrior depicted on them was armed with a spear, according to the classification that existed then, he was considered a spearman. Therefore, very soon, in colloquial speech, such coins began to be called kopecks.
When you have a small Russian coin in your hands, George the Victorious will definitely be depicted on its reverse. So it was in the Russian Empire, so it is in modern Russia.
For example, consider the two-kopeck coin introduced into circulation in 1757 by Elizabeth I. Its obverse depicts the Holy Great Martyr George the Victorious without a mantle, but in full armor, striking a serpent with his spear. The coin was issued in two variants. On the first one, the inscription "two kopecks" went in a circle above the image of the saint. In the second, it was transferred to the ribbon down the coins.
In the same period, the mints issued coins of 1 kopek, money and a penny, which also had the image of a saint.
The image of the saint on the coins of modern Russia
The tradition has been revived in today's Russia. The spearman, whom the coin demonstrates, - George the Victorious - has firmly settled on Russian metal money in denominations of less than 1 ruble.
Since 2006, gold and silver investment coins have been issued in Russia in a limited series (150,000 pieces), with the image of St. George the Victorious minted on one side. And if it is possible to discuss the images on other coins, who exactly is depicted there, then these coins are directly called: Coin "George the Victorious". Gold, the price of which is always quite high, is a noble metal. Therefore, the value of this coin is much higher than its face value of 50 rubles. and is more than 10 thousand rubles.
The coin is made of 999 gold. Weight - 7.89 g, while gold - not less than 7.78 g. Denomination of a silver coin - 3 rubles. Weight - 31.1 grams. The cost of a silver coin ranges from 1180-2000 rubles.
Monuments to George the Victorious
This section is for those who wanted to see the monument to George the Victorious. Photos of some of the existing monuments erected to this saint around the world are given below.
There are more and more places in Russia where monuments to the Holy Great Martyr George the Victorious are being erected. To tell about all, I would have to write a separate article. Your attention is invited to several monuments located in different parts of Russia and abroad.
1. In Victory Park on Poklonnaya Hill (Moscow).
2. In Zagreb (Croatia).
3. The city of Bolshereche, Omsk region.
"The Miracle of St. George about the Serpent" as an objective reality, or an anti-Darwinist analysis of the battle of the most famous ancient Roman Christian officer.
photo - Sergey Evdokimov
The author was prompted to write this article by the current situation in the Middle East, where once again Christian weapons oppose the forces of world evil, and this happens on the territory where once the holy great martyr George struck a certain dragon, although few people remember this moment now. By the will of fate, Russia has recently been an active participant in the confrontation in this region, but many Russian military personnel heading there, if they know St. George, then in the most general terms, and some do not consider him a historical figure at all and, unfortunately, perceive his victory over the dragon as a legend. However, we will try to dispel their doubts.
The Great Martyr George, called the Victorious, is one of the most famous and revered saints by Orthodox Christians. He is approached in various prayer needs, but first of all, people performing military service pray for his intercession before God. Also, this saint is one of the special patrons of Christian weapons, and many victories of Christian troops on the battlefield are attributed, including to his intercession.
Images of the Holy Great Martyr George the Victorious, separated by 15 centuries.
Modern Orthodox image "The Miracle of St. George about the snake."
First, it must be said that the surviving sources are quite unanimous that St. George was a real historical figure; he was a high-ranking ancient Roman officer who served during the reign of Emperor Diocletian. According to one of the probably most historically accurate versions, the Great Martyr George was born into a family of Greco-Roman aristocrats in the small Palestinian town of Lydda (now Israel's Lod) at the end of the 3rd century. He accepted death in 304 AD. for his faith in Christ, being still at a fairly young age, on the territory of ancient Cappadocia (Asia Minor) in the city of Nicomedia (now Turkish Ismid).
Here we would not like to repeat the story of the sufferings of a saint before death, which usually occupies a significant part of his life, if only on the grounds that it seems somewhat strange to force, for example, someone to repeat again and again the description of the monstrous torments and death of some the person he loves dearly. About these events, anyone can find easily accessible information; we are especially interested in, perhaps, the most striking and memorable episode to contemporaries that happened during the earthly life of the saint - a battle in which he defeated a certain monstrous creature called a dragon or a large serpent.
For some reason, in our time, even many believing Christians (not to mention representatives of other religious denominations or atheists) believe that in fact there was no battle, and this is some kind of legendary symbol of the victory of Christian doctrine over paganism. However, the high degree of realism and detail of the described events does not give reason to think so.
Some, being in captivity of the modern scientific worldview, built on the unproven ideas of Darwinism and based on the evolutionary picture of the world, suggest that the battle itself took place, but St. George struck some large lizard, such as a Komodo monitor lizard, or even a crocodile. However, skeptics for some reason forget that there have never been huge monitor lizards in the Middle East, and Indonesia with Komodo Island (where giant monitor lizards live) is very far away, and nothing was known about them in the Mediterranean until the 19th century. People in that region have been hunting for crocodiles for a long time and successfully, and it is unlikely that the killing of one, even a particularly large, crocodile could influence contemporaries in such a way that thousands of them after that became staunch Christians. Below we will try to understand this and still answer the question - so who did St. George the Victorious actually fight with?
So, the Great Martyr George, being an officer of the Roman army and at the same time a deeply believing Christian, once was on business in the territory of modern Lebanon or Western Syria and came to one big city. Here the sources differ: according to one version, it was the city of Beirut (Berita), according to some other sources, it is possible that we are talking about Aleppo (Haleb) or another settlement in that region is indicated. There he learned that at some distance from this city there was a swampy lake, declared sacred by the local pagan priests, on the banks of which a certain reptile-like monster settled. And it would be nice if it just lived there - so this creature at first hunted sheep and cows, which were kept by the inhabitants of the surrounding villages, and then, when the livestock was over, it switched to feeding on people.
Apparently, attempts by local pagans to kill the dragon or drive away the monster with the help of magic did not produce results. The situation has reached the point, in simple Russian, just insanity, since the local priests (apparently acting in line with the ancient Babylonian tradition) decided that this animal is sacred, that it settled here by the will of the gods, and is itself the embodiment of some ancient deity , which means trying to kill him is a sin. But most importantly, they convinced the whole people that for the sake of pleasing the pagan deities, “in order for them to change their anger for mercy,” human sacrifices must be made to this terrible creature.
Over time, this abominable practice became "a pious tradition." Even the Roman consul himself, who ruled this province (sometimes referred to in some hagiographies as the “king”), agreed with her when a sacrificial lot fell on his relative or even daughter. Having learned about this, Saint George, who was in that area, possessing a chivalrous character, decided to show that the God of Christians is much stronger than any pagan monsters. In addition, the saint saw that, according to God's Providence, it was he who, "here and now" was given the opportunity to testify to the power of the Lord, and decided to correct the situation.
Panic-stricken, the pagans did not hear the persuasion of a few local Christians about the need to stop sacrifices, and the future great martyr did not enter into battle with them, shedding the blood of his fellow citizens, even those who did wrong. He decided to act differently. And when the procession with another bound victim (probably it was the daughter of the imperial administrator) went to the dragon's habitat, he went with them, however, dressed in armor, armed and mounted on a war horse. And as you can understand, not at all in order to indifferently contemplate the terrible picture of the atrocity.
When people brought the doomed monster to the lair, and then crawled out, hoping to have a hearty dinner once again, St. George unexpectedly alone entered into a duel with a dragon on the shore of the lake and killed " serpent fierce”, saving the life of a girl who was doomed by lot to a terrible sacrifice, thanks to which tens of thousands of residents of Lebanon and Western Syria were baptized en masse. This is how this fight is described in one text: “ ... having overshadowed himself with the sign of the cross and invoking the name of the Lord, Saint George quickly and bravely rushed on his horse to the snake, tightly squeezing the spear and, hitting the snake with force in the larynx, struck him and pressed him to the ground; the horse of the saint furiously trampled the serpent with its feet ...". It can be stated that the matter was decided by an unexpected and quick, perfectly executed attack (it was not for nothing that the Great Martyr George was a professional soldier).
Moreover, as the text of some biographies of the saint testifies, having struck, but not finished off the monster, the Victorious dismounted from his horse, threw a rope over the defeated enemy, and with the words “ And is this your god? Well, look how I handle it!» led the dragon to the city. And only there, at its walls, and not on the shore of the lake, with a gathering of many people, the valiant saint cut off the monster's head, glorifying the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and glorifying Him as the True and Only God, who gives victory to those who firmly hope in Him.
Thus, our Lord, through St. George, showed his mercy to people, not only slaying the deified monster, but interrupting the disgusting tradition of human sacrifice. Moreover, it was through the shown valor of St. George that many local residents converted to Orthodox Christianity (various sources give different numbers - from many thousands to 24,000 and even up to 240,000; we are talking about a really huge number of residents of the area, although it is clear that no one kept accurate records ). And so, thanks to the accomplished feat, a significant proportion of the local population understood the fallacy of believing in the power of pagan deities, and rejecting Middle Eastern cults, accepted faith in the God who proved that He is stronger than all the dark forces and their biological creatures.
However, despite the fact that the Roman authorities later probably approved the very act of fighting and killing the “serpent lute”, regarding it probably “as protection of the lives of the subjects of the emperor”, but the spread of Christianity in the Late Roman Empire at the end of the 3rd century was considered not just “politically incorrect ", but was expressly prohibited by law. And it was the conversion of tens of thousands of Roman citizens to Christ through his feat, apparently, that Saint George was charged with later, becoming one of the points of official accusation.
Late medieval German image (15th century) of St. George slaying the dragon.
Italian fresco 14th century. (thin. Botticelli), depicting St. George, striking a snake.
Modern paleontological reconstruction (artist Z. Burrian) - Nothosaurus on the shore of the lake.
Seeing medieval images of the battle of St. George with a snake, and comparing them with a modern reconstruction of the notosaurus discovered by paleontologists, one can only be amazed at the obvious identity of predatory reptiles. Moreover, even the size of the notosar approximately coincides with the image of the dragon slain by St. George - it was not a giant dinosaur at all, though quite agile and clearly aggressively predatory, adults of which reached a length of 3-4, sometimes 5 meters.
Despite the fact that the dragon or serpent with which the saint fought differs among different artists, it seems that some of the most ancient images clearly date back to a single tradition, according to which this reptile had a huge head with a large mouth, a thin and relatively long neck , a short thick body on four legs and a rather long tail. There is no mention of any several heads, wings for flight, fiery breath or other fabulous attributes of the monster, either in the oldest images or in the lives of St. George. There is a complete feeling that we have before us some very real animal, but extremely rare even in Antiquity and by now completely extinct.
For a long time, numerous skeptics and even some believing Christians believed that there was nothing real in the story of the battle of St. George with a snake. However, quite a long time ago, paleontologists during excavations found a species of dinosaurs, which received the name nothosaurs. These were fairly large predatory creatures that lived in ancient times along the shores of lakes, seas or rivers., perhaps even leading a semi-aquatic lifestyle, and thus we can state that the living conditions - that of a dragon struck by St. George, that a notosaurus - are similar. Apparently, a significant part of their diet was fish, but, first of all, notosaurs were active predators, and attacked any prey that appeared in close proximity to their habitat (even bones of young notosaurs were found with teeth marks of larger individuals).
Since quite a few skeletons of these ancient predatory reptiles were found, scientists were able to accurately restore their appearance. However, for a long time, for some reason, no one compared the images of the snake on the images of St. George and the paleontological reconstructions of the notosaurus, which (in our opinion) match perfectly, down to the details (at least, the author did not come across any information about this).
It is somewhat surprising that some creationists (i.e. supporters of the concept of the Creation of the world by God and opponents of materialistic Darwinism) now believe that St. George fought with the dinosaur Baryonyx (first found, and then only fragmentarily, only in 1983, although by Several fairly complete skeletons of individuals of this species are known to our time). However, this was hardly possible, because. Although Baryonyx also lived along the banks of water bodies, like Notosaurus, it had a slightly different appearance, moved mainly on two legs, and not on four, and was much larger than Notosaurus, which means that it was more difficult to hit it with a simple spear, and then tie it up and St. George would hardly have been able to drag a half-dead "dragon" to the city on a rope (unless, for example, we are talking about a young individual of Baryonyx). Whereas the notosaurus, not only in its appearance, but even in size, ideally matches the predatory reptile described in the life of the martyr knight and the surviving medieval images of the most famous battle of this Christian saint.
Reconstruction of the appearance of the largest found dinosaur species Baryonyx walkeri compared to the size of a man (height 1.8 m.). However, it turned out that it was still a young individual, which means that the size of the peak specimens of this species was much larger.
A group of Baryonyxes in their traditional habitat - on the shore of a reservoir. The versatility in the diet of this predator is well shown.
As you can see, the adult Baryonyx was, firstly, much larger than the Notosaurus, and secondly, it walked mainly on two legs, and not on four, which means that it is unlikely that representatives of this particular species are depicted on icons with St. George (because only his skull was up to 2 meters long, which means that St. Victorious could hardly drag a half-dead dinosaur of this species to the inhabitants of the city on a rope, while the notosaurus fits perfectly in all respects).
And, as it may not seem surprising to skeptics, but not only the size of the "dragon", judging by the images of the battle of St. Nothosaurus giganteus), but even their habitat is identical (unlike Baryonyxes, which reached a length of 9 meters, and whose bones were found only in England and Spain). Paleontologists, based on the findings of bone remains of notosars, believe that the habitat of this species of lizards included territories from North Africa and Southern Europe through the Middle East and South Russia up to Central Asia. Thus, it can be argued that the presence of Nothosaurus in the territory of modern Lebanon or Western Syria, where it was killed by an ancient Roman Christian cavalry officer, does not contradict the available scientific data on the habitat of this species.
However, for evolutionists who deny the Creation and the biblical picture of the development of our planet, there is one problem - from their point of view, the life time of the Holy Great Martyr George of Nicomedia and - that notosaurus, that Baryonyx - is separated by tens of millions of years, since, in their opinion, dinosaurs and humans could not live in one historical epoch. But this is so only if we rely on the concept of the development of the world, built on the erroneous theory of macroevolution by Charles Darwin and divide the hypothetical chronology of evolutionists into billions of years. If we rely on the concept of the development of the world on the Book of Genesis, share the biblical chronology and recognize the Creation of our world by God (in the absence of macroevolution as a reliably recorded phenomenon), then there is nothing impossible in the fact that St. George could defeat one of the last notosaurs in battle.
We will not analyze here many other well-known cases when the presence of living dinosaurs (one way or another causing harm and therefore usually killed by humans) is recorded in Hebrew, Ancient Babylonian, Ancient Greek, Ancient Roman or medieval European and Arabic documents, but simply emphasize that the case with the battle George the Victorious against the dinosaur is not at all a single piece of evidence. And accordingly, not only the life of St. George, some other Christian saints-serpent fighters, but the numerous descriptions of dinosaurs as eyewitnesses as creatures living side by side with people, preserved in ancient sources, as well as their ancient images, give good reason to believe that some of these lizards survived a certain Global Cataclysm, called the Flood, and were exterminated by man already in the time of Late Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages.
Modern icon of St. George
Thus, the available evidence suggests that the picture of the development of life on our planet proposed by evolutionists and presented as the only true picture of the development of life on our planet is conceptually erroneous, while the biblical picture of the world explains the seemingly paradoxical facts quite well.
And we hope that the same Power of the Lord, which in ancient times helped the Great Martyr George crush the living embodiment of evil, will help Orthodox Christian soldiers in our time (if they firmly believe in Jesus Christ and rely on the intercession of St. George) to crush all their opponents.
One of the most famous and revered Christian martyrs is named George the Victorious. There are many versions of the saint's life. According to the canonical life, he suffered during the Great Persecution. The famous story about George the Victorious is called the "Miracle of the Serpent".
Childhood and youth
The Byzantine version of being was outlined by Simeon Metaphrastus. According to records, George was born in the III century in Cappadocia. The boy's father - Gerontius - served as a senator, his mother Polychronia had a large estate. The parents of the child were considered rich and God-fearing people.
When George's father passed away, his mother and child moved to Lydda. George was raised a Christian. He received a good education. The future saint grew up as a strong young man, so he entered the military service. He won fame in a short time and became the emperor's favorite soldier.
When George was twenty years old, the young man's mother passed away. He inherited a large sum of money.
The ruler of the empire of Rome honored the pagan gods and was an opponent of the Christian faith. When George learned that, at the behest of the emperor, churches were being destroyed and sacred books were being burned, he distributed property to the poor and came to the Senate. There, the young man publicly declared that Diocletian is a ruler who does not deserve to be at the head of the country. The young man was famous for his beauty and courage, people asked George not to ruin his life and refuse words, but the young man remained adamant. After the delivered speech and disobedience, George was thrown into prison and began to be tortured.
Death
After a fiery speech delivered by George in the Senate, the guards seized the young man and threw him into prison. There, the young man was subjected to terrible torture, forced to renounce Christianity and accept paganism. George courageously withstood the torment and did not renounce God. The torture lasted 8 days. During the cruel tortures, George's body was healed and strengthened.
The emperor concluded that the former commander of the troops was using magic, and gave the order to kill the young man with poison. But that didn't work either. Then Diocletian ordered George to revive the dead man. He thought so to shame the former military man and force him to renounce his faith. But after the prayer uttered by George, the earth shook, and the deceased was resurrected.
George courageously endured torture and did not refuse. After unsuccessful persuasion to accept paganism, the young man was sentenced to death. On the night before the execution, the Savior appeared to the young man in a dream. He told that for the endured trials and resistance to the force of the tormentor, the young man would go to Paradise. After waking up, George called the servant and dictated to him what he saw in the dream.
That same night, the emperor himself came to the young man in the dungeon. He again appealed to the mind of George with a request to repent and recognize paganism. The young man in response wished that the prisoner be brought to the temple. When the request was fulfilled, he stood in front of the statue of the god and crossed himself and the idol. The demon that lived in the idol left the shelter, and the pagan statues split. Angry priests beat George.
Then the wife of Diocletian rushed to the noise, knelt before the martyr and began to pray for her husband's forgiveness. At the same moment, she converted to the Orthodox faith, seeing what happened. The ruler, realizing what had happened, ordered the execution of the girl along with the young man. George prayed and laid his head on the chopping block.
On April 23, in a new way - on May 6, George was executed. Since the young man endured trials and did not renounce his faith, he was canonized as a saint. The exact date of the canonization of George the Victorious is unknown.
According to legend, the saint was buried in a church in the city of Lod, and the severed head and sword were preserved in Rome. In 1821, several heads are indicated, stored in Venice, Prague, Constantinople and other cities. Each of these chapters was sincerely mistaken for the head of George the Victorious. Part of the relics is kept in the Sainte-Chapelle in Paris. Another part of the relics - the right hand - is located on the holy Mount Athos.
Today, on the day of the murder of the martyr, the memory of George is honored, services are held in cathedrals, prayers are offered to the Christ martyr. This date is also considered the day of memory of Empress Alexandra, the young wife of Diocletian. According to other sources, the wife of the ruler was named Prisca.
Christian ministry
The real biography of the holy martyr is under the question mark, as are the descriptions of the lives of other ancient Christian saints. In the story of Eusebius of Caesarea, a young man is mentioned who rebuffed the usurper. It is believed that this hero was George. There is a version that two Georges actually lived. But one fell under persecution in Lydda, and the second - in Cappadocia.
The miracles performed by the martyr occurred after the death of George. The most popular story is about the defeat of a terrible serpent by a martyr. The monster was outrageous in the possessions of the king in Berita, who preached paganism. It is written that when the lot fell to give the lord's daughter to the serpent, George appeared on horseback and killed the monster with a spear. The appearance of the saint so impressed the townspeople that they believed in God and converted to Christianity.
The incident with the serpent is sometimes interpreted differently: the princess means the church, the insidious serpent means paganism. In such an incarnation - on a horse with a spear slaying a serpent - the holy great martyr is depicted in icon painting.
Another scenario: George pacifies the dragon with the help of a prayer, and brings the rescued princess to the city, whose inhabitants immediately accept Christianity. Then the young man kills the serpent with a sword. At the place where the temple of St. George the Victorious was erected, a living spring broke out of the ground. This is the place where, according to legend, the young man killed the serpent.
Another miracle is described that happened after the death of the martyr. It happened when the Arabs attacked Palestine. One of the soldiers entered the Christian church and saw the clergyman praying to George the Victorious. Showing disdain for the icon and worship, the Arab took out his bow and fired at the image.
But it turned out that the arrow pierced the hand of the shooter, and the image did not cause any harm. Then the fighter turned to the priest, and he told the invader the legend about St. George. The Arab was so impressed by the story that he accepted the Christian faith.
Memory
Saint George has been honored since early Christianity. The first churches to the martyr were erected in the Roman Empire in the 4th century. The cult of St. George arose to replace the cult. On the sites of the sanctuaries of the god of paganism, cathedrals were erected to the Great Martyr of Orthodoxy.
Saint George became an example of bravery and courage. In particular, the martyr is revered in Georgia. The first temple erected in memory of the martyr dates back to 335. Over time, the number of churches and chapels began to grow. There are 365 holy buildings in Georgia, as many as there are days in a year. There is not a single cathedral in the country in which the icon of St. George would not stand.
In Georgia, it is popular to give boys the name George. It is believed that the bearer of this name is accompanied by good luck and victory. Since ancient Russian times, George has been known as Yuri and Egory. The Great in the 1030s founded St. George's monasteries in Kiev and Novgorod and indicated that the day of the martyr should be celebrated on November 26.
The central Christian church in North Ossetia is St. George's. And out of 56 working chapels, 10 are listed as St. George's.
In 1769, the Empress approved the Order of St. George the Victorious. The award was presented for merit in battle and length of service in military ranks. In 1917, the new Soviet government abolished the Order. In the 2000s, the Order was restored as a military award of the Russian Federation. A two-color St. George ribbon is applied to the St. George Order. And the St. George ribbon serves as a symbol of the celebration of Victory Day.
From the reign of St. George is considered the patron saint of Moscow. In heraldry, the image of a rider piercing a winged serpent with a spear appeared from the 14th-15th centuries. This figure is located in the coat of arms of the Russian Federation, but there is no direct indication that the knight is Saint George. It is the serpent that is shown on the coat of arms, and not the dragon, because in the heraldic convention the serpent is a negative character, and the dragon is a positive one. They differ from each other in the number of paws: the dragon has two limbs, the serpent has four.
In the 13th century, a man with a spear on a horse was depicted on coins. In 1997, a drawing of a rider was placed on the Russian penny, copying the face of the icon of St. George of the 15th century.
The image of St. George is used in modern art. Artists love to embody on canvas a rider with a spear in his hand, killing a snake. Despite the similarity of the drawings, each picture indicates a special vision of the creator.
Memorable dates
- April 23 - Memorial Day to the Great Martyr George the Victorious in the Catholic Church
- May 6 - Memorial Day to the Great Martyr George the Victorious in the Orthodox Church
- November 16 - renovation (consecration) of the Church of St. George in Lydda (IV century)
- November 23 - the wheeling of the great martyr George;
- December 9 - the consecration of the Church of the Great Martyr George in Kiev in 1051 (the celebration of the Russian Orthodox Church, popularly known as the autumn St. George's Day)
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