The story of St. George the Victorious for children. Class hour "Holy Great Martyr George the Victorious" class hour (1st grade) on the topic. Veneration in Greece

With Saint Great Martyr George the Victorious, originally from Cappadocia (a region in Asia Minor), he grew up in a deeply religious Christian family. His father suffered martyrdom for Christ when George was still a child. The mother, who owned estates in Palestine, moved with her son to her homeland and raised him in strict piety. Having entered the service of the Roman army, Saint George, handsome, courageous and brave in battle, was noticed by the emperor Diocletian (284-305) and accepted into his guard with the rank of comit - one of the senior military leaders. The pagan emperor, who did a lot to revive Roman power and clearly understood the danger the triumph of the Crucified Savior posed to pagan civilization, especially intensified the persecution of Christians in the last years of his reign. At the council of the Senate in Nicomedia, Diocletian gave all rulers complete freedom to deal with Christians and promised his full assistance.

Saint George, having learned about the emperor’s decision, distributed his inheritance to the poor, set his slaves free and appeared in the Senate. The courageous warrior of Christ openly opposed the imperial plan, confessed himself to be a Christian and called on everyone to recognize the true faith in Christ: “I am a servant of Christ my God, and, trusting in Him, I appeared among you of my own free will to testify to the Truth.” "What is Truth?" - one of the dignitaries repeated Pilate’s question. “The truth is Christ Himself, persecuted by you,” answered the saint. Stunned by the daring speech of the valiant warrior, the emperor, who loved and exalted George, tried to persuade him not to destroy his youth, glory and honor, but to make a sacrifice to the gods, according to the custom of the Romans. This was followed by a decisive response from the confessor: “Nothing in this fickle life will weaken my desire to serve God.” Then, by order of the angry emperor, the squires began to push Saint George out of the meeting hall with spears in order to take him to prison. But the deadly steel itself became soft and bent as soon as the spears touched the saint’s body, and did not cause him pain. In prison, the martyr's feet were put in stocks and his chest was pressed with a heavy stone. The next day, during interrogation, exhausted but strong in spirit, Saint George again answered the emperor: “It is more likely that you will become exhausted, tormenting me, than I, tormented by you.”

Then Diocletian ordered George to be subjected to the most sophisticated torture. The Great Martyr was tied to a wheel, under which were placed boards with iron points. As the wheel rotated, sharp blades cut the saint's naked body. At first the sufferer loudly called on the Lord, but soon fell silent, without emitting a single groan. Diocletian decided that the tortured man had already died, and, having ordered the removal of the tortured body from the wheel, he went to the temple to offer a thanksgiving sacrifice. At that moment it became dark all around, thunder struck, and a voice was heard: “Don’t be afraid, George, I am with you.” Then a wondrous light shone and the Angel of the Lord appeared at the wheel in the form of a luminous youth. And he barely laid his hand on the martyr, saying to him: “Rejoice!” -how Saint George rose healed.

When the soldiers took him to the temple where the emperor was, the latter did not believe his eyes and thought that before him was another person or a ghost. In bewilderment and horror, the pagans peered at Saint George and became convinced that a miracle had indeed happened. Many then believed in the Life-Giving God of Christians. Two noble dignitaries, Saints Anatoly and Protoleon, secret Christians, immediately openly confessed Christ. They were immediately, without trial, by order of the emperor, beheaded with a sword. Queen Alexandra, the wife of Diocletian, who was in the temple, also learned the truth. She also tried to glorify Christ, but one of the emperor’s servants restrained her and took her to the palace. The emperor became even more embittered. Without losing hope of breaking Saint George, he handed him over to new terrible tortures. Having been thrown into a deep ditch, the holy martyr was covered with quicklime.

Three days later they dug him up, but found him joyful and unharmed. They put the saint in iron boots with red-hot nails and drove him to prison with beatings. In the morning, when he was brought in for questioning, cheerful and with healthy legs, he told the emperor that he liked the boots. They beat him with ox sinews so that his body and blood mixed with the ground, but the courageous sufferer, strengthened by the power of God, remained adamant. Deciding that magic was helping the saint, the emperor called upon the sorcerer Athanasius so that he could deprive the saint of his miraculous powers, or poison him. The sorcerer presented Saint George with two bowls of potions, one of which was supposed to make him submissive, and the other to kill him. But the potions did not work either - the saint continued to denounce pagan superstitions and glorify the True God. To the emperor’s question what kind of power helps the martyr, Saint George answered: “Do not think that torment does not harm me thanks to human effort - I am saved only by the invocation of Christ and His power. He who believes in Him counts torture as nothing and is able to do the works that Christ did.” Diocletian asked what the works of Christ were. “To enlighten the blind, to cleanse lepers, to give walking to the lame, to give hearing to the deaf, to cast out demons, to raise the dead.” Knowing that neither sorcery nor the gods known to him had ever been able to resurrect the dead, the emperor, in order to disgrace the hope of the saint, ordered him to resurrect the dead before his eyes. To this the saint said: “You are tempting me, but for the sake of the salvation of the people who will see the work of Christ, my God will create this sign.”

And when Saint George was brought to the tomb, he cried out: “Lord! Show those present that You are the One God throughout the whole earth, so that they may know You, the Almighty Lord.” And the earth shook, the tomb opened, the dead man came to life and came out of it. Seeing with their own eyes the manifestation of the almighty power of Christ, the people wept and glorified the True God. The sorcerer Athanasius, falling at the feet of Saint George, confessed Christ as the Almighty God and asked forgiveness for sins committed in ignorance. However, the emperor, stubborn in wickedness, did not come to his senses: in a rage, he ordered the beheading of Athanasius, who believed, as well as the resurrected man, and again imprisoned Saint George. People burdened with illnesses began to enter the prison in various ways and there received healing and help from the saint. A certain farmer Glycerius, whose ox had fallen, also turned to him in grief. The saint comforted him with a smile and assured him that God would bring the ox back to life. Seeing the revived ox at home, the farmer began to glorify the Christian God throughout the city. By order of the emperor, Saint Glycerius was captured and beheaded. The exploits and miracles of the Great Martyr George multiplied the number of Christians, so Diocletian decided to make a last attempt to force the saint to sacrifice to idols. They began to prepare the court at the temple of Apollo.

On the last night, the holy martyr prayed fervently, and when he dozed off, he saw the Lord Himself, who lifted him with His hand, hugged him and kissed him. The Savior placed a crown on the head of the great martyr and said: “Do not be afraid, but dare and you will be worthy to reign with Me.” The next morning at the trial, the emperor offered Saint George a new test - he invited him to become his co-ruler. The holy martyr responded with apparent readiness that the emperor should not have tormented him from the very beginning, but should have shown him such mercy, and at the same time expressed a desire to immediately go to the temple of Apollo. Diocletian decided that the martyr accepted his offer, and followed him to the temple, accompanied by his retinue and people. Everyone expected Saint George to make a sacrifice to the gods. He, approaching the idol, made the sign of the cross and addressed it as if it were alive: “Do you want to accept a sacrifice from me as God?” The demon that lived in the idol shouted: “I am not God and none of my kind is God. There is only one God, the one you preach. We, from the Angels serving Him, have become apostates and, obsessed with envy, we deceive people.” “How dare you be here when I, the servant of the True God, came here?” asked the saint. There was noise and crying, the idols fell and were crushed. There was general confusion.

The priests and many from the crowd furiously attacked the holy martyr, tied him up, began to beat him and demand his immediate execution. The holy Queen Alexandra hurried to the noise and screams. Making her way through the crowd, she shouted: “God Georgiev, help me, since You alone are Omnipotent.” At the feet of the great martyr, the holy queen glorified Christ, humiliating idols and those who worshiped them. Diocletian, in a frenzy, immediately pronounced the death sentence on the Great Martyr George and the holy Queen Alexandra, who followed Saint George to execution without resistance. On the way, she became exhausted and leaned unconscious against the wall. Everyone decided that the queen had died. Saint George thanked God and prayed that his journey would end with dignity. At the place of execution, the saint in fervent prayer asked the Lord to forgive the torturers, who did not know what they were doing, and to lead them to the knowledge of the Truth. Calmly and courageously, the holy Great Martyr George bowed his head under the sword. It was April 23, 303. The executioners and judges looked at their Conqueror in confusion. In bloody agony and senseless tossing, the era of paganism ended ingloriously. Only ten years have passed - and Saint Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine, one of Diocletian’s successors on the Roman throne, will order the Cross and the covenant, sealed with the blood of the Great Martyr and Victorious George and thousands of unknown martyrs, to be inscribed on the banners: “By this, conquer.” Of the many miracles performed by the Holy Great Martyr George, the most famous is depicted in iconography. In the saint's homeland, in the city of Beirut, there were many idolaters. Near the city, near the Lebanese Mountains, there was a large lake in which a huge snake lived. Coming out of the lake, he devoured people, and the inhabitants could not do anything, since his very breath contaminated the air. According to the teachings of the demons who lived in the idols, the king made the following decision: every day the inhabitants had to give their children as food to the snake by lot, and when his turn came, he promised to give his only daughter. Time passed, and the king, dressed her in the best clothes, sent her to the lake. The girl cried bitterly, waiting for her death hour. Suddenly, the Great Martyr George rode up to her on horseback with a spear in his hand. The girl begged him not to stay with her so as not to die. But the saint, seeing the serpent, made the sign of the cross and with the words “in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit” rushed at him. The Great Martyr George pierced the serpent's throat with a spear and trampled it with his horse. Then he ordered the girl to tie the snake with her belt and lead it to the city like a dog.

The inhabitants fled in fear, but the saint stopped them with the words: “Do not be afraid, but trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and believe in Him, for it was He who sent me to you to save you.” Then the saint killed the serpent with a sword, and the inhabitants burned it outside the city. Twenty-five thousand people, not counting women and children, were baptized then, and a church was built in the name of the Most Holy Theotokos and the Great Martyr George. Saint George could become a talented commander and surprise the world with his military exploits. He died when he was not even 30 years old. Hastening to unite with the Heavenly army, he entered the history of the Church as the Victorious.

He became famous with this name from the very beginning of Christianity and in Holy Rus'. Saint George the Victorious was the angel and patron of several great builders of Russian statehood and Russian military power. The son of Saint Vladimir, Equal-to-the-Apostles, Yaroslav the Wise, in Holy Baptism George (+1054), greatly contributed to the veneration of the saint in the Russian Church. He built the city of Yuryev, founded the Yuryevsky Monastery in Novgorod, and erected the Church of St. George the Victorious in Kyiv. The day of the consecration of the Kyiv St. George Church, performed on November 26, 1051 by Hilarion, Metropolitan of Kyiv, entered the liturgical treasury of the Church as a special church holiday, St. George’s Day, beloved by the Russian people “autumn St. George”. The name of St. George was borne by the founder of Moscow Yuri Dolgoruky (+1157), the creator of many St. George's churches, the builder of the city of Yuryev-Polsky. In 1238, the heroic struggle of the Russian people against the Mongol hordes was led by the Grand Duke of Vladimir Yuri (George) Vsevolodovich (+1238; commemorated February 4), who died in the Battle of the City. The memory of him as Yegor the Brave, defender of his native land, is reflected in Russian spiritual poems and epics. The first Grand Duke of Moscow, during the period when Moscow became the center of gathering of the Russian land, was Yuri Danilovich (+1325) - the son of St. Daniel of Moscow, grandson of St. Alexander Nevsky. Since that time, Saint George the Victorious - the horseman slaying the serpent - has become the coat of arms of Moscow and the emblem of the Russian state. And this further strengthened the ties of the Christian peoples of Russia with the same faith Iberia (Georgia, the country of George).

Preview:

Municipal budgetary educational institution
Gymnasium of the city of Navashino

Class hour

"Holy Great Martyr George the Victorious"

Prepared and conducted:
Korovina Irina Vasilievna
primary school teacher

year 2013

"Holy Great Martyr George the Victorious."

Goals: introduce primary school students to the bright historical figure St. George the Victorious;

1. tell about the miracles associated with the name of St. George the Victorious;
2. to attract the attention of the younger generation to the history of Christianity;
3. preserve and develop traditions of service to the Motherland and Orthodoxy;
4. identify and support artistically and literary gifted children.

Progress of the class hour

1.Introductory conversation.

Teacher: Many of you guys have already been to the temple of God and seen many icons there: images of the Savior, the Mother of God, the holy saints of God. Today we will talk to you about the saint, who is most often depicted in military equipment, riding a white horse, with a spear, killing a dragon.

On horseback

Under the hoof is a dragon,

The spear pierces the mouth!

He rushes to the aid of those who sin

And to those who may fall into sin!

Teacher: Maybe some of you know the name of this holy warrior?

(Children's answers.)

Yes, this is Saint George the Victorious.

2. A story with a presentation about the holy great martyr.

Teacher: Where was St. George the Victorious born?

Victory over the serpent

In the saint’s homeland, near the city of Beirut, there was a lake in which lived a huge and terrible snake. Coming out of the lake, he devoured people and devastated the surrounding area. In order to appease the formidable monster, the inhabitants, on the advice of the priests, began to cast lots to give their children as sacrifices to the snake.
Finally, it was the turn of the king’s only daughter. The girl, distinguished by her unprecedented beauty, was led to the lake and left in her usual place. While the people looked at the princess from afar, expecting her death, St. suddenly appeared. George on a white horse and with a spear in his hand. Seeing the snake, he made the sign of the cross and with the words “In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,” he rushed at the monster and struck it in the larynx with a spear. After which he ordered the girl to tie the snake with a belt and lead it to the city. People, seeing the monster, began to run away in horror. But Saint George restrained them: “Do not be afraid, but believe and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ: it is He who sent me to save you from the serpent.” After these words, the saint killed the snake, and the residents burned the monster. Seeing this miracle, 25,000 idolaters converted to Christianity.
For his victory over the serpent and for his courage in suffering, Saint George began to be called the Victorious. The Holy Great Martyr George is considered the patron and protector of warriors. On icons he is usually depicted sitting on a white horse and striking a snake in the mouth with a spear.

About a young man who stole a lamb from a poor widow

The young man sold the widow’s lamb for three pieces of silver, and when she asked where the lamb was, he replied that it had been eaten by a wolf, and at the same time said: “I swear by St. George, the wolf ate your lamb.” The young man drove the flock into the mountains, and there he was bitten by a snake. He died from a snake bite. The monk Sophronius, who came to the aid of the shepherd, was sent by Saint George. Saving the young man, he gave him water to drink straight from the cross and said: “In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, by the power of Christ the Holy Great Martyr George heals you, arise and feed.” The boy was saved. The monk Sophronius asked him if he had stolen the lamb and if he had sworn by Saint George. The young man was surprised and asked how he knew about this. Monk Sophrony replied that Saint George told him about this. The young man admitted his sin and promised to atone for his guilt.

About the rescue of seafarers off the coast of Crimea

A Greek ship with valuable cargo was caught in a terrible storm in the Black Sea off the coast of Crimea. The unfortunate sailors turned to St. George the Victorious with a request to save them, and the saint was not slow to come to their aid. He suddenly appeared on a rock and stopped the ship, the storm subsided. On the rock, sailors discovered an icon of St. George. Subsequently, the Greeks founded a cave monastery on this site in 801.

Martyrdom of St. George the Victorious

1. Why did George accept martyrdom, because the emperor loved him?Because persecution of Christians began, and he was a Christian and could not remain silent when others suffered.
2. What did he do with the goods he acquired?He distributed everything he had to the poor.

1. On the 1st day, when they began to push him into prison with stakes, one of them miraculously broke, like a straw. He was then tied to the posts and a heavy stone was placed on his chest.
2. The next day he was subjected to wheel torture , studded with knives and swords. Diocletian considered him dead, but suddenly appeared angel , and George greeted him, as the soldiers did, then the emperor realized that the martyr was still alive. They took him off the wheel and saw that all his wounds were healed.
3. Then they threw him into a hole where there wasquicklime, but this did not harm the saint.
4. A day later, the bones in his arms and legs were broken, but the next morning they were whole again.
5. He was forced to run in red-hot iron boots (optionally with sharp nails inside). He prayed all the next night and the next morning again appeared before the emperor.
6. He was beaten with whips (ox sinews) so that the skin peeled off his back, but he rose up healed.
7. On the 7th day he was forced to drink two cups of drugs, from one of which he was supposed to lose his mind, and from the second - to die. But they didn't harm him. He then performed several miracles (resurrecting the dead and reviving a fallen ox), which caused many to convert to Christianity.

George endured all this torment and did not renounce Christ. After unsuccessful persuasion to renounce and offer a pagan sacrifice, he was sentenced to death. That night the Savior appeared to him in a dream with a golden crown on his head and said that Paradise awaited him. George immediately called a servant, who wrote down everything that was said (one ofapocryphawritten on behalf of this particular servant) and ordered that after his death his body be taken to Palestine.

At the end of George’s torment, Emperor Diocletian, going down to prison, once again invited the tortured former commander of his bodyguards to renounceChrist. George said: "Take me to the templeApollo" And when this was done (on the 8th day), George stood up to his full height in front of the white stone statue, and everyone heard his speech: “Is it really for you that I am going to the slaughter? And can you accept this sacrifice from me as a god?"At the same time, George overshadowed himself and the statueApollothe sign of the cross - and this forced the demon who lived in her to declare himself a fallen angel. After this, all the idols in the temple were crushed.

Enraged by this priestsThey rushed to beat George. And the wife of Emperor Alexander, who ran to the temple, threw herself at the feet of the great martyr and, sobbing, asked to be forgiven for the sins of her tyrant husband. She was converted by the miracle that had just happened. Diolectian shouted in anger: “Cut it off! Cut off the heads! Cut off both!“And George, having prayed for the last time, laid his head on the block with a calm smile.

Memory of St. George in churches, icons and paintings

Teacher: Do people remember his suffering? (Children's answers).Yes, the memory of the saint has survived to this day. In many countries, temples were built and continue to be built, beautiful icons were painted. Look.

Teacher's story

George's red cloak is a traditional attribute of a martyr who shed his blood. But the red cloak flutters in the icon like a scarlet banner, flutters like a fiery flame - it clearly expresses the “fiery passion” of the hero, and in contrast to the cloak, the white horse looks like a symbol of spiritual purity. At the same time, with its silhouette, the rider merges with the banner, and that is why his figure seems to be winged. The red banner corresponds below with the red tongue of the serpent. The green serpent occupies a modest place in the icon; it hints that the feat finds support for itself in heaven.

Decorated with a human mask, the shield of George resembles a solar disk. The snow-white silhouette of a horse is perceived as a dazzling light spot of color. In the iconography of George, ancient Russian monuments occupy a special place. Russian Georgies do not have such unbridled prowess, courage and enthusiasm as in medieval knights, but they do not have any traces of selfishness characteristic of adventurers. Russian depictions of George emphasize more strongly that he enters into battle to fulfill his duty. We feel that in this struggle a hero will triumph. In the icon we see a very simple but beautiful idea of ​​​​confidence that the bright, human, just will defeat the dark forces of evil hostile to man.

The beautiful icon of “St. George” is located in the Moscow Kremlin in the Assumption Cathedral. In the warrior’s right hand is a spear, with his left resting on the hilt of a sword. A red cloak is slung over his shoulder. His beautiful eyes are filled with suffering, his lips are tightly compressed, dark hair frames his noble face.

Military Order of the Holy Great Martyr and Victorious George

The Imperial Military Order of the Holy Great Martyr and Victorious George (Order of St. George) is the highest military award of the Russian Empire for officers, lower ranks and military units. Established by Empress Catherine II on November 26 (December 7), 1769 in honor of St. George to honor officers for their services on the battlefield. He had four degrees of distinction. Since November 26, 1769, it has been considered the holiday Day of the Knights of St. George.

The insignia of the Military Order was established on February 13 (25), 1807, by decree of Emperor Alexander I, as a reward for lower military ranks for “undaunted courage.” The badge was worn on a ribbon of the same colors as the Order of St. George.

By Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the Russian Federation of March 2, 1992 No. 2424-I “On state awards of the Russian Federation”, it was decided: to restore the Russian military Order of St. George and the sign “St. George's Cross”.

Other awards named after St. George

Other awards are also named after St. George the Victorious. These are the St. George's Golden Arms for bravery, the St. George's Standard, and the "St. George's Ribbon".

"George Ribbon"- a public event for the distribution of symbolic ribbons, dedicated to the celebration of Victory Day in the Great Patriotic War, taking place since 2005 on the initiative of state news agencies and youth movements “Student Community”, OURS, etc. Since then, the action has become traditional and is held annually at the expense of enterprises and budget from April 24 to May 12. In 2008, St. George's ribbons were distributed in more than 30 countries. Over the four years of the campaign, more than 45 million ribbons have been distributed worldwide. The countries in which the campaign is most active are Belarus, Ukraine, Greece, France, Italy, Estonia, Latvia, Great Britain, USA, Germany, Moldova, China, Vietnam, Belgium, Kazakhstan, Russia and Afghanistan.

Great commanders awarded
Order of St. George the Victorious

The Order of St. George was awarded to the best sons of our Fatherland: F.F. Ushakov, M.I. Kutuzov, M.D. Skobelev and others.

3. Watching the cartoon “Yegory the Brave.”

4. Drawing competition about St. George.

Literature

1. Durov V. A. Russian awards of the 18th - early 20th centuries. - M.: Education, 1997.
2. Durov V. A. Order of Russia . - M.: “Sunday”, 1993.
3. Spassky I. G. Foreign and Russian orders before 1917. - St. Petersburg: Dorval, 1993.
4. Wikipedia. Free encyclopedia.
5. Great Soviet Encyclopedia. M., 1970 - 1977.
6. Large encyclopedic dictionary. - 2nd ed. M., 2000.

Approved for distribution by the Publishing Council of the Russian Orthodox Church IS R 14-410-1068

© Trade House Nikeya LLC, 2018

© Nikeya Publishing House, 2015

* * *

What kind of person would you like to be? Of course - happy! A happy person is surrounded by love and gives love and joy. And if there is a lot of goodness and love in a person’s heart, it means that it is open to God, because you know that God is Love.

After the Resurrection of Christ, when the apostles began preaching the Gospel, more and more people became Christians: among the inhabitants of cities and villages, and among the nobility, and even in the royal chambers.

But most people remained pagans. They still believed in fictitious gods and made generous sacrifices to them, endowing them with their own qualities: cunning, deceit, cruelty. The priests of the pagan gods hated Christians and turned people against them. Christians were executed, so they hid their faith, kept it secret. Remaining faithful was deadly. What kind of happiness is there?! But the Christians were joyful, kind and faithful, quiet joy lived in their families. Why? Because true happiness, true joy is in the love of God, in being with Him. And no one can take away this joy!

* * *

Three centuries after the Resurrection of Christ, Emperor Diocletian reigned in the Roman Empire. At this time, in Cappadocia, a baby, George, was born into a rich and noble family. His father's name was Gerontius, his mother's name was Polychronia. Gerontius was a military leader, and George received an excellent education and, as an inheritance from his father, a love of military affairs. George grew up as a handsome and smart boy. His mother was a secret Christian and raised him in the Christian faith. He had many friends, he knew how to be friends with both rich boys and poor ones, he helped orphans and had one character trait: if he promised anything, he always kept his word and kept what he promised. And he was honest, never deceived, because his heart belonged to Christ. George's father believed in fictitious pagan gods. But one day he became seriously ill, and George advised him to say the name of Christ, he said it and was healed. Then he believed in Christ, began to preach Him and was killed by the priests of the Temple of Jupiter.

The death of his father made such an indelible impression on George and his mother that they left Cappadocia and settled in Palestine, where their mother had rich estates. Here George grew into a handsome, courageous, strong Christian young man who knew how to keep his word and help the poor and sick.

At the age of sixteen, George entered military service and showed himself in the war with the Persians to be such a brave man, such an efficient warrior that, not yet twenty years old, he was awarded by the Emperor Diocletian himself, accepted into the imperial retinue and awarded the title of commander. This means that he had a thousand warriors under his command! He served in the cohort of invincibles. Both soldiers and commanders loved him.

Emperor Diocletian was an adherent of pagan beliefs and traditions. He increasingly strengthened the empire, exalting himself with military victories, and then called himself the son of the god Jupiter and demanded that he be given divine honors. Those who refuse to make sacrifices to the god Jupiter will be executed with the sword. Diocletian created a council of senior military commanders and close associates to persecute Christians throughout the empire. The books of Christians were ordered to be burned, churches destroyed, and they themselves were forced to renounce their faith, worship pagan gods, and if they refused, tortured and executed. Executions were carried out everywhere. The prisons were filled not with criminals, but with Christians, and martyrs appeared. Martyrs are those who did not renounce faith in Christ during persecution and gave their lives for Him. People, seeing the steadfastness of Christians, were imbued with faith in Christ, therefore, thanks to the martyrs, the Christian faith triumphed in the world.

The boy Gosha lived in an apartment where there was a common kitchen for several families. Gosha knew all the neighbors. They treated him kindly.

Especially Aunt Dusya, she will see him and laugh loudly:

Ah, my favorite has arrived. Well, come, come, I’ll treat you to a pancake. He gives it and admires how he devours it.

Well, did you like it? I see, I see: one more won’t hurt you.

Times were difficult, half-starved, every piece was appreciated. Therefore, when mom went to the kitchen, Gosha slipped in like a thread after a needle - suddenly something would happen.

Many housewives gathered here. The women, rattling plates and pots, animatedly shared the news. In short, it was interesting in the kitchen.

During the day, when the adults went to work and there was no one in the kitchen, for some reason Gosha was also drawn here.

One day, when he was looking around at other people's shelves, a strange thought appeared to him - while no one was there, he should make a hole in some pan.

No one told Gaucher that not all thoughts that come to mind are good. Is it possible to let some bandit into the house? What will he do?! Scary to imagine! It’s the same thing - allowing an evil thought into your head. However, Gosha did not know that it could be driven away by prayer, replacing it with another thought - a good one. Alas, the boy did not hear about this and did not know how to fight bad thoughts.

A villainous thought came to him once, then he forgot about it, but soon it, uninvited, visited him another time, and a third.

As soon as the apartment was empty, it was as if someone was calling Gosha to where the pots were frozen on the shelves. He glanced first at one, then at the other.

And the evil thought sounded more and more insistently in my head:

Make a hole! Make a hole!

Gosha didn’t understand why? He didn’t want to upset anyone, but the usual thought was already possessing him. As he fell asleep, he heard it as an order. As soon as he woke up, she came to him first, and Gosha waited until no one was there to cross the threshold of the kitchen and decide which of the many pots needed to be pierced, and even prepared the appropriate tool.

One day, when everyone had left, he tiptoed to accomplish his plan. The floorboards creaked. For the first time Gosha heard how anxiously his heart was beating. It seemed to warn:

Do not go! No need! He stopped at the kitchen door.

For what? No need! No need! - the other one begged.

Gosha breathed heavily. My legs felt heavy.

It was difficult for him to cross the threshold. I wanted to turn and run. But someone's voice commanded:

Hole the pan, you coward! Punch at least one hole!

With trembling hands, he took the nearest bowl. His heart was beating desperately, and each beat sounded like thunder:

Stop! What are you doing!

But someone else was already working with his hands. Gosha took a screwdriver and a hammer and hit.

He felt feverish. Already delirious, he began to grab all the pots one after another and feverishly hit them.

Having made holes in everything, he ran away. Then, hearing angry screams, he hid. Neighbors burst into the room, took the baby out from under the bed, and shook holey pots in front of his eyes...

Gosha looked at them as if through a fog, and to Aunt Dusya’s question: “Why, why did you do this?” - he just shrank and whispered: “I don’t know...”
He whispered out loud, and the sound of his own voice woke him up. Gosha opened his eyes and saw neither leaky pots nor angry faces in front of him. There was no one in the room except him. He looked around, and his gaze suddenly stopped at the icon of St. George the Victorious. His grandmother gave him this icon, saying:

Remember, you are not Gosha, but Georgy. Once upon a time a terrible snake attacked the city. He ate children and demanded more and more victims. And so the young warrior George on horseback rushed to fight the monster. You see: another moment and he will pierce the serpent with a spear. This warrior is your saint. He is always there for you. Just call him: “Saint George the Victorious, pray to God for me, intercede for me!”

Gosha listened. There was no one in the apartment, and again the snake whisper sounded in his head:

Why are you delaying?! Everybody left! Go ahead and make a hole!

But George, looking intently at the icon, crossed himself. Of course, his grandmother had told him before that this was the first thing to do in the morning, but... Gosha forgot and was lazy. And now he is baptized, praying:

Saint George the Victorious, pray to God for me.

After the prayer, he remembered his neighbors, their kindness and affection, how they treated him...

Make a hole! Make a hole! - some snake was already whispering from afar.

Hide the tool! And better pray for your neighbors. Remember how much they love you!

The snake's hiss sounded weaker and weaker. The boy resolutely put the instrument away and, going up to the icon, asked again:

Saint George the Victorious, pray to God for us.

While praying, he looked at the icon as if it were a window into an unknown world in which he now had a friend.

Saint George is one of the great martyrs of the Orthodox Church. He was called the Victorious for his courage, strength and will in the fight against the enemy army. The saint also became famous for his help and love for people. The life of St. George the Victorious has become famous for many facts, and the story of his posthumous appearance to humanity is generally similar to a fairy tale.

Life of Saint George the Victorious

The saint's parents were believers and God-fearing Christians. My father suffered for his faith and suffered martyrdom. His mother, remaining a widow, moved with the young George to Palestine and began raising her child as a Christian.

Great Martyr George the Victorious

George grew up to be a brave young man, and having enlisted in the Roman army, he was noticed by the pagan emperor Diocletian. He accepted the warrior into his guard.

The ruler clearly understood the danger that the Christian faith posed to the civilization of the pagans, so he intensified the persecution of Christianity. Diocletian gave the military leaders freedom in relation to reprisals against the Orthodox. George, having learned about the ruler’s unjust decision, distributed to the poor all the property inherited after the death of his parents, granted freedom to the slaves who worked on the estate, and appeared before the emperor.

Without fear, he courageously denounced Diocletian and his cruel plan, and then confessed his faith in Christ before him. The powerful pagan tried to force the warrior to renounce the Savior and sacrifice to idols, to which he received a decisive refusal from the Orthodox warrior. By order of Diocletian, the squires pushed the Victorious out of the room with spears and tried to take him to prison.

But the steel weapon miraculously became soft and easily bent upon contact with the saint’s body.

Having placed the Orthodox warrior in prison, his legs were put in stocks, and his chest was pressed with a large stone. The next morning, the unshakable warrior again confessed his faith in Christ. The angry Diocletian tortured him. Naked George was tied to a chariot, over which boards with iron points were arranged. As the wheels turned, the iron cut his body. But instead of groans and the expected renunciation of the Creator, the saint only called on the Lord’s Help.

When the sufferer fell silent, the pagan thought that he had given up the ghost and ordered the cut and torn body to be removed. But suddenly the sky turned black, great thunder struck and the majestic Voice of God was heard: “Do not be afraid, warrior. I'm with you". Immediately a bright glow appeared and a blond young man, the Angel of the Lord, appeared next to the Victorious. He laid his hand on George’s body and he instantly rose up healed.

St. George the Victorious (Lydda)

The imperial soldiers took him to the temple where Diocletian was. He couldn’t believe his eyes - standing before him was a completely healthy and full of strength man. Many pagans who watched the miracle believed in Christ. Even two noble dignitaries immediately publicly confessed the faith of Christ, for which their heads were cut off.

Queen Alexandra also tried to glorify the Almighty, but the imperial servants quickly took her to the palace.

The pagan king, in an attempt to break the unshakable George, betrayed him to even more terrible torment. The martyr was thrown into a deep ditch, and his body was covered with quicklime. They dug up George only on the third day. Surprisingly, his body was not damaged, and the man himself was in a joyful and calm mood. Diocletian did not calm down and ordered the martyr to be put on iron boots with hot nails inside them and put under arrest. In the morning, the warrior showed off his healthy legs and joked that he really liked the boots. Then the enraged ruler ordered to beat the holy body with ox sinews and mix his blood and body with the ground.

Deciding that George was using magic spells, the ruler summoned a sorcerer to the court in order to deprive the former warrior of magic and poison him. He presented the martyr with a potion, but it had no effect, and the saint again glorified God.

Monasteries in honor of St. George the Victorious:

Miracles of God

The emperor wanted to know what helps the former warrior survive after terrible torment? George replied that with God everything is possible. Then the pagan wished that the martyr would raise the dead in his presence. When the Victorious was brought to the tomb, he began to beg the Heavenly Father to show everyone present that He is the God of the whole world. And then the earth shook, the coffin opened and the dead man came to life. Immediately those present at the miracle believed in God and glorified Him.

The miraculous image of the Holy Great Martyr George the Victorious

Once again George found himself in prison. Suffering people tried to get to the prisoner in various ways and received healing from ailments and help with petitions. Among them was the farmer Glycerius. The other day his ox died and the man came with a prayer to resurrect the animal. The saint promised to bring the cattle back to life. Returning home, the man found a revived ox in the stall and began glorifying the name of the Lord throughout the city.

The end of the earthly journey

On the last night of his earthly life, George prayed fervently. He had a vision that the Lord Himself approached Him and kissed Him and placed a martyr’s crown on His head. In the morning, Diocletian invited the great martyr to become a co-ruler and rule the country together. To which George invited him to immediately go to the temple of Apollo.

The victorious man crossed himself and turned to one of the idols with a question: would he like to accept the sacrifice as God? But the demon sitting in the idol shouted that God is the one whom George preaches, and he is an apostate who deceives people. The priests attacked the saint and beat him furiously.

St. George's Day May 6

Queen Alexandra, the wife of Diocletian, made her way through a large gathering of pagans, fell at the feet of the saint and prayed to the Creator for help, glorifying Him. The Victorious and Alexandra were sentenced to death by the bloodthirsty Diocletian. They followed together to the place of massacre, but along the way the queen fell exhausted. The warrior of Christ forgave all his tormentors and put his holy head under a sharp sword.

Thus ended the era of paganism.

Miracles

The life of Saint George the Victorious is filled with many miracles.

About miracles in Orthodoxy:

Legend has it that not far from a lake in Syria there lived a huge dragon-like serpent. He devoured people and animals, and then released poisonous breath into the air. Many brave men tried to kill the monster, but not a single attempt was successful and all the people died.

The Holy Great Martyr is especially revered in Georgia.

The city governor issued an order according to which a girl or boy had to be given a snake to be eaten every day. Moreover, he himself had a daughter. He promised that if the lot falls on her, then the girl will share the fate of other death row prisoners. And so it happened. The girl was brought to the shore of the lake and tied to a tree. In a frenzy, she awaited the appearance of the serpent and her hour of death. When the monster came out of the water and began to approach the beauty, a blond young man suddenly appeared on a white horse. He thrust a sharp spear into the snake’s body and saved the unfortunate woman.

This was Saint George the Victorious, who put an end to the deaths of young people in the country.

The inhabitants of the country, having learned about the miracle that had occurred, believed in Christ, a healing spring flowed at the site of the battle between the warrior and the serpent, and later a temple was erected in honor of the Victorious. This plot was the basis for the St. George image.

After the Arabs captured Palestine, another miracle happened. An Arab who entered an Orthodox church saw a clergyman praying at one of the icons. In an attempt to show disdain for the holy faces, the Arab shot an arrow at one of the images. But the arrow did not harm the icon, but returned and pierced the shooter’s hand. In a fit of unbearable pain, the Arab turned to the cleric, to which he advised him to hang the icon of St. George the Victorious over the head of his bed and anoint the wound with oil from the lamp that was lit in front of his face. Upon recovery, the cleric presented the Arab with a book that described the life of the saint. The holy life of the Orthodox warrior and his torment made the greatest impression on the Arab. Soon he accepted Holy Baptism, became a preacher of Christianity, for which he suffered a martyr's death.

1. The saint, in addition to his usual name, is known by the names George of Lydda and Cappadocia.

2. On the day of remembrance of the saint, May 6, the Orthodox Church celebrates the memory of Queen Anna, who heartily accepted the torment of the saint, believed in Christ and died for the confession of Orthodoxy.

3. The Holy Great Martyr is especially revered in Georgia. The first of the temples erected in his honor was built in the 1st century.

4. Most Georgian babies are named after George. It is believed that a person named George will never experience failure and will be a winner in life.

The great Orthodox warrior endured all the suffering for the faith of Christ, which he did not betray and did not exchange for the power and wealth offered to him by the pagan Diocletian. The Holy Great Martyr of Christ helps everyone who turns to his intercession. According to the sincere and heartfelt faith of the petitioner, his request will always be fulfilled.

Watch a video about the life of St. George the Victorious