The Great Martyr George was born in the city of Beirut (in antiquity – Belit), at the foot of the Lebanon Mountains during the time of Emperor Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletian (244-311). After entering the military service, the Great Martyr George distinguished himself among other warriors by his intelligence, courage, physical strength, military posture and beauty. Soon rising to the rank of commander of thousands, Saint George became a favorite of Emperor Diocletian – one of the cruelest persecutors of Christians.
Interesting facts about Saint George, the bearer of victory
Saint George did not hesitate to oppose his protector, denouncing him for cruelty and injustice towards Christians, which is why he was subjected to torture: the saint was beaten with oxtails, rolled, thrown into quicklime, and forced to run in boots with spikes inside. The holy martyr endured all this with patience. Finally, the emperor ordered his beheading with the sword. Thus, the holy martyr passed to Christ in Nicomedia in the year 303.
In icons, Saint George is represented riding a white horse and stabbing a snake with a spear. This canonical image is related to the legend that the saint defeated a creature (either a snake, or a crocodile, or a large lizard) that lived in a lake near Beirut. To appease the creature’s anger, the locals brought a young man or a young woman, chosen by lot, as an offering to the creature every day. When fate befell a ruler’s daughter, who was sacrificed to the beast, Saint George appeared and defeated the creature with his spear.
Saint George is considered the protector of cattle. Saint George’s Day was linked to an important annual agricultural rite of the peasants – the first taking out of the cattle to graze after the long winter. On that day, all the animals were taken out and taken to the field, the priest officiated a service in honor of Saint George, sanctified the cattle with holy water. The flock was surrounded three times with the icon of the saint, while prayers were offered to him.
The procession was performed by the priest and the shepherd hired for the coming summer. During this time, the shepherd undertook to observe certain restrictions: he was forbidden to cut his hair or shave during the entire period of grazing, to pick mushrooms and berries, to work somewhere else (the peasants – the owners of the animals either paid to the shepherd a set amount, or they fed him in turn throughout the grazing period), to maintain close relations with someone. Violation of these prohibitions could bring serious problems to the herd: cows would start to disappear, the herd could be attacked by wolves or an increased mortality of the animals could occur. The procession was made with an object belonging to the shepherd, such as a belt, a whip or a shepherd’s horn.
Beliefs and superstitions of Saint George
Over time, a series of beliefs and superstitions have taken root in the people, which have been preserved until today. People bathe, before sunrise, in running water, in order to be healthy all year round and to wash away all evils. Basil sown before sunrise is good for honor: he who washes himself with dew from it, is honored by all the world. At Sf. Gheorghe, people are weighed in order to be healthy all year round and to protect themselves from charms.
Whoever sleeps on this day takes the sleep of the lambs and is sleepy all year. At Sângiorz, the priests and the people go out with the cross in the field and pray for rain and manna in the field. The garbage collected on St. George’s Day is placed at the roots of the trees, so that they bear good fruit. On this day, all kinds of medicinal weeds are collected from the field, which are preserved throughout the year. If there will be dew on St. George’s day, there will often be rain, it is a sign of a rich year. If it rains in Sângiorz – there is a rich wheat harvest.
Tags: Today oldstyle Orthodox Christians celebrate Saint George bearer victory
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