The warrior who did not renounce his faith: what does St. George's Day mean and how is it celebrated?
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- The warrior who did not renounce his faith: what does St. George's Day mean and how is it celebrated?
The Great Martyr George the Victorious is one of the most revered saints in Orthodoxy. He is considered the heavenly patron saint of warriors, the protector of farmers and the patron saint of Moscow. The image of a rider on a white horse striking a snake with a spear remains one of the main symbols of the Russian capital, and the St. George ribbon has served as a symbol of military valor for several centuries. In autumn, two dates associated with the memory of the saint are celebrated at once. The first of them falls on Monday, November 16. What events are remembered on this day — in the material of Izvestia.
When the Church remembers St. George the Victorious
The Orthodox Church remembers the Great Martyr George the Victorious several times a year. The date of November 16 is set in honor of the consecration of the temple in the Palestinian Lydda, where the relics of the great martyr rest.
The history of the temple goes back to ancient times. The first church in the saint's homeland was built back in the sixth century. Over the following centuries, the building was repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt. The large-scale renovation was completed in 1872. The temple was re-consecrated on November 16, the anniversary of its first consecration.
Another important event is celebrated on November 23 — in memory of the Great Martyr's chariot. It is this day that completes the autumn cycle of the saint's memory, after which the church calendar turns to George in winter. The winter holiday falls on December 9 and is dedicated to the consecration of the first church in Russia in honor of St. George the Victorious. It was built in Kiev by order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise in 1051.
St. George the Victorious is also remembered in the spring — on the day of his martyrdom, which, according to church tradition, occurred in 303. Commemoration on this occasion is celebrated on May 6 and opens the annual cycle of veneration of the saint.
Who is George the Victorious: the story of the saint
According to his life, George was born at the end of the 3rd century in Cappadocia, a province of the Roman Empire (now a city in modern Turkey). His father was a pagan warrior, and his mother was a Christian. From a young age, George served in the Roman army, distinguished by his bravery and military abilities. Over time, he received the high rank of tribune — commander of the legion.
During the persecution of Christians under Emperor Diocletian, George openly declared his faith. He refused to sacrifice to pagan gods and opposed the persecution of Christians. For this, he was subjected to severe torture. One of the trials was the wheel, but even after that the saint did not renounce Christ and eventually suffered a martyr's death.
For his steadfastness and steadfastness in faith, George was canonized as a great martyr. The name Victorious stuck to him for the firmness of spirit and will that he showed in the face of death. Later, this epithet began to be associated with a specific miracle — the victory over the serpent.
In Russia, St. George began to be revered after the adoption of Christianity. Prince Yaroslav the Wise, who was christened George, played a major role in this. He not only founded a temple in honor of the saint, but also ordered his memory to be celebrated throughout the country. Later, the image of the Great Martyr appeared on princely seals and coins. In particular, it was used by Yuri Dolgoruky, the founder of Moscow, and under Dmitry Donskoy, George the Victorious finally established himself as the patron saint of the capital.
The veneration of the saint was continued in the military history of Russia. In 1769, Catherine II established the Order of St. George, the highest military award of the Russian Empire. In 1807, the St. George's Cross appeared. The St. George ribbon is also associated with the military award, which in 2022 was officially recognized as a symbol of Russia's military glory.
Why is St. George the Victorious depicted striking a serpent?
The holy great-martyr warrior was revered all over the world. His veneration began in the 6th century in Cappadocia, and then spread to Europe and a number of Christian countries in the Middle East. There were also tales of his posthumous miracles. The most famous of them is the victory over the terrible serpent, known as the "Miracle of George about the Serpent."
According to legend, a monster settled near Beirut, which attacked people and demanded human sacrifices. To appease him, the king ordered the inhabitants to draw lots who would be sacrificed to the monster. Ironically, the lot fell on the tsar's daughter. The girl was dressed up in expensive clothes, decorated with gold and stones, and taken to the lake, where death awaited her.
When the princess was about to die, George appeared in front of her on a white horse. The warrior made the sign of the cross over himself and struck the monster with a spear. Then he ordered her to tie the defeated serpent with a belt and lead him into the city. On the same day, after seeing the rescued girl and the defeated serpent, many pagans, including the king himself, converted to Christianity, and the monster himself was beheaded.
The legend of the snake began to spread in written sources no earlier than the 11th century. Later it was widely reflected in icon painting. St. George the Victorious began to be depicted riding a white horse, striking a snake with a spear. However, there is no such episode in the saint's original life.
The researchers note that the plot of the snake-fighting hero is older than Christianity itself, but it was the Christian tradition that filled it with new content. In Christian symbolism, the serpent represents evil and the devil himself, the princess represents the Church, the spear represents the word of God, and the white horse represents the grace—giving power bestowed by God. Therefore, the plot is perceived not as a story about a miraculous salvation, but as a parable about a man's struggle with sin.
Church traditions related to the memory of the saint
On the days of commemoration of the Great Martyr, solemn divine services are held in churches. The clergy perform special chants dedicated to St. George, as well as irmos and stichera. After the liturgy, a procession is often held, sometimes with the removal of a particle of relics. On the eve, if the day falls on a weekday, an all-night vigil may be served.
Believers come to churches to worship the icon of the saint and ask for his intercession. They pray to St. George for courage in the face of trials, strengthening faith and help in difficult circumstances. He is also approached with requests for the protection of soldiers, the preservation of the household, and in peasant life, also for the safety of livestock.
In Moscow, one of the most famous places of veneration of the Great Martyr is the Church of St. George the Victorious on Poklonnaya Gora. The main shrine of the temple is a fragment of the relics of St. George the Victorious, donated by Patriarch Diodoros of Jerusalem in 1998. However, you can pray to the saint not only in the temple, but also at home by saying a prayer in front of his icon.
What can and cannot be done on a church holiday
On St. George's Memorial Day, Orthodox Christians should attend a service and take time to pray. On a church holiday, special importance is attached to good deeds and caring for others. It is considered a good tradition to visit elderly relatives, help those in need and show attention to those who need it.
They also try to spend the holiday in peace and harmony, avoiding quarrels. You should not give in to irritation, enter into conflicts, or show malevolence. It is believed that domestic conflicts on the saint's memorial day can lead to long-term discord and serious disagreements, especially between spouses.
There is no fast on this day, so believers are allowed to eat any food, including meat and dairy products. At the same time, it is recommended to observe moderation in food, not to abuse alcohol, and to remember that a church holiday is primarily associated with spiritual life, prayer, and good deeds.
Folk customs and omens for November 16
In the folk tradition, the autumn memorial day of St. George was associated with preparations for winter. At that time, the tools were removed for the winter, and the cattle were moved to the stalls. The housewives baked ceremonial cookies in the shape of horses and cows, which were then fed to livestock, as they asked the saint for protection for animals for the long winter.
In some regions, processions were held to the springs consecrated in honor of the saint, from where they drew water, which was considered curative. It was used to sprinkle houses and stables.
The weather was used to judge the future harvest. If the rivers began to be covered with ice, it promised a lot of bread. The abundance was foreshadowed by snow, while its absence was perceived as a bad sign. People believed that if it wasn't snowy on November 16, then there would be no bread for next year. We also paid attention to other signs. So, low—flying clouds promised an early cold, and the morning frost - a snowy winter.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
