Saint
George
Saturday,
November 18, 2006
Saint George
Prince of Martyrs
23 Baramundah / 1 May
There are
various accounts of the history of Saint George, who is held in great
veneration by Copts as an efficacious intercessor. Many stories were handed
down by tradition, and are popularly accepted as historical.
According
to the Coptic Synaxarion, Saint George was born in
Cappadocia to Anastasius and Theopista.
His father, who was a governor, died when Saint George was twenty years of age.
He went to Emperor Diocletian to claim his father’s position. He was distressed
by the emperor’s paganism and his persecution of Christians, and determined to
devote his life as one of Christ’s warriors. He gave his possessions to the
poor and discharged his servants.
As Saint
George was incensed to see the imperial edicts against those who professed Christianity,
he tore them down. He was taken to the emperor’s court, where he proclaimed he
was a Christian, crying out in anger, “When will you stop torturing innocent
Christians and forcing them to recant their religion? If you do not wish to
embrace their faith, at least so not persecute them.”
Magnentius, one of the emperor’s courtiers, tried to satisfy
him, but to no avail. The emperor intervened, and reminded George of the
favours he bestowed upon him, promising him more if he were to renounce Christ.
Saint George declined the emperor’s offers with disdain, and was therefore
subjected to torture that he endured without wavering.
A
sorcerer named Athanasius was asked to administer him a poisoned drink on which
he uttered some magical incantation. Saint George made the sign on the cross on
the cup and drank it without being harmed. Thereupon the sorcerer accepted the
Christian belief, and was consequently put to death, receiving the crown of
martyrdom.
The
emperor was deeply infuriated and ordered Saint George to be crushed under
heavy rollers, until he gave up the spirit. He was cast outside the city. But
Christ restored him to life, and he returned to the city where over 3,000
people saw him embrace Christianity. They were all beheaded, willingly seeking
the crown of martyrdom.
After
further miracles accomplished by Saint George, his torture was intensified by
Diocletian. Finally, the emperor tried to coax him by offering him his daughter
in marriage if he would burn incense for the gods. Saint George pretended to
accept, and was allowed in the palace. While he was praying and reciting the
Psalms, he was overheard by the empress who asked him to explain the meaning of
his prayers. When he did, she believed in Christ, and eventually the emperor
had her beheaded.
Finally,
Saint George’s head was cut off and he won the crown of martyrdom. The Coptic Synaxarion gives 307 A.D as the year of his
martyrdom.
Though
not a native Egyptian, Saint George is one of the most beloved and revered
saints of the Coptic Church. His feast day is 23 Baramundah
(1st of May). The churches that have been dedicated to his name all
over Egypt are too numerous to count. Besides, there is hardly a church in the
country that does not contain one or more icons of this great martyr. On the
anniversary of his martyrdom, and on other dates, celebrations and mulids (religious festivals) attract many
thousands of pilgrims and patients from far and wide. Among the most famous
churches are two at Mit Damsis,
north of Mit Ghamr, in the
Delta, where celebrations are help annually between
22 and 28 August
May the
blessings of this Saint be with us all. Amen.
