Akathist to the Holy Great Martyr George the Victorious
Great Martyr George was the son of rich and pious parents who raised him in the Christian faith. He was born in the city of Beirut (in ancient times - Belit) at the foot of the Lebanese mountains.
Having entered military service, the Great Martyr George stood out among other soldiers for his intelligence, courage, physical strength, military posture and beauty. Having soon reached the rank of commander of a thousand, St. George became the favorite of Emperor Diocletian. Diocletian was a talented ruler, but a fanatical supporter of the Roman gods. Having set himself the goal of reviving dying paganism in the Roman Empire, he went down in history as one of the most cruel persecutors of Christians.
Having once heard in court an inhuman sentence about the extermination of Christians, St. George was inflamed with compassion for them. Anticipating that suffering also awaited him, George distributed his property to the poor, set his slaves free, appeared to Diocletian and, declaring himself a Christian, accused him of cruelty and injustice. Speech of St. George was full of strong and convincing objections to the imperial order to persecute Christians.
After unsuccessful persuasion to renounce Christ, the emperor ordered the saint to be subjected to various tortures. St. George was imprisoned, where he was laid on his back on the ground, his feet were put in stocks, and a heavy stone was placed on his chest. But St. George bravely endured suffering and glorified the Lord. Then George’s tormentors began to become more sophisticated in their cruelty. They beat the saint with ox sinews, wheeled him around, threw him into quicklime, and forced him to run in boots with sharp nails inside. The holy martyr endured everything patiently. In the end, the emperor ordered the saint's head to be cut off with a sword. Thus the holy sufferer departed to Christ in Nicomedia in 303.
The Great Martyr George is also called the Victorious for his courage and spiritual victory over his tormentors who could not force him to renounce Christianity, as well as for his miraculous help to people in danger. The relics of Saint George the Victorious were placed in the Palestinian city of Lida, in a temple bearing his name, and his head was kept in Rome in a temple also dedicated to him.
On the icons of St. George is depicted sitting on a white horse and slaying a serpent with a spear. This image is based on legend and refers to the posthumous miracles of the Holy Great Martyr George. They say that not far from the place where St. George in the city of Beirut, there lived a snake in the lake, which often devoured the people of that area. What kind of animal it was - a boa constrictor, a crocodile or a large lizard - is unknown.
To quench the fury of the serpent, the superstitious people of that area began to regularly give him a young man or a girl by lot to be devoured. One day the lot fell on the daughter of the ruler of that area. She was taken to the shore of the lake and tied, where she waited in horror for the snake to appear.
When the beast began to approach her, a bright young man suddenly appeared on a white horse, struck the snake with a spear and saved the girl. This young man was the Holy Great Martyr George. With such a miraculous phenomenon, he stopped the destruction of young men and women within Beirut and converted the inhabitants of that country, who had previously been pagans, to Christ.
It can be assumed that the appearance of St. George on horseback to protect the inhabitants from the serpent, as well as the miraculous revival of the farmer’s only ox described in the life, served as the reason for the veneration of St. George as the patron of cattle breeding and protector from predatory animals.
In pre-revolutionary times, on the day of remembrance of St. George the Victorious, residents of Russian villages for the first time after a cold winter drove their cattle out to pasture, performing a prayer service to the holy great martyr and sprinkling houses and animals with holy water. The Day of the Great Martyr George is also popularly called “Yuriev Day”; on this day, before the reign of Boris Godunov, peasants could move to another landowner.
St. George is the patron saint of the army. The image of St. George the Victorious on a horse symbolizes the victory over the devil - the “ancient serpent” (Rev. 12:3, 20:2). This image was included in the ancient coat of arms of the city of Moscow.
November 10/23 – Wheeling of the Holy Great Martyr George
Georgia, enlightened by the Christian faith by Saint Nina Equal to the Apostles († 335), a relative of the Holy Great Martyr George the Victorious († 303, Comm. April 23), especially honors Saint George as its patron. One of the names of Georgia is in honor of George (this name is still preserved in many languages of the world). In honor of the Great Martyr, Saint Nina established a holiday. It is still celebrated in Georgia on November 10 - in memory of the wheeling of St. George. In 1891, in the Caucasus, near the village of Kakhi, Zagatala district, a new temple was built on the site of an ancient one in honor of the Holy Great Martyr George the Victorious, to which many pilgrims of different faiths flock.
November 3/16 – Consecration of the Church of the Holy Great Martyr George in Lydda
The city of Lydda (Lod) is the birthplace of the Great Martyr George the Victorious. This was his mother’s house, this is where he spent his childhood. The Holy Great Martyr George was a Roman soldier; he suffered under Emperor Diocletian in Nicomedia at the beginning of the 4th century. Christians transferred his relics to his homeland, to Lydda, and here he was buried.
The tomb in which the relics of the great martyr were placed is now located in the crypt of the Orthodox church dedicated to the Great Martyr George. In the temple itself there is a particle of the relics of St. George, as well as the chain with which the great martyr was bound.
The first church was built here in the 6th century. The temple was destroyed several times and was restored in its current form only in 1872 thanks to donations from Russia. The consecration of the renovated temple took place on November 3/16, 1872, the anniversary of the day on which it was consecrated for the first time. The Russian Church commemorates this significant event on this day and to this day; this holiday was included in the month, in honor of this celebration, churches were built in Rus'.
Also in Lydda, the Apostle Peter healed Aeneas, who had been lying sick for eight years (Acts 9:32-35).
November 26/December 9 – Commemoration of the consecration of the Church of the Great Martyr George in Kyiv
Russian princes, starting with Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir, had a pious custom of founding churches in honor of their Guardian Angels. Thus, Equal-to-the-Apostles Vladimir, in Holy Baptism Vasily, built churches in Kiev and Vyshgorod in the name of St. Basil the Great, Prince Izyaslav I (1054–1068), in Baptism Demetrius, built a temple and monastery in Kiev in the name of the Holy Great Martyr Demetrius (October 26 ), Prince Yaroslav the Wise (1019–1054), in Holy Baptism George, laid the foundation for a temple and a men's monastery in honor of his Guardian Angel, the Great Martyr George (April 23), and also built a temple in the name of the Great Martyr Irina (May 5), Guardian Angel of his wife. The temple in honor of the Great Martyr George was located in front of the gates of Hagia Sophia, Prince Yaroslav spent a lot of money on its construction, and a large number of builders took part in the construction of the temple. On November 26, the temple was consecrated by Saint Hilarion, Metropolitan of Kyiv (October 21), and an annual celebration was established in honor of this event.
See also: “ The Suffering of the Holy Great Martyr George the Victorious”, “ Consecration of Memory of presented Demetrius of Rostov.
Full text of the akathist in Russian
Kontakion 1
Let us praise the chosen commander and victorious George, as our intercessor and quick helper: you are a holy great martyr, as you have boldness in the Lord, free us from all troubles, and let us call to you: Rejoice George, great victorious one.
Ikos 1
The Creator of angels and the creator of all creation, having revealed you to the Church of His faith as a champion, and for the faith of an invincible passion-bearer, inspires us, for the deeds of your suffering, to praise you, Saint George: Rejoice, loving Jesus the Son of God to the end; Rejoice, having laid down your soul with love for His name. Rejoice, called confessor from God; Rejoice, glorified ascetic by God's grace. Rejoice, fellow angels; Rejoice, equal leader of the prophets. Rejoice, George, great victorious one.
Kontakion 2
Seeing the persecution of the wicked against Christians, you were not afraid of their intrigues and torment, O wise God, but like a good warrior of Christ, having given all that was yours to the poor, you flowed with your unrighteous will to their advice, singing to Christ the leader and to your God: Alleluia.
Ikos 2
Having rationally comprehended the one God, in three Hypostases who is divinely worshiped, with a firm mind you confessed Him at the gatherings of the wicked, and thus you denounced the insane king for the insane worship of the creature. For this reason, for your lofty wisdom, receive from us, George, zealous praise: Rejoice, preacher of the only true God; Rejoice, faithful protector of the Most Holy Trinity. Rejoice, having shown the great secret of the Orthodox confession to the infidels; Rejoice, you who expose the charm of idolatry's service. Rejoice, divine rhetorician; Rejoice, full of wisdom! Rejoice, George, great victorious one.
Kontakion 3
The power of God, enlightening every person coming into the world, and in prison visited you who suffered, the humble and wise George: because you have despised all this corruptible life, as if you had despised the knowledge, you have clung to the only Christ, and having fought well for His name, you have been vouchsafed to sing with the angels forever: Alleluia .
Ikos 3
Having a mind and heart illuminated by the Holy Spirit, you, at His inspiration, were jealous of you to strive for the name of Christ, standing to the blood of courage in faith, you denounced the pride raised by the wicked congregation. For this reason, we praise you, O all-wise George: Rejoice, shield erected for the protection of piety; Rejoice, sword raised to cut off wickedness. Rejoice, pillar of faith; Rejoice, wall and strengthening of the Church of Christ. Rejoice, fertilizer of the faithful; Rejoice, fear and shame of the unfaithful. Rejoice, George, great victorious one.
Kontakion 4
The mad tormentor who breathes murder upon you, the passion-bearer George, thirsted for your blood like a greedy dog, commanding that your body be crucified on a wheel and given over to the worst torment: but you, crying out in the Lord, with firm trust in God, you cried out: Alleluia.
Ikos 4
Having heard from you Diocletian and the priests of idolatry the words of wisdom, they flared up with anger at you, even more so when you said: “0 to the tormentor king! Why are you torturing me in vain, for I have Christ to live and gain to die. It’s hard for you to eat against the pricks of the enemy.” For this reason we cry to you, great surname George: Rejoice, for your courageous confession of faith you shed your blood on the wheel; Rejoice, having magnified the triumph of faith with your blood. Rejoice, rival of the apostles; Rejoice, imitator of the free passion of Christ. Rejoice, unshakable champion of the faith; Rejoice, most steadfast passion-bearer of adamant. Rejoice, George, great victorious one.
Kontakion 5
You were like a godlike star, George, for with miraculous healing from an angel and visible renunciation from the wheel, you taught the infidels to believe in the Trinity of the Consubstantial One, and together with you to sing: Alleluia.
Ikos 5
Seeing the people, the miracles of the power of God that were manifestly happening to you, with meekness you received the teaching of Christ from you and cried out saying: “Great indeed is the Christian God!” For this reason, praising you, most glorious George, we cry out to you: Rejoice, you who have dispersed the darkness of unbelief with your luminous word of salvation; Rejoice, having converted the unfaithful to Christ by the martyr's confession of faith. Rejoice, lead legions of earthly warriors into the heavenly army; Rejoice, as a warrior of Christ, stay with the heavenly warriors. Rejoice, glory to the warriors; Rejoice, beauty of the martyr's bright face. Rejoice, George, great victorious one.
Kontakion 6
A preacher of truth, jealous of the spirit-bearing apostle, you were crucified with the cross of the world, more passionately: behold, like Jonah, you were thrown headlong into the belly of the whale, into the cave of undissolved lime, so that for your sake the Lord, wondrous in the saints, may be glorified, to whom you are known even in the pit, like in the temple of glory , you cleverly cried out: Alleluia.
Ikos 6
Who shone forth in His three-day rise from the grave, the omnipotent of hell and death, the Conqueror Jesus, saving you from hellish corruption, the passion-bearing George: three days later you were found alive in the limelight, and in the lifting up of your hands singing to God: for this reason the great one was afraid and terrified. We, rejoicing, will sing a victorious song: Rejoice, having been cast down shamefully into the well-known ditch, the exalted pride of the devil has been cast down; Rejoice, wondrous salvation from God, conqueror of the brutality of the tormentor. Rejoice, for thou who were not evil, for thou didst pray for those who committed this misfortune, as for benefactors; Rejoice, for you were troubled by their conversion, as Paul was by the Jews. Rejoice, man of desires; Rejoice, chosen vessel. Rejoice, George, great victorious one.
Kontakion 7
Although the wicked tormentor tries to seduce your heart into the charm of an idol, the wicked tormentor intends to seduce you with magical enchantments: you are God’s chosen one with David, exclaiming: O God is my salvation and my glory, to Him you sang faithfully: Alleluia.
Ikos 7
A new demonstration of the evil of this evil servant of Satan, Diocletian, when in his insane jealousy of idols, he commanded to give you poison, George: but you are filled with faith and hope, even if you drank mortal things, you remained without harm, O praiser of God, and we also cry out ty: Rejoice, for in your trust in God you are alive and you were not put to shame; Rejoice, for you did not impute anything to the tormentor. Rejoice, demon driver! Rejoice, magical wiles of the destroyer. Rejoice, for God is marvelous in you in His saints; Rejoice, for through you the name of Christ is glorified in honor. Rejoice George, great victorious one.
Kontakion 8
Strange and terrible advice came from a certain sorcerer to the wicked king, so that he would command you, as proof of the righteousness of the faith of Christ, to resurrect the dead with a word: but you, George, without hesitation, sang to Him Who is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: Alleluia.
Ikos 8
All-desired and Sweetest Jesus, whom you loved with all your soul and with all your heart, all-blessed George, hearing your warm prayer of faith, soon commanded, according to your word, the dead will rise again, for glorification for the sake of His name, and for the faithful affirmation, but for the unfaithful and blinded to wonder and knowledge of God. For this reason, out of duty, we cry out to you: Rejoice, for the Lord has shown wondrous powers on you; Rejoice, for through you you raised the dead from the grave. Rejoice, thou who bestowed insight of faith upon the blinded sorcerer; Rejoice, many who suffered for Christ's sake, showing the way to the Holy of Holies. Rejoice, Rome's surprise; Rejoice, Christian exaltation. Rejoice, George, great victorious one.
Kontakion 9
All the angels praised God, who gave you such courage, George, as even in prison you did not cease to be vigilant in prayer. For this reason, as the great hidden place of God’s grace, you were worthy to see in a vision the Lord crowning your head with the crown of incorruption, and we also cry out with you: Alleluia.
Ikos 9
With their rhetorical tongues they will not be able to utter praise worthy of you, George, many for the sake of your exploits and illnesses, which you raised by your will for Christ and the Church. For this reason, we, too, bewildered to praise you according to your heritage, sing: Rejoice, you who were free to suffer for Christ and the Church, who crucified the old Adam within you; Rejoice, for your valiant suffering, you received the crown of righteousness from the hand of the Lord. Rejoice, rule of pious zeal; Rejoice, image of spiritual poverty. Rejoice, for you have pleased not yourself, but Christ alone; Rejoice, for you were ready for manifold deaths for Christ. Rejoice, George, great victorious one.
Kontakion 10
To save the souls of those perishing in the darkness of idolatry, God-loving George, you, jealous, were jealous like Elijah for God: having entered into the temple of the idols, by the power of God you drove away the demons, crushed the idols, put the priests to shame, and, like a winner, not from men, but You and the angels sang to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 10
The walls are more insensible, your tormentor, stoned in heart, George, not knowing God, you manifested miracles, but remained until the end, like an asp, stop your ears. For this reason, I commanded that you be placed at the head of disgrace, like a villain: but you, sick of the destruction of his soul, joyfully accepted your death, for this reason we please you with love: Rejoice, having preserved faith, hope and love to the end; Rejoice, having done many and great miracles in your dormition. Rejoice, thou crowned upon the earth with the weapon of God's favor; Rejoice, adorned with glory and splendor in Heaven. Rejoice, man of God; Rejoice, good soldier of Christ. Rejoice, George, great victorious one.
Kontakion 11
You, the Holy Great Martyr George, rendered the singing of the Most Holy Trinity more than others, not in words and in your mind, but by sacrificing your whole self alive: imitating the immaculate Lamb Christ crucified for us, you laid down your soul for your friends by your own will. Moreover, even if we are dissatisfied with such praise of your valor, for there is no one else to love so much, but give thanks to the being, we sing to the wondrous thing in the saints: Alleluia.
Ikos 11
The light-receiving lamp of the true Light, God’s chosen one George appears to those on earth, enlightening the hearts of the faithful, and instructing everyone in the Divine mind, teaching us to cheerfully cry out: Rejoice, for you dwell in the bright angelic devils; Rejoice, for you are partaking of the non-evening Trinity Light, not in fortune-telling, but face to face. Rejoice, nourisher of the poor and protector of the offended; Rejoice, physician of the weak and champion of kings. Rejoice, champion of the Orthodox warrior in battle; Rejoice, warm intercessor for the salvation of sinners. Rejoice, George, great victorious one.
Kontakion 12
The grace given to you from God, knowing, we celebrate your memory, Great Martyr George, and with fervent prayer flowing to your miraculous image, with your omnipotent help in the Lord, like an insurmountable wall, we are protected. For this reason, praising you, we earnestly call to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 12
Singing your glorious death, by which you were exalted as a good warrior of Christ, we pray to you, passion-bearing George: be your helper in everything for our good, and hear us earnestly crying out to you: Rejoice, for by you the Church of the faithful is enlightened; Rejoice, for your name is also glorified among the unbelievers. Rejoice, wondrous glory of confessors; Rejoice, high praise of the martyrs. Rejoice, healer of our bodies; Rejoice, O prayer book for our souls. Rejoice, George, great victorious one.
Kontakion 13
O all-blessed and holy Great Martyr George, accept this song of our praise, and deliver us from all evil through your warm intercession to God, so that we may sing with you: Alleluia.
“This kontakion is read three times, then ikos 1 and kontakion 1.”
