GEORGE, the victorious New Martyr of Christ, came from Cyprus. He was young, handsome, intelligent, and moral. He left his homeland for Ptolemais (Acre of Palestine), where he was hired as an attendant to a certain European ambassador. Frequently he would purchase eggs for his master’s house from a certain poor Turkish woman who had a daughter of legal age. With the passage of time the girl began to await his arrival and spoke freely with him, but only in her mother’s absence. Several neighbors noticed that the youth would only buy eggs from this girl (as much as she had), and not from anyone else. They became envious and took counsel among themselves to make some mischief for him.
One day, as was his custom, he went to buy eggs and again, her mother was out. As soon as they observed him entering the house the perverted ones hastened to take hold of the youth, loudly screaming and accusing the innocent one that he had asked to become a Moslem and take the girl as his wife. A huge crowd of Turks immediately gathered, and seizing the Saint, they took him to the judge, still yelling the same false complaints. The judge asked George if the charges brought against him were true. The righteous one answered the judge candidly that he had never uttered such a word, nor did he think it, but that out of malice his accusers made these accusations against him. Furthermore, he declared he was born a Christian and wanted to die a Christian. They promised him expensive gifts, glory and rank--but to no avail. They administered all kinds of punishments to persuade the youth but were unsuccessful, for George persevered in his faith. Consequently the judge issued a decree to put him to death.
Since the following day was Friday when the Moslems flocked to the mosque which was nearby the sea, they all stood outside in the spacious courtyard, where the Martyr was to be brought in fetters. They stood him in the midst and read his sentence in the hearing of the entire assembly. Whereupon, the spectators commenced to flatter the youth and encourage him to convert. The youth strenuously reproached them. Beholding his firm and unchanging faith, they attempted to scare him. The rabble surrounded George, waving their pistols, crying, out with one voice that he had better agree and obey to whatever they said, or else he would be killed instantly. However the valiant Martyr of Christ, raising his chained hands up to heaven, lifted up his voice:
"Lord Jesus Christ, receive my spirit and make me worthy of Thy Kingdom.”
Immediately they all emptied their pistols into the Martyr, and as he fell to the ground they unsheathed their knives and set upon him, stabbing his entire body. Despite this, the scoundrels were not satiated with their evil deed.
Behold the wonders of God and the martyrs in the miracle which was then wrought! Prior to this the sea was completely calm. Then all of a sudden, the water began to rage. Although the distance between the sea and the Martyr was further than the range of a rifle shot, it raged like a wild beast, exceeded its natural bounds, and came up to the relics, testifying to their honor and reverence by washing off the blood flowing from the Martyr’s body in such a manner that the foam was dyed red. The waves then rushed up against the walls of the mosque and the Turkish custom house.
When the Ottomans beheld this fearful marvel they were terror-stricken, for perhaps the sea would drown their entire city. At once they forced the Christians to come quickly. They in turn took the holy athlete’s body with honor and openly carried him to the Church and buried him therein (where he still is to this day). Lo, the miracle! The sea immediately subsided and became tranquil again, since like a servant, it had washed the sanctified Martyr’s bloody and wounded body.
In order to glorify His servant and to reward his unshakeable faith, after the Martyr’s burial God performed the following miracle: for three whole days a fiery column appeared at night from Heaven down to the Saint’s grave. The entire city was lit by the most sweet light which radiated from this pillar of fire. Wherefore, in commemoration of the miracle and the indescribable light, every Friday evening to this very day the Christians--a multitude of men, women, children and especially the infirm--gather at the tomb of the Martyr, on which they light candles and lamps and offer incense. Innumerable miracles have occurred, to the glory of Father, Son and Holy Spirit, One Godhead and Kingdom, to Whom is due glory, honor and worship, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Taken from New Martyrs of the Turkish Yoke, Translated by Leonidas J. Papadouplos, Georgia Lizardos and others. Copyright 1985. Used with permission. All rights reserved.
Archbishop Gregory P.O. Box 3177 Buena Vista, CO 81211-3177 USA Email: ArchbishopGregory@starband.net
Copyright 2005.
