Thursday, 23 April 2026

Holy Greatmartyr, Victorybearer and Wonderworker George

Thursday of the 2nd Sunday of Pascha

11 days after Pascha · Tone 1 · Red cross half-circle (vigil typikon symbol) · No Fast (Wine and Oil are Allowed)

Saints commemorated

★ Holy Glorious Great-martyr, Victory-bearer and Wonderworker George

303

“George, this truly great and glorious Martyr of Christ, was born of a father from Cappadocia and a mother from Palestine. Being a military tribune, or chiliarch (that is, a commander of a thousand troops), he was illustrious in battle and highly honored for his courage. When he learned that the Emperor Diocletian was preparing a persecution of the Christians, Saint George presented himself publicly before the Emperor and denounced him. When threats and promises could not move him from his steadfast confession, he was put to unheard-of tortures, which he endured with great bravery, overcoming them by his faith and love towards Christ. By the wondrous signs that took place in his contest, he guided many to the knowledge of the truth, including Queen Alexandra, wife of Diocletion, and was finally beheaded in 296 in Nicomedia.” (Great Horologion) The Empress Alexandra, along with a pagan priest who confessed Christ due to George’s witness, were executed together with the Great Martyr. St Alexandra is commemorated on April 21/May 4. Neither the Great Horologion nor the Prologue, nor the Church’s services to St George, mention the most popular story of St George, his slaying of a dragon. Though many icons of the Saint show him mounted on horseback, slaying a dragon with a spear, the story is thought by many to be legendary, and the dragon in the icon symbolic.

★ Holy Great Martyr George the Trophy-bearer and Wonderworker

303

The Holy Great Martyr George is among the most beloved saints of the Orthodox Church and one of the principal feasts of the spring season. He was born towards the end of the third century in Cappadocia to a noble and pious Christian family. After the early death of his father, who died a martyr for Christ, his mother Polychronia returned to her ancestral lands in Palestine, where she raised him in the evangelical virtues. At eighteen George entered military service and through ability and bravery rose swiftly to the rank of tribune and then count, becoming one of the favoured officers of the Emperor Diocletian. When Diocletian unleashed the great persecution against Christians in the year 303, George distributed his wealth to the poor, freed his servants and went before the emperor to confess Christ openly. He endured a long and terrible series of tortures: he was beaten, bound to a wheel set with knives, cast into a pit of quicklime, made to wear red-hot iron shoes, and given poison to drink, but each time he was preserved unharmed by the power of God. By his miracles, including the raising of a dead man and the bringing down of pagan idols by his prayer, he converted many to the faith of Christ, among them the Empress Alexandra and the magician Athanasius. After refusing for the last time to offer sacrifice to idols, he was beheaded on 23 April in the year 303 outside the walls of Nicomedia. He is called Trophy-bearer and Victory-bearer because by his death he won a great victory over death and idolatry, and Wonderworker because of the countless miracles wrought through him both during his life and through the centuries after his repose. His patronage extends over many lands, including Greece, Georgia, Russia, Serbia, England and Ethiopia. The Church celebrates his feast as a major commemoration with rank close to that of the apostles.

Holy Martyr Alexandra the Empress

The Holy Empress Alexandra was the wife of the Emperor Diocletian and is commemorated together with the Great Martyr George whose witness brought her to faith. While the holy Great Martyr was being tortured for confessing Christ, Alexandra came down from the imperial palace and into the arena, where she fell at his feet and openly proclaimed her faith in Christ. When she asked whether one as yet unbaptised could enter paradise as a martyr, Saint George answered her, Do not fear, for your blood will baptise you. The enraged emperor condemned her at once to death along with George, but according to the synaxaria she fell asleep on the way to execution before the sentence could be carried out, receiving the unfading crown of martyrdom by her confession of faith. Some sources record that she lived on for some years and suffered later under Licinius about the year 314, beheaded together with her daughter Valeria. The Orthodox Church commemorates her on this day with Saint George; in some calendars she is also remembered on 21 April.

Holy Martyrs Anatolius and Protoleon, soldiers

Saints Anatolius and Protoleon were distinguished officers of the Roman army, each holding the rank of chiliarch with command over a thousand men. They were secretly Christians, hiding their faith for fear of the persecution unleashed by the Emperor Diocletian. When the Great Martyr George was being tortured in the public arena, Anatolius and Protoleon were among those who watched, and they saw with their own eyes how the saint was bound on the wheel set with knives and afterwards was healed by the appearance of an angel of God. Beholding this miracle they could no longer be silent, and they cried out together with one voice in the midst of the people, One is the true God, the God of the Christians. The emperor, hearing this confession, ordered them to be led at once outside the city, where they were beheaded with the sword. With them tradition records that many others, in some accounts numbering as many as six hundred and thirty, were converted by the witness of Saint George and likewise received the crown of martyrdom. Their commemoration is kept together with that of the Great Martyr George.

Holy New Martyr George of Ptolemais, the wonderworker of Cyprus

1752

Saint George the New Martyr was born on the island of Cyprus in the eighteenth century. While still a young man he travelled to Ptolemais, the ancient Acre on the coast of Palestine, and entered the service of one of the European consulates where he worked as an attendant. By his integrity and faith he became known among the local Christians for his steadfast witness. He used to buy provisions for his master's household, and would purchase eggs daily from a poor Turkish woman's daughter, an act which in time gave occasion to false accusations against him. When pressed to deny Christ and accept Islam, he confessed openly that he had been born a Christian and intended by the grace of God to die a Christian. For this confession he was tortured and finally put to death by hanging in the year 1752. After his burial a column of fire descended from heaven for three nights and illumined his grave, and miracles of healing and protection were wrought through his intercessions. In 1967 his relics were translated from Acre to the Cathedral of Saint John in Nicosia in Cyprus, where they are venerated to this day. He is commemorated on 23 April together with his patron, the Great Martyr George.

Daily readings

Epistle

weekly cycle

Acts — Acts 4.23-31

²³And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them. ²⁴And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: ²⁵Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? ²⁶The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. ²⁷For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, ²⁸For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. ²⁹And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, ³⁰By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.

³¹And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

Gospel

weekly cycle

John — John 5.24-30

²⁴Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. ²⁵Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. ²⁶For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; ²⁷And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. ²⁸Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, ²⁹And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. ³⁰I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

Vespers

— St George

Isaiah — Isaiah 43.9-14

⁹Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and shew us former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, It is truth. ¹⁰Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. ¹¹I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour. ¹²I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God. ¹³Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it?

¹⁴Thus saith the LORD, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and have brought down all their nobles, and the Chaldeans, whose cry is in the ships.

Vespers

— St George

Wisdom of Solomon — Wisdom of Solomon 3.1-9

¹But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and there shall no torment touch them.

²In the sight of the unwise they seemed to die: and their departure is taken for misery,

³And their going from us to be utter destruction: but they are in peace.

⁴For though they be punished in the sight of men, yet is their hope full of immortality.

⁵And having been a little chastised, they shall be greatly rewarded: for God proved them, and found them worthy for himself.

⁶As gold in the furnace hath he tried them, and received them as a burnt offering.

⁷And in the time of their visitation they shall shine, and run to and fro like sparks among the stubble.

⁸They shall judge the nations, and have dominion over the people, and their Lord shall reign for ever.

⁹They that put their trust in him shall understand the truth: and such as be faithful in love shall abide with him: for grace and mercy is to his saints, and he hath care for his elect.

Vespers

— St George

Wisdom of Solomon — Wisdom of Solomon 4.7-15

⁷But though the righteous be prevented with death, yet shall he be in rest.

⁸For honourable age is not that which standeth in length of time, nor that is measured by number of years.

⁹But wisdom is the gray hair unto men, and an unspotted life is old age.

¹⁰He pleased God, and was beloved of him: so that living among sinners he was translated.

¹¹Yea speedily was he taken away, lest that wickedness should alter his understanding, or deceit beguile his soul.

¹²For the bewitching of naughtiness doth obscure things that are honest; and the wandering of concupiscence doth undermine the simple mind.

¹³He, being made perfect in a short time, fulfilled a long time:

¹⁴For his soul pleased the Lord: therefore hasted he to take him away from among the wicked.

¹⁵This the people saw, and understood it not, neither laid they up this in their minds, That his grace and mercy is with his saints, and that he hath respect unto his chosen.

Matins Gospel

— St George

Luke — Luke 12.2-12

²For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. ³Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops. ⁴And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. ⁵But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him. ⁶Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? ⁷But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows. ⁸Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: ⁹But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God. ¹⁰And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven. ¹¹And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say: ¹²For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.

Epistle

— St George

Acts — Acts 12.1-11

¹Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. ²And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. ³And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) ⁴And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people. ⁵Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. ⁶And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison. ⁷And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. ⁸And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me. ⁹And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision. ¹⁰When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him. ¹¹And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.

Gospel

— St George

John — John 15.17-16.2

¹⁷These things I command you, that ye love one another. ¹⁸If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. ¹⁹If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. ²⁰Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. ²¹But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me. ²²If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin. ²³He that hateth me hateth my Father also. ²⁴If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. ²⁵But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause. ²⁶But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: ²⁷And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.

¹These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. ²They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.