He is the Resurrection
† Holy Glorious Great Martyr George
the Trophy-Bearer
Saint Myrtidiótissa, the Ascetic of Klissoúra
This glorious and victorious saint was born in Cappadocia the son of wealthy and virtuous parents. His father suffered for Christ and his mother then moved to Palestine. When George grew up, he entered the military, where in his twentieth year, attained the rank of a Tribune and as such was in the service of the Emperor Diocletian. When Diocletian began the terrible persecution against Christians, George came before him and courageously confessed that he is a Christian. The emperor had him thrown into prison and ordered that his feet be placed in a stockade of wooden hobbles and that a heavy stone be placed on his chest. After that, the emperor commanded that George be tied to a wheel under which was a board with large nails and he was to be rotated until his entire body became as one bloody wound. After that, they buried him in a pit with only his head showing above the ground and there they left him for three days and three nights. Then George was given a deadly poison to drink by some magician. But, through all of these sufferings, George continuously prayed to God and God healed him instantly and saved him from death to the great astonishment of the people. When he resurrected a dead man through his prayer, many then accepted the Faith of Christ. Among these also was Alexandra, the wife of the Emperor Athanasius, the chief pagan priest and the farmers: Glycerius, Valerius, Donatus and Therinus. Finally the emperor ordered George and his wife Alexandra beheaded. Blessed Alexandra died on the scaffold before being beheaded. St. George was beheaded in the year 303 A.D. The miracles which have occurred over the grave of St. George are without number. Numerous are his appearances, either in dreams or openly, to those who have invoked him and implored his help from that time until today. Enflamed with love for Christ the Lord, it was not difficult for this saintly George to leave all for the sake of this love: rank, wealth, imperial honor, his friends and the entire world. For this love, the Lord rewarded him with the wealth of unfading glory in heaven and on earth and eternal life in His kingdom. In addition, the Lord bestowed upon him the power and authority to assist all those in miseries and difficulties who honor him and call upon his name.
Acts 12:1-11
King James Version
12 Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.
2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
3 And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)
4 And 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.
5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
6 And 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.
7 And, 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.
8 And 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.
9 And 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.
10 When 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.
11 And 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.
Saint John 15:17-16:2
King James Version
17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.
18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
19 If 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.
20 Remember 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.
21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.
22 If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin.
23 He that hateth me hateth my Father also.
24 If 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.
25 But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.
26 But 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:
27 And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.
16 These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.
2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.

THE BURIAL OF THE
GLORIOUS TROPHY-BEARER
Saint Myrtidiótissa, the Ascetic of Klissoúra
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HOMILY BY SAINT ANDREW OF CRETE OF THE TROPHY-BEARER AND GREAT MARTYR GEORGE
DIVINE PROVIDENCE
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“Always, and with each of the Holy Martyrs, the feasts are radiant and proper. But more radiant and proper, however, is today's feast that is celebrated, of George the glorious Great Martyr, for this festival not only bears the character of the imitation of the passion of the Lord, and adorns with the athletic struggle of the Martyr, and shines with the beauty and grace of spring, but beyond this, it bears the character of the radiance of the two great feasts of the Master: of the Resurrection, I mean, and the Ascension, and is found as a radiant moon between two suns, whose rays shine from both sides, and thus receiving the same rays, shines imitating Christ for the whole world, for though the Master's feast of the saving passion, and the light-bearing and all -festal Resurrection of Jesus Christ the true God, and Son of God, the creator of all the martyrs…..And let not one think that it is by chance that the memory of George is between these two great feasts of the Master. No, but I say that this was accomplished according to divine providence, and through the revelation of the divine closeness (οικειότητα) of things, in other words, to reveal to us George, who was martyred for Christ, and the extreme love which this George had towards Him Whom he was martyred for, and how George not only become one with the passion of Christ through his martyrdom, but also shared the same season and days during which the Lord suffered. For, as the passion and the Resurrection of the Lord exceeds all the other feasts of the Master, thus, through the feast of spring, in a similar manner the feast of the martyr George exceeds the other feasts of martyrs throughout the year. For this feast is only celebrated after the holy Resurrection, and is celebrated during the time of most radiant spring. And because those from the one side and the other are so joy-bestowing from the festival of the martyr, it is worthy also to present the beauty and radiance to one another. The festival is beautiful, the message is saving, and the works and actions are godly…”
Temporary TOC of the archives
ON OVERCOMING GRUDGES by Saint Maximos the Confessor;
AKATHIST TO THE GM GEORGE;
HUMILITY by St. Dorotheos of Gaza;
HE FAITH OF THE CHOSEN PEOPLE by Saint Nicolai Velimirovitch:
THAT SECRET THINGS MIGHT BE REVEALED by St. John of Damascus;
ASCETICAL HOMILIES and A MUTUAL EXCHANGE by Saint Isaac the Syrian;
A SOUL THAT LOVES GOD by St. Nicolai Velimirovitch;
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