ST. GEORGE
 St
George was born in 280 AD in Cappadocia, Asia Minor, of a wealthy and noble
Christian family. His father was martyred for being a Christian, when he was
about 17 years old.St George joined the Roman Army at the age of 17. His ability and charm brought him quick promotion, thus he reached the rank of Tribune. St. George lost his mother when he was about 20. From then on, he abandoned the pleasures of this world, and distributed his possessions among the poor, and set his slaves and maidservants free. The Emperor Diocletian was the ruler of the Roman Empire at that time. He sent an edict to destroy of the churches, to burn all Christian books, to dismiss Christians from their jobs, to take all their possessions, to make most of them slaves, and to make them offer sacrifices & burn incense to the Roman gods. St George was in Alexandria at the time, and when he read the edict, he tore it up. The roman soldiers took him to Cappadocia to receive punishment, for his action. As our Saint had great favor with the emperor, the ruler of Cappadocia transferred the matter to Diocletian. Our saint then confessed to the Emperor his true Christian faith. The Emperor jailed our saint, and sent him a woman to try to seduce him, but instead our saint converted her. Hearing about what happened, the Emperor ordered her beheading. The emperor ordered his soldiers to torture him. They stretched our saints arms and legs with chains, and placed a huge stone on his chest, then they pulled the saint over iron spikes till his flesh was torn etc.., they also passed flames over his body to burn his wounds, and spread salt all over the wounds to increase the pain. When he was thrown back into his cell, the Lord appeared to him, embraced him, and strengthened him. St George also experienced many tortures for 7 years, many people were also became Christians because of the many miracles which they bore witness to. At one time St George raised a man from death by the power of the Lord Jesus Christ and many more believed, and so many more were martyred. In the end when our saint was beheaded, the heathen Roman Emperor Diocletian died a terrible death. May his prayers be with us all, and glory be to God forever, Amen. |
