Holy Great Martyr George the Victorious, originally from Cappadocia (a region in Asia Minor), grew up in a deeply religious Christian family. His father was martyred for Christ when George was still a child. The mother, who owned estates in Palestine, moved with her son to his homeland and raised him in strict piety.
Having entered service in the Roman army, Saint George, handsome, courageous and brave in battles, was noticed by Emperor Dioclitian and taken into his guard with the rank of comit — of one of the senior military leaders.
The pagan emperor, who did a lot to revive Roman power and clearly understood the danger the triumph of the Crucified Savior posed to pagan civilization, in the last years of his reign especially intensified the persecution of Christians. At the Council of the Senate in Nicomedia, Dioclitianus gave all rulers complete freedom to massacre Christians and promised his full assistance.
Saint George, having learned about the emperor's decision, distributed his inheritance to the poor, released the slaves and appeared in the Senate. The courageous warrior of Christ openly opposed the imperial plan, confessed himself as a Christian and called on everyone to recognize the true faith in Christ: «I am a servant of Christ my God, and, trusting in Him, appeared among you of my own free will to testify to the Truth». «What is Truth?», — one of the dignitaries repeated Pilate’s question. «The truth is Christ Himself, persecuted by you», — answered the saint.
Stunned by the daring speech of the valiant warrior, the emperor, who loved and exalted George, tried to persuade him not to destroy his youth, glory and honor, but to make, according to the custom of the Romans, a sacrifice to the gods. This was followed by a decisive response from the confessor: «Nothing in this fickle life will weaken my desire to serve God». Then, on the orders of the angry emperor, the squires began to push St. George out of the meeting room with spears in order to take him to prison. But the deadly steel itself became soft and bent as soon as the spears touched the saint’s body, without causing him pain. In prison, the martyr's legs were beaten into pads and his chest was crushed with a heavy stone.
The next day, during interrogation, exhausted but strong in spirit, St. George again answered the emperor: «It is more likely that you will be exhausted, tormenting me than I, tormented by you». Then they wheeled him. At first the sufferer loudly called on the Lord, but soon fell silent, not letting go of a single groan. Dioclitian decided that the tortured man had already died, and, having ordered the torn body to be removed from the wheel, he went to the temple to offer a thanksgiving sacrifice. At that moment it darkened around, thunder struck, and the voice was heard: «Don’t be afraid, Georgy, I’m with you».
Then a wondrous light shone, and the Angel of the Lord appeared at the wheel in the form of a luminous young man. And he barely laid his hand on the martyr, telling him: «Rejoice!», — how Saint George rose up healed. When the soldiers took him to the temple where the emperor was, the latter did not believe his eyes and thought that there was another person or ghost in front of him. In bewilderment and horror, the pagans peered at St. George and became convinced that a miracle had really happened. Many then believed in the Life-Giving God of Christians.
It was November 10 (November 23, new style) 303, and now this day is celebrated by Orthodox churches.