Cincinnati, OH - Христос Васкрсе! Christ is Risen! Christos Voskrese! Hristos a Înviat!

All across the Orthodox world, millions commemorated one of the most widely celebrated Saints of our Church, Saint George the Great Martyr, on April 23 (Gregorian Calendar) and at St. George Serbian Orthodox Church on Sunday May 4 (the actual Feast Day is May 6, which is April 23 by the older Julian Calendar). As our parish’s “Slava” or Patron Saint, St. George is the protector of all parishioners and their families, which is why we hold a special celebration in his honor and sacrifice for Christianity. In order to fully understand why this is such a special day, a brief summary of his life will aid in reminding us why so many of our parents, grandparents, great-grandparents carry his namesake or the reason why he was chosen as many of our families’ Slava.

“Georgios” (George) was born in Lydda, Roman Palestine to Greek Christian parents. They were of noble heritage and raised their son as a Christian. After his mother and father passed away, George headed to Nicomedia, which was an imperial city at that time, and presented himself to Emperor Diocletian. George’s father, Gerontius, was a high ranking official in the Roman military and was highly regarded by Diocletian, so the emperor accepted George with open arms. It was many years later that George attained the rank of Tribunus and was stationed as an imperial guard of the emperor in Nicomedia.

In February of 303 AD, Diocletian (influenced by Galerius), issued an edict that all Christian soldiers in the Roman military should be arrested, and that every other soldier offer a sacrifice to the Roman gods. George, however, staunchly rejected this notion and with faith and courage approached the emperor. George, in front of his fellow soldiers and tribunes, loudly rejected the edict and professed himself a Christian and his worship of Jesus Christ as the one true God. Diocletian, through many attempts, tried to persuade George to make a sacrifice to the Roman gods, but to no avail. 

Having no choice after making his edict, Diocletian was forced to execute George for his Christian beliefs. George, to prepare himself for death, gave all of his wealth to the poor and endured various torture sessions (having to be resuscitated three times) before he would draw his final breath. His faith in Christ allowed him to endure these things, and on 23 April 303 AD, George was beheaded before Nicomedia’s city wall. Our Orthodox Christian tradition states that Emperor Diocletian’s wife, the Empress Alexandra, along with her pagan priest Athanasius, were deeply moved by George’s courage, faith, and his suffering as they witnessed his death. His martyrdom led to their conversion to Christianity.

The Great Martyr Saint George and his celebration at St. George Serbian Orthodox Church was sponsored by Mira Lazić Stratton, husband William, and son Marko. They provided a wonderful lunch for all in attendance, as well as partook in the traditional blessing of the Slava Kolać following Divine Liturgy. Father Petar asked all in attendance who would like to be sponsors for next year’s celebration. Gordana Uverici, along with Eliana Meador, elected to jointly sponsor the event for 2015. Gordana, Veljko, Darija, and Maya Uverici, along with Eliana, Adam, and Nadia Meador, will be next year’s sponsors. May God bless the Stratton family, as well as the Uverici and Meador families, for taking on this responsibility. 

May God bless all those in attendance this past Sunday for Divine Liturgy, on Tuesday for the Feast Day Liturgy, and all who hold the Great Martyr Saint George as their Krsna Slava or Name-day Saint/Slava/Sfânt. Let us always remember that our Krsna Slava, or Name-day

Saint, is someone who has ascended to the Heavenly realm and part of the Church Triumphant. These Saints watch over the Church Militant here on earth and all of Her saints, by praying for us continually, even if we lack the dedication and faith to pray for ourselves. Our icon of Saint George depicts him riding a white horse and slaying the dragon, or as we interpret as Orthodox, Satan or evil. Let us remember that, although we may never be called to martyrdom as George and many great Saints, we will still be tested throughout our lives. Will we choose sin and to be consumed by the dragon, or will we hold firm to our faith and seek the help of God and his Saints and slay the dragon? May God give us the strength, courage, and protection to always prevail against the forces of evil and may we also pray for the intercessory prayers of the Great Martyr, that he would also remember us before the Lord.