Icon with Saint Great Martyr George - embroidered, framed, 21x27cm
Saint George, a Roman soldier, martyr, and Christian saint from the 4th century, was born to Christian parents during the reign of Emperor Diocletian. He confessed his faith in Jesus Christ, and for this, he was first tempted with honors to renounce Christianity and worship the gods instead, and then imprisoned and tortured.
In the Orthodox religion, Martyrs are the Christians chosen by God to fight against pagans and the devil. As a sign of help, the Lord protects their body and soul even during the most severe tortures.
Saint George was one of these Christians who suffered in front of people and showed them the power of God when his body remained healthy and unharmed despite the terrible tortures he endured under the orders of the pagan Emperor Diocletian.
In this icon, Saint Great Martyr George appears riding a horse and piercing a dragon with a spear. It is about a legend in which St. George saves the city of Silena in the province of Libya, terrorized by a dragon.
He is depicted in a red mantle, the traditional color of a martyr, dressed in patrician garments, and holding a sword with both hands.
Saint George is considered the patron saint of Georgia, Armenia, Malta, Lithuania, Serbia, and the Romanian army.
After resurrecting a man from the dead and expelling the demon from an idol, he was beheaded by the sword. He is commemorated in the Orthodox Calendar on April 23rd, as a martyr during the persecution of Christians under Diocletian.
