In the Orthodox world there are many miraculous icons, among which is the icon of St. George the Victorious. It is a kind of shield that protects every house. Saint George is the patron saint of the army. In addition, he is considered the patron saint of animal husbandry and farming. Prayer in front of his image helps those who are in military service, as well as those who are already in reserve. Saint George also protects their families. They also pray before the icon for those who go to military service, so that the young guy will pass through great difficulties and other troubles. Residents of the countryside also pray to St. George for a good harvest, for the protection of livestock from diseases, for protection from natural disasters.
Life of the Holy Great Martyr George
George was born in one of the Palestinian towns called Lydda. His parents were well off. A father preaching Christianity was killed for his faith, and his mother, in order to saveher life and the life of her unborn child, fled to Syrian Palestine. From early childhood, George differed from his peers in strength. After he was in the service of the emperor Diocletian, who was considered a good ruler, except that he was an adherent of paganism. The result of this was the persecution of Christians. This fate did not pass and St. George. After seven days of torture, abuse and violence, he was beheaded.
Icon of George the Victorious: description
On the icons, he is depicted sitting on a white horse and killing a snake with a spear, symbolizing victory over the devil. Less common is an icon depicting St. George in a tunic and cloak, holding a cross in his hands. There is also an image of George sitting on a throne with an angel laying a martyr's crown. The image of this saint can be seen on the flags of Moscow and the Moscow region, it marks the memory of Yuri Dolgoruky, who is the patron and protector of this region.
To date, the miraculous icon of St. George the Victorious has been lost. According to an old description from the manuscripts of 1649 belonging to the Vladychny maiden monastery, its size was 1 arshin 5 vershoks in height, and 15 vershoks in width. The image of George is bordered with silver, the crown is gilded. Tsata carved, gilded. It contains three gilded pebbles the size of nine kopecks. The candle is set on a stand, which framed the bottom of the icon. St. George the Victorious is crowned with a rhinestone crown. He wears a belt of amethyst, and a cross of rhinestones on his spear. There is a belief thatthe candle set in front of the icon ignited by itself before the invasion of the Tatars. The Vladychny Monastery now keeps a modern copy, which has periodically streamed myrrh since 2000.
Miracle of St. George about the snake
The icon of St. George the Victorious represents the Saint in various images. As mentioned above, the most common is the image on a horse with a spear, where he kills a snake. It is preceded by the following legend, according to which the action took place many years after the death of George. A terrible snake settled in a lake with drinking water, not far from Beirut. So that residents could calmly draw water, every month a young girl or guy was given a snake to eat. This continued until only one girl remained in the whole village - the daughter of the ruler. When the girl stood and cried on the shore of the lake, St. George suddenly appeared in front of her, who killed this snake.
The meaning embodied in the icon of St. George the Victorious is extremely clear and symbolic: just as the Saint defeated the snake, so the Christian Church, with the help of numerous miracles and all-consuming love for one's neighbor, put an end to the centuries-old terror of paganism.
