Icon of St. George

Acrylic Paint on glass

10" x 8"

''O Great Among the Saints and Glorious Martyr George, since you are a deliverer of captives and a defender of the poor, a doctor for the sick and a noble attendant to kings: intercede with Christ God, that He may save our souls.'' (Troparion, 4th Tone)

St. George was born in Cappadocia, to God-fearing parents. When he grew up, like his father, George became a soldier and by the age of twenty he rose to the rank of tribune. He served under Emperor Diocletian who soon started a persecution of Christians. When this began George was thrown in prison for boldly proclaiming his faith. Next followed seven years of tortures which George miraculously survived. Unceasing prayer was coming from the Saint's lips and to the great amazement of people his wounds would be immediately healed. At the sight of such miracles, many embraced Christian faith. Among these was Athanasius, the chief pagan priest, and Alexandra, the Emperor's wife. Diocletian commanded that Athanasius and Alexandra be beheaded, but the Empress died on the scaffold. St. George was finally beheaded in the year 303.

In the Icons St. George is portrayed as a young Roman soldier. Often he is shown riding a white horse, symbolic of God's grace carrying him to the heroism of martyrdom. He battles the devil, symbolized by the dragon, as the monster emerges from the darkness of the cave. This type of the Icon is old and could be traced to Roman Egypt. Some Icons use the frame to show the seven years of torture the martyr had to endure, him being broken over the wheel, tortured with prongs, burnt with coals, buried in quicklime, and finally beheaded. It is fitting that his feast day coincides with the beginning of the spring, as he is the symbol of grace and beauty triumphing over evil. He is an earthly manifestation of the archangels Michael, who too triumphs over evil.

There are numerous styles and compositions showing St. George, as he was portrayed by Iconographers over thousands of years. These Icons range from miniature pocket sized portraits, to full figure representations of the Saint. The Icon in the middle, showing the portrait of St. George, is written from an Icon from the 13th century, and currently located at St. Catherine Monastery in Sinai. The full-length Icon of St. George on Foot is from an Icon of Novgorod School, from the 15th century, kept in the Museum of Architecture and Ancient Monument in Novgorod, Russia.

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