In the Orthodox world there are many miraculous icons, including the icon of St. George the Victorious. She It is a kind of shield that protects every home. St. George is the patron saint of the host. In addition, he is considered the patron saint of animal husbandry and farming. Prayer before his image helps those who are in military service, as well as those who are already in stock. St. George also protects their families. Also in front of the icon they pray for those who are going to military service, that the young guy will be overcome by great difficulties and other troubles. The residents of the countryside also pray to St. George for a good harvest, for protecting livestock from disease, for protection against 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 who preaches Christianity was killed for faith, and his mother fled to Syrian Palestine to save her life and that of an unborn child. From early childhood, George was different from his peers by force. After he was in the service of the emperor Diocletian, who was considered a good ruler, except that he was a follower of paganism. The result was the persecution of Christians. This fate has not passed and St. George. After seven days of torture, bullying and violence, his head was cut off.
Icon of St. George: Description
On the icons he is depicted sitting on a white horse and killing a serpent with a spear , symbolizing the victory over the devil. Less commonly, one can find an icon on which St. George is depicted in a tunic and cloak holding a cross in his hands. There is also the image of George sitting on a throne with an angel laying the crown of martyrdom. The image of this saint can be seen on the flags of Moscow and 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 the old description, from the manuscripts of 1649 belonging to the Vladyka Maiden’s Monastery, its size was 5 arches in height of 1 arshin, and 15 in width. The image of George is bordered with silver, the crown is gilded. The tsata is carved, gilded. It contains three gilt pebbles the size of nine cents. The candle is mounted on a stand, which is framed below the icon. St. George the Victorious is crowned with a rhinestone crown. A belt of amethysts is put on him, and a cross of rhinestones on the spear. It is believed that the candle set in front of the icon ignited by itself before the invasion of the Tatars. The Vladychny Monastery now holds a modern copy, which has been periodically streaming since 2000.
"The miracle of St. George about the serpent"
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. He is preceded by the following legend, according to which the action took place many years after the death of George. In a lake with drinking water, near Beirut, a terrible snake settled. So that residents can calmly draw water, every month a young girl or guy was given a snake to be eaten. This continued until in the whole village there was only one girl - 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 itself by the icon of St. George the Victorious is extremely clear and symbolic: as the Saint defeated the serpent, the Christian Church, with the help of numerous miracles and all-consuming love for her neighbor, put an end to the centuries-old terror of paganism.