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St. George the Prince of Martyrs is also known as St. George of Cappadocia, a city in modern-day Turkey. Of all the saints named George, he is the most known. St. George was born in Cappadocia, his father Anastius' hometown. He grew up into a gallant man in Lydda, his mother Theopesta's hometown near Bethlehem. After his father's death, St. George assumed his father's influential military rank in the Roman Guard at age twenty.
When St. George knew about the Emperor's edict of idol worshiping and enslavement of steadfast Christians who refused to comply, he ransomed them with his wealth and publicly defended the oppressed and fearful Christians.
Noble and bold, St. George encountered several emperors before facing the worst of them all, the infamous Emperor Diocletian. Though repeatedly tortured, and alternately enticed with wicked propositions and material temptations, St. George's faith remained stalwart. Ever so confident in the Lord Jesus Christ, who repeatedly healed him from the various wounds and inflictions meant to dissuade him from the truth. St. George's faith was resilient. While onlookers witnessed his courage in this faith, many became Christians, and others accepted to suffer martyrdom for the sake of the true faith.
The extensive tortures bore by this courageous saint were particularly graphic. Amid his pain and suffering, he was known to have performed many miracles, such as raising the dead and curing a mute, deaf and blind boy. In addition, the Lord did not refuse the prayers of this beloved saint who, at the ridiculous demand of Diocletian to bring forth branches and fruits from chairs, entreated and made his request known to Christ, and the Lord answered his prayers.
Frustrated and repeatedly humiliated by the gallantry and perseverance of St. George, Diocletian tried to seduce him by offering him to marry his daughter. When she was brought to St. George, he prayed the psalms with her and taught her about the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus, the empress accepted Christ and tried to stop her father from inflicting additional tortures on St. George. Enraged that she had become a Christian, Diocletian burned her body with a hot comb and ordered her beheading. She, too, received the crown of martyrdom. Afterward, St. George was forced to drink a cup of poison and was squeezed to the point of death. Then, he was thrown outside the city to have his life ended. Finally, realizing that nothing could stop this saint from loving and worshiping Jesus Christ, Diocletian ordered to have him beheaded after the most horrendous tortures.
The precious body of St. George was befittingly shrouded and taken to his hometown in Lydda. By the grace of God, the righteous Emperor Constantine eventually assumed political and executive authority over many regions and proclaimed Christianity to be the official religion throughout all his municipalities. Through his mother's guidance and in honor of the martyrs, he ordered the construction of many churches, including St. George's. Many churches still hold some of his blessed and venerable relics. Countless miracles continue to be performed by St. George the Prince of Martyrs even until this day.
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