The Great George

In our Tradition, we celebrate the feast of the saint on the day of his repose or martyrdom. This is his day of birth in the Kingdom of God. We celebrate the feast of Saint George on his day (April 23rd) if we had already celebrated Pascha, and we move it till after that, if we are still fasting. This is a great tribute to a great saint who “had completed the race of orthodox martyrdom”. Those who were given to participate in the prayers of the Great Lent in our Church have noticed that there is, in them, much focus on saints both martyrs and ascetics. Fasting is an emphasis on faithfulness, that is, on striving against sin till the end (Hebrews 12:4). This is what moving his feast also tells; it tells that striving in life is not halted by the feast. Saint George is great in his Paschal exhortation to us that “the eyes of the Lord are on the faithful, so they might dwell with Him” (Psalm 100:6).