St. George is unarguably one of the most esteemed saints of the
Orthodox Church. Historically, St. George was tortured and martyred
by beheading during the persecutions of Diocletian. He had previously
been an officer in the army. Traditionally his martyrdom occured
in Lyda, a small town in Palestine. Quickly the fame of St. George
spread throughout the Empire, where many churches were erected in his honor.
It was only in the Late Byzantine period that St. George began
to be depicted as a calvary officer, mounted and slaying the mythological
dragon, evil personified.
Photo by John Washinsky
Text by the Ken Mitchel Family
