The Bible repeatedly mentions cases when the Lord sends a childless parents for their piety and prayers. The same story happened in real life in the 16th century, in the capital of Bulgaria, Starets. A devout married couple, John and Mary, had been asking for years.
Bless them with an heir. Already in old age, the couple had a son. He was baptized by George in honor of the Victorious.
The family was wealthy and the boy was taught literacy and science. He was most interested in books of spiritual content. As a teenager, he knew the Holy Scripture better than many of his peers.
At that time, Bulgaria was occupied by the Turks, and they spread Islam in every possible way. Several Muslims decided to convert George to their faith.
They forcibly put a Tafiyah and a Muslim cap on his head and asked him to recognize himself as a Muslim. But George threw off the Tafia, and proclaimed Jesus Christ loudly as Lord. The Turks did not tolerate this and brought him to the ruler. Struck by the beauty and courage of George, the ruler promised him many earthly benefits. However, the saint did not give in to persuasion and preached faith in Christ.
The governor became angry and ordered the young man to be beaten with sticks. This did not turn George away from his faith. Then he was led around the city to the beat of drums, accusing him of scolding the prophet Mohammed. The more he was beaten, the louder the saint prayed, calling on Christ for help.
In the end, it was decided to burn the young man, and so that Christians could not take his remains, they threw dogs into the fire. So the Turks thought that Christians couldn’t tell whose bones were. A huge fire was lit. The weakened George quickly suffocated from the smoke. As soon as that happened, it rained and the fire poured.
But when darkness came, the fire shone bright. The frightened ruler allowed Metropolitan Jeremiah to take the body of the saint. It was easy to find him, his body was almost intact. With honors, the remains of the saint were transferred to the church of St. George in the city of Sredets, which now carries
Sophia.
Remembrance days
June 8
The Holy Land Charitable Foundation
Lives of Saints
