Icon - George the Dragonslayer - Hardwood - Hand-painted

“St. George (Γεώργιος) and the Dragon” hand-painted Orthodox-Byzantine icon, made of gold leaf canvas on handmade wood.

This great miracle worker and martyr lived in the second half of the third century AD, during Diocletian’s reign over the Roman Empire. He originally came from Cappadocia and was raised by very pious parents.

When Diocletian began his persecutions of Christians, St. George declared himself a Christian and thereby rejected the false idols. He underwent many torments for his faith, but he never considered renouncing it.

In the history of our church we find a myth about a dragon and St. George. This dragon threatened the idolaters in the area of Atalia. The people were forced to live inside the walls of their city. This prevented them from tending their fields and letting their sheep graze. Every year they offered a young girl to the dragon. When St. George arrived in this area, the king’s daughter was about to be sacrificed. After he slew the dragon, St. George tied a rope around its neck. He then handed the rope to the princess so she could lead the beast back to the city. From there he ended the terror and subsequently baptized thousands of inhabitants of the city.

St. George is the protector of Christians and the patron saint of everyone who fights for justice. The church commemorates him on April 23.

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