Orthodox Christians celebrate St. George Day

Orthodox Christendom celebrates St. George Day on November 23. Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II is delivering a solemn service at the Svetitskhoveli, a cathedral of church of Georgia in Mtskheta, former capital of the country.

The newly confirmed Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili, the Minister of Corrections and Legal Assistance Sozar Subari and PM Zviad Dzidziguri attended the ceremony in Svetitskhoveli cathedral.

Festive ceremonies were being held at all active Orthodox churches across Georgia.

St. George was born in the latter part of the third century A.D. to a Greek Christian noble family in Lydda, Palestine. After his fathers death, George enlisted in the Roman army and by his late 20s was promoted to the rank of Tribunus and joined the imperial guard of the Emperor Diocletian at Nicomedia, the eastern capital city of the Roman Empire.

During the year 303 A.D., the emperor Diocletian summoned his officers and instructed them to persecute the Christians. Raised as a Christian, George refused to undertake this task. Diocletian offered him gifts of land, money and slaves if he would renounce his faith and make a sacrifice to the Roman gods.

When he refused, George was tortured and then beheaded.

St George has always been especially honored and respected as a patron saint of Georgia and there are hundreds of churches dedicated to him.Georgian Orthodox Christians celebrate Saint Georges Day(Giorgoba), twice a year; on May 6 and on 23 November.