Georgia celebrates Saint George’s day
Orthodox Christians celebrate Saint George’s Day twice a year, on May 6 and November 23 (according to the Julian calendar). Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
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Orthodox Christians in Georgia are celebrating one of the most important days on the religious calendar – Saint George’s Day (Giorgoba in Georgian) today.
Giorgi, deriving from the name George, is the most common male name in the country. It is believed the country’s name "Georgia" is also associated with Saint George.
Orthodox Christians celebrate Saint George’s Day twice a year, on May 6 and November 23 (according to the Julian calendar). November 23 marks the day when Saint George was tortured on the wheel.
Georgian Defence Minister Irakli Garibashvili, who was on an official visit to the United States, sent best wishes to Georgians.
The Embassy of the United Kingdom to Georgia has also joined the celebrations.
გილოცავთ გიორგობას!
— UK in Georgia (@UKinGeorgia) November 23, 2019
Happy St George’s Day ! #UKGeorgia2019 #Tbilisi #გიორგობა @GREATBritain @geBritish @JustinMcKenzieS pic.twitter.com/CEMl3qZyRf
Saint George was born in the latter part of the third century AD to a Greek Christian noble family in Lydda, Palestine.
After his father’s 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 AD, the Emperor Diocletian summoned his officers and instructed them to persecute the Christians.
When George refused this he was tortured and then beheaded on April 23, (April 23 corresponds to 6 May on the Julian calendar).