The great Martyr Saint George Victorious - Baptism Icons

Great-martyr George was the son of rich and pious parents who brought him up in the Christian faith. Entering the military service, George stood out among others with intelligence, courage, physical strength, military bearing and beauty. The Emperor Diocletian set himself the goal of reviving dying paganism in the Roman Empire, which is why he went down in history as one of the most cruel persecutors of Christians.

However, having heard once at the trial an inhuman verdict on the extermination of Christians, St. George was inflamed with compassion for them. In anticipation of the suffering that awaited him, George distributed the property to the poor, released his slaves to freedom, and, appearing to the emperor Diocletian, convicted him of cruelty and injustice and declared himself a Christian. After ineffectual persuasion to renounce Christ, the emperor subjected the saint to martyrdom, which the saint patiently endured. In the end, the emperor ordered to cut off George's head. This happened in Nicomedia in 303.

For courage and spiritual victory over the torturers who could not force him to abandon Christianity, as well as for miraculous help to people in danger, the Great Martyr George is also called the Victorious. The relics of St. George the Victorious are kept in the Palestinian city of Lida, in the temple bearing his name, the head is in the Roman temple, also dedicated to him.
On the icons St. George is depicted sitting on a white horse and a spear-thrashing serpent. This image is based on tradition and refers to the posthumous miracles of the holy Great Martyr George. It is said that near the city of Beirut, where he was born, there lived a snake in the lake, devouring people. We can assume that the phenomenon of St. George on horseback to protect the inhabitants from the snake, as well as the miraculous revival of the only ox from the farmer described in the life, served as an occasion for venerating St. George as the patron of cattle breeding and defender of predatory animals.

St. George - the eternal patron of the army. The image of St. George on the horse symbolizes victory over the "ancient serpent" - the Devil. (Revelation 12, 3, 20, 2) This image was included in the ancient coat of arms of the city of Moscow.