The Great Martyr George was the son of rich and pious parents who raised him in the Christian faith. Having entered military service, George stood out among others for his intelligence, bravery, physical strength, military bearing and beauty. 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 brutal persecutors of Christians.
However, when Saint George heard the inhuman verdict of the extermination of Christians in court, he was filled with compassion for them. Anticipating the suffering that awaited him, George distributed his possessions to the poor, set his slaves free, and, appearing before Emperor Diocletian, denounced him of cruelty and injustice and declared himself a Christian. After fruitless persuasions to renounce Christ, the emperor subjected the saint to torments, which the saint patiently endured. In the end, the emperor ordered George's head to be cut off. It happened in Nicomedia in 303.
For his courage and spiritual victory over his tormentors, who could not force him to renounce Christianity, as well as for his 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 striking a serpent with a spear. This image is based on tradition and refers to the posthumous miracles of St. George the Great Martyr. It is said that not far from the city of Beirut, where he was born, there lived a snake in a lake that devoured people. It can be assumed that the appearance of St. George on horseback to protect the inhabitants from the serpent, as well as the miraculous revival of the farmer's single ox described in his life, served as a reason to venerate St. George as the patron saint of cattle breeding and protector from predatory animals.
Saint George is the eternal patron saint of the army. The image of St. George on horseback symbolizes victory over the "ancient serpent" — the Devil. (Rev. 12, 3; 20, 2) This image was included in the ancient coat of arms of the city of Moscow.