Father org
Kontakion 1
Let us praise the chosen commander and victorious George, as our intercessor and quick helper: you are a holy great martyr, as you have boldness in the Lord, free us from all troubles, and let us call to you: Rejoice George, great victorious one.
Ikos 1
The Creator of angels and the creator of all creation, having revealed you to the Church of His faith as a champion, and for the faith of an invincible passion-bearer, inspires us, for the deeds of your suffering, to praise you, Saint George: Rejoice, loving Jesus the Son of God to the end; Rejoice, having laid down your soul with love for His name. Rejoice, called confessor from God; Rejoice, glorified ascetic by God's grace. Rejoice, fellow angels; Rejoice, equal leader of the prophets. Rejoice, George, great victorious one.
Kontakion 2
Seeing the persecution of the wicked against Christians, you were not afraid of their intrigues and torment, O wise God, but like a good warrior of Christ, having given all that was yours to the poor, you flowed with your unrighteous will to their advice, singing to Christ the leader and to your God: Alleluia.
Ikos 2
Having rationally comprehended the one God, in three Hypostases who is divinely worshiped, with a firm mind you confessed Him at the gatherings of the wicked, and thus you denounced the insane king for the insane worship of the creature. For this reason, for your lofty wisdom, receive from us, George, zealous praise: Rejoice, preacher of the only true God; Rejoice, faithful protector of the Most Holy Trinity. Rejoice, having shown the great secret of the Orthodox confession to the infidels; Rejoice, you who expose the charm of idolatry's service. Rejoice, divine rhetorician; Rejoice, full of wisdom! Rejoice, George, great victorious one.
Kontakion 3
The power of God, enlightening every person coming into the world, and in prison visited you who suffered, the humble and wise George: because you have despised all this corruptible life, as if you had despised the knowledge, you have clung to the only Christ, and having fought well for His name, you have been vouchsafed to sing with the angels forever: Alleluia .
Ikos 3
Having a mind and heart illuminated by the Holy Spirit, you, at His inspiration, were jealous of you to strive for the name of Christ, standing to the blood of courage in faith, you denounced the pride raised by the wicked congregation. For this reason, we praise you, O all-wise George: Rejoice, shield erected for the protection of piety; Rejoice, sword raised to cut off wickedness. Rejoice, pillar of faith; Rejoice, wall and strengthening of the Church of Christ. Rejoice, fertilizer of the faithful; Rejoice, fear and shame of the unfaithful. Rejoice, George, great victorious one.
Kontakion 4
The mad tormentor who breathes murder upon you, the passion-bearer George, thirsted for your blood like a greedy dog, commanding that your body be crucified on a wheel and given over to the worst torment: but you, crying out in the Lord, with firm trust in God, you cried out: Alleluia.
Ikos 4
Having heard from you Diocletian and the priests of idolatry the words of wisdom, they flared up with anger at you, even more so when you said: “0 to the tormentor king! Why are you torturing me in vain, for I have Christ to live and gain to die. It’s hard for you to eat against the pricks of the enemy.” For this reason we cry to you, great surname George: Rejoice, for your courageous confession of faith you shed your blood on the wheel; Rejoice, having magnified the triumph of faith with your blood. Rejoice, rival of the apostles; Rejoice, imitator of the free passion of Christ. Rejoice, unshakable champion of the faith; Rejoice, most steadfast passion-bearer of adamant. Rejoice, George, great victorious one.
Kontakion 5
You were like a godlike star, George, for with miraculous healing from an angel and visible renunciation from the wheel, you taught the infidels to believe in the Trinity of the Consubstantial One, and together with you to sing: Alleluia.
Ikos 5
Seeing the people, the miracles of the power of God that were manifestly happening to you, with meekness you received the teaching of Christ from you and cried out saying: “Great indeed is the Christian God!” For this reason, praising you, most glorious George, we cry out to you: Rejoice, you who have dispersed the darkness of unbelief with your luminous word of salvation; Rejoice, having converted the unfaithful to Christ by the martyr's confession of faith. Rejoice, lead legions of earthly warriors into the heavenly army; Rejoice, as a warrior of Christ, stay with the heavenly warriors. Rejoice, glory to the warriors; Rejoice, beauty of the martyr's bright face. Rejoice, George, great victorious one.
Kontakion 6
A preacher of truth, jealous of the spirit-bearing apostle, you were crucified with the cross of the world, more passionately: behold, like Jonah, you were thrown headlong into the belly of the whale, into the cave of undissolved lime, so that for your sake the Lord, wondrous in the saints, may be glorified, to whom you are known even in the pit, like in the temple of glory , you cleverly cried out: Alleluia.
Ikos 6
Who shone forth in His three-day rise from the grave, the omnipotent of hell and death, the Conqueror Jesus, saving you from hellish corruption, the passion-bearing George: three days later you were found alive in the limelight, and in the lifting up of your hands singing to God: for this reason the great one was afraid and terrified. We, rejoicing, will sing a victorious song: Rejoice, having been cast down shamefully into the well-known ditch, the exalted pride of the devil has been cast down; Rejoice, wondrous salvation from God, conqueror of the brutality of the tormentor. Rejoice, for thou who were not evil, for thou didst pray for those who committed this misfortune, as for benefactors; Rejoice, for you were troubled by their conversion, as Paul was by the Jews. Rejoice, man of desires; Rejoice, chosen vessel. Rejoice, George, great victorious one.
Kontakion 7
Although the wicked tormentor tries to seduce your heart into the charm of an idol, the wicked tormentor intends to seduce you with magical enchantments: you are God’s chosen one with David, exclaiming: O God is my salvation and my glory, to Him you sang faithfully: Alleluia.
Ikos 7
A new demonstration of the evil of this evil servant of Satan, Diocletian, when in his insane jealousy of idols, he commanded to give you poison, George: but you are filled with faith and hope, even if you drank mortal things, you remained without harm, O praiser of God, and we also cry out ty: Rejoice, for in your trust in God you are alive and you were not put to shame; Rejoice, for you did not impute anything to the tormentor. Rejoice, demon driver! Rejoice, magical wiles of the destroyer. Rejoice, for God is marvelous in you in His saints; Rejoice, for through you the name of Christ is glorified in honor. Rejoice George, great victorious one.
Kontakion 8
Strange and terrible advice came from a certain sorcerer to the wicked king, so that he would command you, as proof of the righteousness of the faith of Christ, to resurrect the dead with a word: but you, George, without hesitation, sang to Him Who is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: Alleluia.
Ikos 8
All-desired and Sweetest Jesus, whom you loved with all your soul and with all your heart, all-blessed George, hearing your warm prayer of faith, soon commanded, according to your word, the dead will rise again, for glorification for the sake of His name, and for the faithful affirmation, but for the unfaithful and blinded to wonder and knowledge of God. For this reason, out of duty, we cry out to you: Rejoice, for the Lord has shown wondrous powers on you; Rejoice, for through you you raised the dead from the grave. Rejoice, thou who bestowed insight of faith upon the blinded sorcerer; Rejoice, many who suffered for Christ's sake, showing the way to the Holy of Holies. Rejoice, Rome's surprise; Rejoice, Christian exaltation. Rejoice, George, great victorious one.
Kontakion 9
All the angels praised God, who gave you such courage, George, as even in prison you did not cease to be vigilant in prayer. For this reason, as the great hidden place of God’s grace, you were worthy to see in a vision the Lord crowning your head with the crown of incorruption, and we also cry out with you: Alleluia.
Ikos 9
With their rhetorical tongues they will not be able to utter praise worthy of you, George, many for the sake of your exploits and illnesses, which you raised by your will for Christ and the Church. For this reason, we, too, bewildered to praise you according to your heritage, sing: Rejoice, you who were free to suffer for Christ and the Church, who crucified the old Adam within you; Rejoice, for your valiant suffering, you received the crown of righteousness from the hand of the Lord. Rejoice, rule of pious zeal; Rejoice, image of spiritual poverty. Rejoice, for you have pleased not yourself, but Christ alone; Rejoice, for you were ready for manifold deaths for Christ. Rejoice, George, great victorious one.
Kontakion 10
To save the souls of those perishing in the darkness of idolatry, God-loving George, you, jealous, were jealous like Elijah for God: having entered into the temple of the idols, by the power of God you drove away the demons, crushed the idols, put the priests to shame, and, like a winner, not from men, but You and the angels sang to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 10
The walls are more insensible, your tormentor, stoned in heart, George, not knowing God, you manifested miracles, but remained until the end, like an asp, stop your ears. For this reason, I commanded that you be placed at the head of disgrace, like a villain: but you, sick of the destruction of his soul, joyfully accepted your death, for this reason we please you with love: Rejoice, having preserved faith, hope and love to the end; Rejoice, having done many and great miracles in your dormition. Rejoice, thou crowned upon the earth with the weapon of God's favor; Rejoice, adorned with glory and splendor in Heaven. Rejoice, man of God; Rejoice, good soldier of Christ. Rejoice, George, great victorious one.
Kontakion 11
You, the Holy Great Martyr George, rendered the singing of the Most Holy Trinity more than others, not in words and in your mind, but by sacrificing your whole self alive: imitating the immaculate Lamb Christ crucified for us, you laid down your soul for your friends by your own will. Moreover, even if we are dissatisfied with such praise of your valor, for there is no one else to love so much, but give thanks to the being, we sing to the wondrous thing in the saints: Alleluia.
Ikos 11
The light-receiving lamp of the true Light, God’s chosen one George appears to those on earth, enlightening the hearts of the faithful, and instructing everyone in the Divine mind, teaching us to cheerfully cry out: Rejoice, for you dwell in the bright angelic devils; Rejoice, for you are partaking of the non-evening Trinity Light, not in fortune-telling, but face to face. Rejoice, nourisher of the poor and protector of the offended; Rejoice, physician of the weak and champion of kings. Rejoice, champion of the Orthodox warrior in battle; Rejoice, warm intercessor for the salvation of sinners. Rejoice, George, great victorious one.
Kontakion 12
The grace given to you from God, knowing, we celebrate your memory, Great Martyr George, and with fervent prayer flowing to your miraculous image, with your omnipotent help in the Lord, like an insurmountable wall, we are protected. For this reason, praising you, we earnestly call to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 12
Singing your glorious death, by which you were exalted as a good warrior of Christ, we pray to you, passion-bearing George: be your helper in everything for our good, and hear us earnestly crying out to you: Rejoice, for by you the Church of the faithful is enlightened; Rejoice, for your name is also glorified among the unbelievers. Rejoice, wondrous glory of confessors; Rejoice, high praise of the martyrs. Rejoice, healer of our bodies; Rejoice, O prayer book for our souls. Rejoice, George, great victorious one.
Kontakion 13
O all-blessed and holy Great Martyr George, accept this song of our praise, and deliver us from all evil through your warm intercession to God, so that we may sing with you: Alleluia.
This kontakion is read three times, then ikos 1 and kontakion 1.
Prayers to the Holy Great Martyr George the Victorious
O all-validated, holy great martyr and wonderworker George! Look upon us with your quick help, and beg God, the Lover of Mankind, not to judge us, sinners, according to our iniquities, but to deal with us according to His great mercy. Do not despise our prayer, but ask us from Christ our God a quiet and godly life, mental and physical health, fertility of the earth, and abundance in everything, and may we not turn the good things given to us by you from the All-Bountiful God into evil, but into the glory of the Holy One in His name and in glorification of your strong intercession, may He grant our country and all the God-loving army victory over the adversaries and strengthen us with unchangeable peace and blessing. May His angel protect us saints with a militia, so that we, upon our departure from this life, may be delivered from the wiles of the evil one and his difficult airy ordeals, and may present ourselves uncondemned to the Throne of the Lord of Glory. Hear us, passion-bearing George of Christ, and pray for us unceasingly to the Trinitarian Lord of all God, so that by His grace and love for mankind, with your help and intercession we may find mercy, with the angels and archangels and all the saints at the right hand of the Just Judge of the world, and He will be glorified with the Father and Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Holy, glorious and all-praised Great Martyr George! Gathered in your temple and before your holy icon, worshiping people, we pray to you, known to the desires of our intercessor, pray with us and for us, beseeching God from His mercy, may He mercifully hear us asking for His goodness, and not abandon all ours to salvation and life needful petitions, and grants our country victory in the face of resistance; and again, falling down, we pray to you, victorious saint: strengthen the Orthodox army in battle with the grace given to you, destroy the forces of the rising enemies, so that they will be ashamed and put to shame, and let their insolence be crushed, and let them know that we have Divine help, and to everyone in sorrow and the current situation, show your powerful intercession. Pray to the Lord God, the Creator of all creation, to deliver us from eternal torment, so that we glorify the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and we confess your intercession now, and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Brief biography
He was born into a family of wealthy Christians at the end of the 3rd century. He grew up in the city of Lydda (the territory of modern Israel). He received a good education and already at the age of 20 became a great military leader.
During the “Great Persecution” of Christians in the Roman Empire, he revealed his faith to the emperor, for which he was arrested and subjected to severe torture. The prisoner’s body was tormented on a rotating wheel with sharp iron tips (known in Orthodoxy as “wheeling”), covered with quicklime, tortured with a hot iron, beaten and even forced to drink poison. Each time the young man prayed, did not renounce his faith, and the Lord saved his devoted follower.
The pagans, who witnessed miracles, began to believe in Jesus Christ, and this only angered the emperor even more. After 8 days of cruel torture, the prisoner's head was cut off.
Victory over the serpent
The well-known plot, where a young man sits on a horse and thrusts a spear into a winged serpent similar to a dragon (found on coins, seals, is the coat of arms of Moscow and part of the coat of arms of Russia), is based on the story of the posthumous miracle of St. George the Victorious. According to legend, a huge winged serpent lived on a lake near the city of Beirut (Syria). He kidnapped people, and no one could cope with the monster.
The frightened locals, who were pagans, decided to take turns donating their children to the monster. The turn came for the king’s daughter. She was tied to a tree near the lake. Soon a dragon appeared from the water, and a horseman appeared on the shore and stabbed the monster with a spear. It was the Great Martyr George. It was he who saved the residents of Beirut, after which more than 25 thousand people converted to the Christian faith.
Novgorod school, mid-14th century. 55 × 37 cm State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow, Russia
It is believed that he not only saved the princess from death, but also the entire pagan people from spiritual death, and defeated evil and sin.
Over time, this plot began to be considered a military symbol of courage and victory over enemies.
In what cases is the akathist read?
An akathist to St. George the Victorious can be heard in churches on the days of the saint’s memory:
- May 6 (April 23, old style);
- December 9 (November 26);
- November 23 (November 10);
- November 16 (November 3).
You can offer praise to the martyr yourself at home on any day (except Lenten). It is important to remember that “akathist” is translated as “unsaddled song,” i.e. It is customary to stand when performing it.
You need to start reading the solemn anthem in a calm state of mind. It is better to listen to it first in a recording or in church in order to catch the intonation and place the emphasis correctly.
Reading the akathist to St. George the Victorious will help strengthen faith, fortitude, and support in difficult moments of mental anguish and indecision. It can also relieve physical illnesses, protect from the enemy, and support during military conflicts.
