Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Saint George - the saint who conquers and inspires with his faith

Byzantine Orthodox icon of St. George, 14th century, Constantinople
Photo: Archive

After the wonderful spring Christian holidays of Lazarus Saturday, Palm Sunday and the Resurrection of Christ, now comes the turn of St. George's Day, when the Bulgarian Orthodox Church commemorates the day of one of its first martyrs. 
Young George entered the army, where he proved to be a good soldier and quickly rose in the military hierarchy to the personal guard of Emperor Diocletian. In 303, the ruler issued an edict to persecute Christians throughout the Roman Empire, and George was ordered to participate in the persecutions. Instead, the brave warrior revealed that he was a Christian and criticized the emperor's decision. 
The sufferings, in the name of the Christian faith, which St. Great Martyr George endured, were particularly severe, which for today's Christians seem overwhelming. During the tortures, he miraculously survived, which led many to believe in Christ, and others publicly announced without fear that they were Christians. 

Following the example of the Saviour who defeated death and suffering, St. George accepted martyrdom in the name of Salvation. In order to break his faith, they made him resurrect a long-buried dead man, and with his prayers, the saint managed to bring the dead man back to life. 

At the sight of the miraculous resurrection, those present believed and turned to God, but were killed immediately, and George continued to perform miracles and enlighten the people around him with his faith. 

Finally, Christ himself appeared to him and, consoling him, placed a crown on his head, with a promise to reign with him in the Kingdom of Heaven.‎

St. George was killed on April 23. This date was marked by the Orthodox Church in Bulgaria until 1916, but with the introduction of the Gregorian calendar, his feast day was moved to May 6.


Read also:



Publication by Rositsa Petcova



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Bulgarian Orthodox Church marks start of ecclesiastical New Year on September 1

The New Church Year begins on September 1. The month of September is the seventh month of the year according to the Jewish calendar. It is associated with a number of biblical events, which is why it was designated as the beginning of the Church New..

published on 9/1/25 12:19 PM

In the footsteps of medieval monks – the hidden face of the Ivanovo Rock Monastery

High in the canyon of the Rusenski Lom River lies one of the most impressive spiritual centers of Bulgaria. It is a complex of dozens of rock-hewn cells, chapels and churches carved on both sides of the river , which came to life in the 13th century..

published on 8/31/25 11:35 AM

A liturgy was held on St. John Island near Sozopol for the first time in 500 years

For the first time in 500 years, the chants of the Divine Liturgy echoed through the ruins of the medieval monastery ''St. John the Baptist'' on St. John Island near Sozopol. The occasion was the commemoration of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist,..

published on 8/29/25 11:30 AM