Holiday uniting nations

These days Georgia and Ossetia are celebrating the St. George's Day, which plays a unifying role. Both Ossetian and Georgian peoples consider St. George the most respected saint, who holds a special place in the pantheon, being a defender of the poor and disadvantaged. Ossetia celebrates the St. George's Day the whole last week of November, Georgia celebrates Giorgoba on November 23 - the day of the Breaking on the Wheel of Holy Great Martyr George the Victorious. He is called the Victorious not only because of a large number of military victories, but because he was able to overcome his pride and gain spiritual victory over the torturers, who could not force him to renounce Christianity.

On Saturday, St. George was commemorated in the Patriarchal residence of the Danilov Monastery by the Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and all Russia and the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II, who arrived in Moscow. "Relations between the Churches is the relationship between people at the heart level. If diplomats and politicians work normally at the level of consciousness and businessmen at the level of purse an stomach, then churches at the level of human hearts. A good communication between countries and peoples is not possible without this connection of the human hearts," the Patriarch said, stressing that he attaches great importance to the role of the Russian and Georgian Churches in maintaining good relations between our peoples.

The Church of the Martyr Saint George the Victorious, which became a spiritual center for the Georgian Diaspora's representatives in Moscow. Services in the temple are made not only in Church Slavonic, but also in the Georgian language. On Wednesday, the temple will hold a big celebration in honor of Giorgoba. The large Georgian community will have an opportunity to meet with their Primate and pray together.

Tbilisi also has temples, where the pastoral care is provided to the Russian community, and which hold divine services, including, in Church Slavonic.

"The relations between the Russian and Georgian Orthodox Churches are very important for our countries, for our people, the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia believes. Our churches serves an example for political figures regarding the relations between our countries. In the past years, there have never been so many Russian tourists in Georgia, as we have now. And we are very happy about it. The relations between our two countries should be better than today, and we must do everything possible to improve relations between the political leaders of our countries. I think we will succeed. We need each other, and we should help each other".

The Holy Great Martyr George the Victory-Bearer, was a native of Cappadocia, and he grew up in a deeply believing Christian family. His father was martyred for Christ when George was still a child. His mother, owning lands in Palestine, moved there with her son and raised him in strict piety.

George entered into the service of the Roman army, he was handsome, brave and valiant in battle, and he came to the notice of the emperor Diocletian (284-305) and was promoted to the rank of military tribune - one of the senior military leaders.

The pagan emperor, who did much for the restoration of Roman might, was clearly concerned with the danger presented to the pagan civilization by Christianity, and intensified his persecution against the Christians in the final years of his reign.

George gave his wealth to the poor, freed his servants and and then appeared in the Senate, where he called on everyone to recognize the true faith in Christ. Stunned by the bold speech of the valiant warrior, the emperor, who had loved and promoted George, attempted to persuade him not to throw away his youth, but he stood his ground. Then by order of the enraged emperor the armed guards began to push St George out of the assembly hall with their spears, and they then led him off to prison. But the deadly steel became soft and it bent, just as the spears touched the saint’s body, and it caused him no harm. In prison they put the martyr’s feet in stocks and placed a heavy stone on his chest.

The next day, they tied the Great Martyr to a wheel, beneath which were boards pierced with sharp pieces of iron. As the wheel turned, the sharp edges slashed the saint’s naked body. But the angel saved the martyr. In the future, George suffered many more tortures, but never considered renouncing Christ. He could become a talented commander and surprise the world with military feats, but has ascended into heaven before 30 years old.