ST. GEORGE'S DAY

In Christian hagiography Saint George (ca. 275-281 – April 23, 303) was a soldier of Greek-speaking Anatolia in the Roman Empire, venerated as a martyr. He is one of the most venerated saints in the Eastern Orthodox Church, Oriental Orthodox Churches, and the Eastern Catholic Churches. He is immortalised in the tale of George and the Dragon and is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers. St. George is the patron saint of Catalonia, England, Ethiopia, Georgia, Greece, Portugal and Russia, the cities of Beirut, Constantinople, Ljubljana, and Moscow, as well as a wide range of professions and organisations, among others of the Association of the Members of Yugoslav Army in Fatherland.

Saint George is not commemorated in any early vita or acta that would have some merit as reflecting history and cannot be accounted a historical individual.

He is most commonly depicted in early icons, mosaics and frescos wearing armour contemporary with the depiction, executed in gilding and silver colour, intended to identify him as a Roman soldier. After the Fall of Constantinople and the association of St George with the crusades, he is more often portrayed mounted upon a white horse.

St George is very much honored among the Serbs, and many of them took him as their family Patron Saint.

Serbian Orthodox Church commemorates St. George's day twice a year, on May 6 (O.C. April 23) – Djurdjevdan - and November 23, Djurdjic.

Several monasteries in Serbia are dedicated to St George, the most famous being Djurdjevi Stupovi.