Память святого Георгия, епископа Амастридского

The saint's parents, Theodore and Migethusa, were pious people, came from a noble family and were distinguished by a virtuous life 1502. Being childless, they earnestly prayed to God to give them children, and only in their old age did the Lord fulfill their prayer. A voice from heaven announced to them the birth of their son, gave him a name and predicted that the one born would be awarded the grace of bishopric. A son was born. This was Reverend George. When he reached adolescence, what was predicted about him began to come true, for he showed brilliant success in secular and spiritual sciences, and his parents, seeing this, glorified God. Having reached the age of perfection and having completed his education, the Monk George left his fatherland and retired to the Syriac Mountains. Here he met one pious elder, received monastic tonsure from him, and under his guidance began to undergo monastic life. After the death of the elder, the monk went to Vonissa and here devoted himself to the harsh deeds of fasting life. The pious life of Saint George soon became known to everyone, and when the bishop of the city of Amastris died in 1503, by the will of God he was elected bishop by the clergy and people. Arriving in Constantinople for ordination, he gained the favor of Emperor Constantine VI and his mother Irina and was dedicated by Patriarch Tarasius. Thus, everything that the Lord had once predicted about him to his parents finally came true - the monk was elevated to the see of the Bishop of Amastris, like a lamp that is not hidden under a vessel, but placed on a candlestick (Matthew 5:15). When he arrived from the capital to his cathedral city, he established his flock in Divine teaching, multiplied church utensils and decorations in churches, and drew up church rules regarding the altar. At the same time, he was always the protector of widows and orphans, the feeder of the poor and the resolver of debts, and for everyone he served as an image of a truly godly life. The monk performed many miracles: for example, with his prayers he drove away the Saracens who were devastating the surrounding country from the city; miraculously saved the Amastrid merchants, taken in Trebizond and unjustly condemned to death. Having lived his earthly life in such piety, the Monk George left it and in peace gave up his spirit to the Lord, to Whom be glory now, always and unto ages of ages 1504. They lived in the city of Kromna, in Paphlogonia, near the Red Sea. The city of Amastris was located in Paphlogonia, one of the northern Asia Minor provinces of the Roman Empire, located between Bithynia and Pontus along the shores of the Pontus Euxine, now the Black Sea. Saint George died on March 3 during the reign of Nicephorus Logothet (802–811). Many miracles were performed at his grave. You might be interested in: