Martyr Calliopius; St. George the Confessor the Bishop of Mytilene; Third Sunday of Lent (Of the Holy Cross)

Orthodox Calendar, April 7

Saint George, Metropolitan of Mytilene, from his youth he led a monastic life, and was especially accomplished in the virtue of humility. In the reign of Leo the Isaurian (716-741) the saint underwent persecution from the iconoclasts and became a Confessor.

During the reign of the emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitos (780-797) Saint George was elevated to the archbishopal cathedra of the city of Mytilene on the island of Lesbos. His life was radiant with prudence and purity and resembled the life of angels.

He possessed a gift of wonderworking, cast out unclean spirits and healed incurable diseases. The saint distinguished himself by his compassion, and he helped all the needy.

In 815, during the reign of the iconoclast Leo the Armenian (813-820), the holy archpastor was banished and sent to Cherson, where he died after the year 820.

At the hour of his death a bright star shone in the heavens over the city of Mytilene.

Troparion, tone 3:
Like a meadow planted by God you were fruitful with the grace of the Spirit, O holy Archpastor of the Mysteries. You cultivated the souls of the faithful refreshing them with living water. O righteous Father George, pray Christ our God to grant us great mercy!

Gospel of the third Sunday of Lent (Mark 8:34-39, 9:1)

„When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, «Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels». And He said to them, «Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power»”.

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