{"id":315218,"date":"2021-04-24T14:15:13","date_gmt":"2021-04-24T11:15:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/basilica.ro\/?p=315218"},"modified":"2021-04-24T14:15:13","modified_gmt":"2021-04-24T11:15:13","slug":"patriarch-daniel-points-to-st-george-as-icon-of-faith-courage-and-manhood-he-teaches-us-to-love-the-church-not-only-in-good-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/basilica.ro\/en\/patriarch-daniel-points-to-st-george-as-icon-of-faith-courage-and-manhood-he-teaches-us-to-love-the-church-not-only-in-good-times\/","title":{"rendered":"Patriarch Daniel points to St George as \u201cicon of faith, courage and manhood\u201d: He teaches us to love the Church not only in good times"},"content":{"rendered":"

April 23, 2021, marked the patronal feast of the historical chapel at the patriarchal residence in Bucharest.<\/p>\n

At the end of the Divine Liturgy celebrated by Archimandrite Paisie Teodorescu, patriarchal vicar, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel presented the life and sufferings of Saint George, whom he called \u201can icon of strong faith, courage, manhood, and of the fight to keep the faith.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\u00a9Lumina Newspaper<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Patriarch Daniel said that St. George, a senior officer in the guard of the emperor Diocletian, was at a meeting in which plans were made to persecute Christians. There he confessed before the emperor and those present that he was a Christian and could only serve in the army as a soldier of Christ.<\/p>\n

Being very surprised by the courage and audacity of his officer, the emperor tried to distract him from his faith by promising positions, fortunes, honours. But St. George remained unyielding, firm in his faith in Jesus Christ, His Beatitude explained, describing what the great martyr went through:<\/p>\n

\u201cThen the emperor ordered that he be arrested and tortured. He was beaten with oxen vines, put on shoes that had nails and when he walked, the nails pierced his sole. He was thrown into a lime pit; a big stone was put on his chest.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe went through many sufferings and came out of all of them victorious through the grace and help of Christ. The soldiers who tortured him saw that there was a special power in him that helped him go through all the torments, and some of them became Christians. So did Empress Alexandra, Diocletian\u2019s wife,\u201d the Patriarch added.<\/p>\n

Finally, on April 23, 303, the emperor ordered the beheading of George along with the empress and those who believed in Christ.<\/p>\n

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\u00a9 Lumina Newspaper<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cSaint George the Great Martyr is a patron saint, a helper of those who fight, but also of the poor and the sick. He is also a man of suffering, who helps those who suffer.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe teaches us to love the Church of Christ and to profess the faith not only in good times, but also in times of trial, persecution, and suffering,\u201d Patriarch Daniel said at the end of his sermon.<\/span><\/p>\n

A very popular saint<\/span><\/h1>\n

\u201cThe Holy Great Martyr George became an icon of strong faith, courage, manhood, of the struggle to keep the faith in Jesus Christ. He is the protector of those who are spiritual fighters, but also of Christian soldiers. Therefore, he has become very popular both among military leaders and in the people\u2019s devotion,\u201d the Patriarch of Romania noted on Friday, April 23.<\/span><\/p>\n

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel listed in his sermon evidence of the widespread devotion that Christians throughout the world and especially in Romania have for St. George.<\/span><\/p>\n