Saints and martyrs have been the most exemplary image of the living Holy Bible in action. Any description of Christianity would be remiss if it excluded those faithful, courageous, devoted, and humble followers of Christ who have become our mentors throughout the ages, representing Christianity, the most, in fact, the only powerful and superior religion in the world. If Christian virtues were merely a collection of concepts, it would not appear to be so difficult to embrace them. However, when one understands that these virtues are to be practiced not only on those closest to us, but are to be extended to cover those who specifically hate us vehemently, then one realizes the uniqueness of this religion. With this understanding, those precious saints and martyrs bore the message of Christ upon their heads as the most glorious crown, and some have nurtured the faith even with their own blood.
When people hear the name of St. George, they usually presume that it is the famous St. George, the Prince of Martyrs, whose icon portrays a valiant horseman spearing a dragon. Actually, the lives of the saints recorded in the Synexarium of the Coptic Orthodox Church, celebrate four different saints by the name of St. George: St. George the Prince of Martyrs; St. George of Alexandria, the Martyr; St. George, El-Mezahem, the Martyr; and St. George, the Friend of St. Abraam.
While each one of these men contributed astounding leadership through a splendid life of faith in his own right, most of them were also somehow connected to the great martyr, St. George the Prince of Martyrs.
St. George the Prince of Martyrs (Parmoute 23rd) is also known as St. George of Cappadocia, a city in modern-day Turkey. Of all the saints named George, he is the most known. St. George was born in Cappadocia, his father Anastius' home town but grew up into a gallant man in Lydda, his mother Theopesta's home town near Bethlehem. After his father's death, he assumed his father's influential military rank in the Roman Guard at the age of twenty years. When St. George knew about the Emperor's edict of idol worshiping and the enslavement of the steadfast Christians who refused to comply, he ransomed them with his own wealth and publicly defended the oppressed and fearful Christians.
Noble and bold, St. George encountered several emperors before facing the worst of them all, the infamous Emperor Diocletian. Though repeatedly tortured, and alternatively enticed with wicked propositions and material temptations, St. George's faith remained stalwart, ever so confident in the Lord Jesus Christ, who repeatedly healed him from the various wounds and inflictions meant to dissuade him from the truth. St. George's faith was resilient. While onlookers witnessed his valor in this faith, many became Christians, as well, and others accepted to suffer martyrdom for the sake of the true faith. The extensive tortures bore by this amazing saint were particularly graphic. In the midst of his pain and suffering, he was known to have performed many miracles, such as raising the dead and curing a mute, deaf and blind boy. In addition, the Lord did not refuse the prayers of this beloved saint who, at the ridiculous demand of Diocletian to bring forth branches and fruits from chairs, entreated and made his request known to Christ, and the Lord answered his prayers.
Frustrated and repeatedly humiliated by the gallantry and perseverance of St. George, Diocletian tried to seduce him by offering to marry his daughter to him. When she was brought to St. George, he prayed the psalms with her and taught her about the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus, the empress accepted Christ and tried to stop her father from inflicting any more tortures on St. George. Enraged that she had also become a Christian, Diocletian burned her body with a hot comb and ordered her beheading. She, too, received the crown of martyrdom. After that, St. George was forced to drink a cup of poison and squeezed to the point of death. Then, he was to be thrown outside the city to have his life ended. Finally, realizing that nothing could stop this saint from loving and worshiping Jesus Christ, Diocletian ordered to have him beheaded after the most horrendous tortures. The precious body of St. George was befittingly shrouded and taken to his hometown in Lydda. By the grace of God, the righteous Emperor Constantine who eventually assumed political and executive authority over many regions, proclaimed Christianity to be the official religion throughout all his municipalities. Through his mother's guidance, and in honor of the martyrs, he ordered the construction of many churches, including St. George's. Many churches still hold some of his blessed and venerable relics and countless miracles continue to be performed by St. George the Prince of Martyrs even until this day.
In the Orthodox traditions, the veneration of saints’ relics reflects a deep reverence for the holiness of individuals who have lived lives fully dedicated to God. Relics, which may include parts of a saint’s body, clothing, or objects they touched, are considered tangible connections to these holy figures and serve as reminders of their sanctity and closeness to God.
The theological foundation for honoring relics is rooted in the belief in the Incarnation—Christ becoming flesh—meaning that the physical world can convey divine grace. Just as Christ’s physical body was a vessel of divine life, the bodies of saints are believed to carry a measure of that holiness. This understanding is reinforced by Scripture, which records instances where physical objects were conduits of God’s power, such as in the healing through the hem of Jesus’ garment (Matthew 9:20-22) and miracles performed by touching items associated with the Apostles (Acts 19:11-12).
Relics are not worshipped; rather, they are honored as symbols of the saint’s holy life and their closeness to God. The veneration of relics is seen as a way to honor God’s work in the lives of His saints and as an aid to draw believers closer to God through their example. In this sense, relics provide inspiration, encourage the faithful, and are sometimes associated with miracles, as the faithful believe the saints continue to intercede on their behalf.
Here are key biblical references that lay the foundation for honoring relics:
1. The Bones of Elisha – 2 Kings 13:20-21: After the prophet Elisha died and was buried, a dead man’s body was accidentally thrown into Elisha’s grave. When the man’s body touched Elisha’s bones, he was revived and stood on his feet. This account shows that even after a holy person’s death, their physical remains can be a conduit of God’s power.
2. Jesus’ Garment – Matthew 9:20-22: A woman who had been suffering from bleeding for twelve years touched the hem of Jesus’ garment and was healed instantly. Although it was not Jesus Himself she touched, but only His clothing, His power healed her. This passage illustrates how God’s grace can operate through physical objects connected to holy individuals.
3. The Handkerchiefs and Aprons of Paul – Acts 19:11-12: “God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured, and the evil spirits left them.” Here, items that Paul had used became vessels of God’s healing power, showing a biblical precedent for using objects associated with holy people in acts of faith.
4. The Shadow of Peter – Acts 5:15-16: People brought their sick into the streets so that Peter’s shadow might fall on them as he passed by, and they were healed. Although it was simply Peter’s shadow, people believed God’s power could work through it, highlighting the reverence and expectation that God’s grace could manifest through physical elements connected with His saints.
5. Old Testament Relics and Sacred Objects – Several examples in the Old Testament point to the Israelites’ reverence for objects associated with God’s presence:
• The Ark of the Covenant – Exodus 25:10-22: The Ark contained holy items (such as the tablets of the Ten Commandments) and was revered as a sacred object because it symbolized God’s presence among the people. The Ark was treated with utmost reverence, and even its mere presence brought blessings or judgments.
• The Bronze Serpent – Numbers 21:8-9: God instructed Moses to make a bronze serpent, and those who looked upon it were healed of snake bites. This shows that, even in the Old Testament, God sometimes used physical objects as instruments of His healing power.
6. Reverence for the Saints’ Bodies – 1 Corinthians 6:19-20: St. Paul teaches that our bodies are “temples of the Holy Spirit” and should be honored as such. This understanding lays the groundwork for the honor shown to saints’ bodies, which are believed to be filled with God’s grace even in death.
7. Honoring the Righteous – Hebrews 11: While not specifically about relics, this chapter highlights the importance of remembering and honoring the faithful who have gone before us, showing how their lives encourage and inspire believers. Honoring relics serves as a tangible way to keep the memory of these holy people alive.
In Orthodox teachings, the saints are believed to be alive in Christ, interceding for the faithful. Relics serve as visible reminders of these saints’ continued presence and connection with the living Church. Through these Scriptural examples, both traditions see relics not as objects of worship but as holy conduits that lead believers closer to God.
St. George Church is a part of The Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States, the first Coptic Orthodox Diocese to be established in the United States is the Diocese of the Southern United States in 1993. H.H. Pope Shenouda III appointed His Grace Bishop Youssef to oversee this Diocese.
