Life
Saint George the Trophy-Bearer, one of the most celebrated martyrs of the Church of Christ, was born in Cappadocia (present-day Turkey) in the second half of the third century. His father was a distinguished Christian who suffered martyrdom for the faith; after the father’s death, his mother took him to Palestine, her native land. A talented and chivalric young man, George entered the Roman army and quickly rose to a high officer’s rank — according to tradition, he attained the rank of tribune and was a favored officer of Emperor Diocletian.
When Diocletian launched one of the most savage persecutions of Christians in Roman history in 303, George appeared before the imperial court and publicly condemned the persecutions. He distributed his possessions to the poor, freed his slaves, and openly confessed the Christian faith before the emperor. This act of courage marked the beginning of a prolonged martyrdom. Diocletian, seeking to break George’s will, ordered a series of brutal tortures; each time, according to tradition, George was miraculously healed by divine grace.
During the ordeal, many pagans who were present — including the Empress Alexandra and the magician Athanasius — converted to Christianity, astonished by George’s steadfastness and the miracles that accompanied his suffering. After seven years of torment, Saint George was beheaded on April 23, 303, in Nicomedia, crowning with a martyr’s wreath a life wholly devoted to Christ.
The most celebrated iconographic image of Saint George depicts him as a knight on a white horse slaying a dragon with a lance. This image is an allegory of the victory of the Christian faith over paganism and evil, and also reflects folk traditions of miracles by which the saint protected the weak from the violent. It is because of this image that Saint George became the patron of soldiers, knights, and armies throughout the Christian world.
In Serbia Saint George is especially venerated. He is proclaimed the protector of the Serbian land, and his feast — Đurđevdan — is one of the most beloved and widespread patron feasts. The saint is considered the protector not only of warriors but also of farmers, herders, and travelers. The Monastery of Đurđevi Stupovi near Novi Pazar, along with many other churches throughout Serbia, is dedicated to this great martyr and trophy-bearer.
Tropar (Tone 4)
As a deliverer of captives and defender of the poor, a physician of the sick and intercessor of kings — O trophy-bearing Great Martyr George — intercede with Christ God to save our souls.
Kontakion (Tone 3)
Having tilled the God-created earth of thy body with the plow of the Cross, thou didst harvest sheaves of virtue, sowing with labors, reaping with a multitude of martyr crowns. Wherefore, O holy George, thou dost shine as a lamp for the Church. Intercede with God for us.
About the Feast
Đurđevdan is one of the most popular patron feasts in Serbia — about ten percent of Serbian families celebrate it. By the New Gregorian Calendar it falls on May 6, corresponding to April 23 by the Julian calendar. This is a spring feast, and it is no coincidence that one of the most beloved saints is celebrated at this time — Đurđevdan in the Serbian popular mind marks the true awakening of spring.
Because Đurđevdan rarely falls within the Apostles’ Fast and never within the Great Lent, the feast table is generally unrestricted, though some families keep a Lenten table by personal choice. The slava bread and slava wheat (koljivo) hold the central place. By tradition, a young lamb is roasted — the lamb is the symbol of spring renewal and Paschal spirit, and the most common choice for the host. Other roasted meats, spring salads, and savory pies may also be prepared.
In Serbian rural communities Đurđevdan once marked the beginning of the herding season — on this day shepherds drove cattle out to pasture. Hosts would decorate their homes with green branches and flowers, and young women would weave garlands of greenery and blossoms. This feast unites Christian devotion with a deep Slavic reverence for spring and the renewal of nature.