(BEGINNING OF 9TH CENT.)
[Mentioned in no late Martyrologies; but commemorated by the Greeks
on this day. Authority:--A Life written towards the end of the 9th
cent.]
S. George was born of parents who had long been childless, at Cromna,
near Amastris, in Paphlagonia. When three years old he fell into the
fire, and burnt his hands and foot, but though disfigured by the
scars, he was not thereby deprived of the use of these members. When a
youth, he secretly fled his home, and retired into a mountain,
followed only by one servant, and lived among the rocks the life of an
anchorite, with an old hermit whom he there discovered. When this
hermit was on the point of death, he bade George go to the monastery
of Bonyssa, and serve God there. George obeyed, and among the monks he
distinguished himself by the perfection of his self-control. On the
death of the bishop of Amastris, the citizens elected George, whose
fame had reached them, and sent a deputation to announce to him their
choice; but George steadfastly refused the proffered dignity;
whereupon the deputation forcibly carried him off to Constantinople,
where the patriarch, S. Tarasius, who had known him as a boy, gladly
agreed to consecrate him. But the Emperor interfered, and nominated
some one else. The patriarch, however, would not yield, as George had
been canonically elected. He nevertheless, brought forward the two
candidates, and bade the clergy and people proceed to a new election,
and decide which was to be chosen. As the lot fell again upon George,
the patriarch resolutely rejected the imperial nominee, and ordained
George. He was received at Amastris with demonstrations of the holiest
joy. During his episcopate Asia Minor was overrun by the Saracens.
George, foreseeing an incursion, and finding that the farmers and
peasants could not be induced by others to take warning, and flee in
time, went round the country, cross in hand, and urged all to escape
within the walls. The threatened incursion took place, and the
Saracens, not being in sufficient force to take the city, retired
without having done serious damage.
[60] See further, S. Sigebert, (February 1st.)
[61] He was Bishop of Trèves about 622, and is honoured as a saint on
May 22nd.
[62] He became afterwards Bishop of Trèves, and is venerated on July
5th.
[Illustration]
February 22.
S. PETER'S CHAIR _at Antioch_, A.D. 37.
S. ARISTION, _at Salamis, 1st cent._
S. PAPIAS, _B. of Hierapolis, in Phrygia, beginning of 2nd cent._
SS. MARTYRS _in Arabia, circ._ A.D. 304.
S. PASCHASIUS, _B. of Vienne, circ._ A.D. 313.
SS. THALASSIUS AND LIMNÆUS, _HH. near Cyrus, in Syria, 5th cent._
S. BARADATUS, _H. in Syria, circ._ A.D. 460.
S. MAXIMIAN, _B. of Ravenna_, A.D. 556.
S. MARGARET of _Cortona, Pen._, A.D. 1297.