ST GEORGE OF LYDDA
 (d.ca.303)
Martyr

Jesus said, “When they bring you to trial and deliver you up, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say; but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speaks but the Holy Spirit”. (Mark
13:11)

Lord, behind the accretions of celebratory tradition, we learn the  reality of steadfast witness. Grant that we who invoke the name of your servant George, the martyr, may faithfully fulfill the calling that is ours as ‘Christian’, through the same saving grace of Christ. Amen.

“Among men my name is George. But my name before all else is ‘Christian’. So wrote a Syrian of the second Christian century whose name, in so many different forms and languages, is favourite in many
lands and, who through the crusaders, became the Patron of England. The story of his sufferings has acquired a legendary quality, told as it is in all the tongues of our Province: Syriac, Coptic, Greek, Amharic,
Armenian and Arabic.

George’s secretary, Pasicrates, is credited with the first narration of his story. George was going from Lydda to Tyre to claim his coming of age rights (his father having died when he was ten). He was confronted with
a demand to sacrifice to the pagan gods and with a deadly array of torture instruments should he refuse. George did refuse and was executed for his faithful witness. He speaks to us of the multitude of faithful martyrs who fought valiantly against evil and gave their life for the truth. Two servants brought his body from Tyre to Jaffa and buried him at Lydda where Constantine ordered a great church to be built over his tomb, the remains of which can be seen today. There are innumerable churches hallowed in his name, including the Cathedral in Jerusalem

COLLECT FOR ST GEORGE OF LYDDA

Lord our God, hear the prayer of those who praise your mighty
power. As you strengthened your martyr George to follow Christ in
suffering and death, so we ask you to strengthen us as we seek to
follow Christ in our lives. We ask this through our Lord Jesus
Christ, your son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.