George of Kratovo
Holy New Martyr George the Serb (Serbian Cyrillic: ; Kratovo, Ottoman Empire, 1497 - Sofia, Ottoman Empire, 11 February 1515) was a silversmith, Serbian monk, and saint.
A holy new martyr, known by his birthplace in the Serbian monthly calendar, biography, and Srbljak. In the Russian Synaxarion and Greek NeoMartyrology, he is referred to as "Holy New Martyr George the Serb." That he was a Serb and of "Serbian origin" is attested by the biography written by a priest Peja, who wrote, "A distinguished priest of the Serbian colony in Sofia in the first quarter of the 16th century.". The son of Dimitrije and Sara, a silversmith (goldsmith) by profession, and in heart and soul a convinced and devout Orthodox. From his native Kratovo, he moved to Sofia, where there were many Serbian artisans and merchants, and settled with priest Petar, who also made silver objects. Thanks to his mastery of the blacksmith's craft and his personal beauty, he quickly became famous, which had fatal consequences. The Turks wanted him to be of their faith and suggested that he convert to Islam, which he refused, and ended up in prison. Smart and well-versed in the faith, he skillfully and uncompromisingly defended the truths of the Christian faith, convinced that it was both true and better. The kadija (Turkish official) wanted to adopt him and offered him a privileged position, and he had to recognize the advantages of Christianity and be baptized. Priest Peja visited him in prison and explained the meaning of suffering for his faith. His attempt to ransom him from prison with money failed. After various tortures, he was sentenced to death by burning. In the flames at the stake, George prayed: "Lord Jesus Christ, into Your hands I commend my spirit," and then a cloud appeared and a gentle rain extinguished the fire of the pyre, which worried and embarrassed the Turks, and encouraged the Christians present. He was only 18 years old when he suffered for Christ, on 11 February 1515, according to the Gregorian calendar, on Shrove Sunday, in the square in Sofia, during the reign of Sultan Selim I. During the night, the Christians transferred his body to the church of St. George, and the next day, the priest Peter received permission to bury him. In the same year, on the Trinity All Souls' Day on May 26 (Paschal letter R, common year, Easter on 8 April), the relics were taken out of the grave, placed in a coffin, and brought into the church. In Srbljak, his memory is on 11 February. The Transfer of the Relics is celebrated on 26 May, but this service did not enter Srbljak, but is found in the menaion for May printed in Russia. A church in Kratovo, built in 1925, is dedicated to him. The artistic depiction of George began early. He was painted in the narthex in Peć, Studenica, Petkovica in Srem, Lomnica, in the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in the old Smederevo cemetery, and in frescoes in the mid-16th century, and he was signed as St. Martyr George the New. The goldsmiths of Smederevo celebrate him as their guild patron. It is found in the Stematography of Hristofor Žefarović (Vienna, 1741). The life and service found in Srbljak are authentic literary works by the Sofia priest Peja, a witness to the martyrdom of G. They were created in the years 1516–1523. The acrostic canons "Pop Peja tebi prinosi" and the acrostic Theotokos "O, Georgije" were lost during the translation into modern Serbian by Srbljak. The translation into Serbian was carried out by Serbian Patriarch Pavle during his time as bishop of Raška and Prizren. The cult of George spread not only throughout Bulgaria and Serbia, but also throughout Mount Athos, and thanks to the monks Prohor and Mitrofan, even throughout Russia. Particles of his relics are kept in Moscow, in the Dragalevtsi Monastery in Bulgaria, and in the Serbian monasteries of Hilandar, Studenica, Dečani, and Velika Remeta. In the Russian menaion on 26 May, there is a service to George the New, martyred "in the Middle of the Bulgarian city, from the godless Tsar Selim I of Turkey". This is the service of finding and transferring the relics of St. George to the temple. The service was written by Vasilije Varlaam of Pskov, and the life by Elije of Pskov.
Sources
- S. Novaković, "Service and Life of Saint George of Kratos", GSUD, 1867, 21; Srbljak, Bg 1986.
Literature
- M. Đ. Milićević, Đorđe Kratovac, svetitelj Srbin, Bg 1885;
- S. Dušanić, "Presbyter Peja pisac služba i biografije St. George of Kratos", HD, 1939, 5; Đ. Sp. Radojićić, Stari srpski književnici XIV do XVII veka, Bg 1942;
- L. Pavlović, Cults of Persons among Serbs and Macedonians, Smed. 1965; J. Popović, Lives of Saints for February, Bg 1973;
- D. Bogdanović, "Life of George of Kratovo", ZIK, 1976, 10;
- G. Subotić, "The Oldest Representations of Saint George of Kratovo", ZRVI, 1993, 32;
- I. Kaliganov, George the New among the Eastern Slavs, Moscow, 2000.
References
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