St George, Bishop of Amastris (+802–811)

Saint George, Bishop of Amastris, was born on the Black Sea coast, in the Paphlagonian city of Kromna. His parents, pious Christians, had no child and fervently besought the Lord to grant them an heir. At last their supplication was heard: when they were already advanced in years, a heavenly voice told them that a son would be born to them who would become a hierarch; the name of the heir, George, was also made known to them from on high.

His loving parents gave George an excellent secular and spiritual education. When the young man came of age, he left his homeland, went to the mountains of Syria, and began strict labours under the guidance of a hermit monk. After his teacher’s death George settled in the monastery of Bonyssa and made his labours still stricter. By God’s will the saint’s pious life became known, and after the death of the Bishop of the city of Amastris he was consecrated hierarch at the wish of the clergy and people. The Venerable George tirelessly instructed his flock, ordered the churches well, cared for widows and orphans, fed the poor, and gave an example of a God-pleasing life.

The Lord granted His chosen one the gift of wonderworking: by the power of prayer he drove the Saracens, who were laying waste the surrounding country, away from Amastris, and he saved from death merchants unjustly condemned in Trebizond. Saint George reposed in peace, surrounded by his spiritual children. This happened in the reign of the Emperor Nicephorus I (802–811), on 3 March.