Making Friends with Saints
Some things in Orthodoxy don't come naturally for a convert.
So yeah. Saints. Veneration of saints. It’s typically—after the Virgin Mary—the biggest hang-up for Protestants.
It’s also a learning curve for converts. But today, I want to tell you a beautiful story about how I made my peace with a saint and decided to meet him in a very personal way.
Enter Saint George. He lived during the latter quarter of the third century and died just at the start of the fourth, c. 275–303 AD. He was a Roman soldier of Cappadocian descent. Cappadocia (modern-day Turkey) is a beautiful and awe-inspiring stretch of land in east-central Anatolia. You have probably seen photos.
Saint George was born to Christian parents there, but later moved to Palestine, his mother’s homeland, after his father’s death. He served as a high-ranking officer (tribune) in the Roman army under Emperor Diocletian, having been commanded several times for his outstanding service. Diocletian had secured the borders of the Roman Empire after uprisings by barbarian tribes, and he believed that a state religion would keep his empire united. In 303 AD, he rescinded Christians' legal rights and demanded that they comply with traditional religious practices, such as sacrifice to Roman gods, via several edicts. According to modern historians, approximately 3,000–3,500 Christians were executed in the years 303-313 AD.
The future Saint George declared himself a Christian and thus denied the false idols. He suffered many tortures because of his belief, but never considered renouncing it. This happened in the first year of the persecutions, and Saint George was imprisoned, tortured, and eventually beheaded in Lydda (Diospolis), Palestine. It was the boldness and courage of a young Christian officer in the Roman army and his martyrdom that made him the venerated saint he is today.
Icons of Saint George often depict him on horseback, slaying a dragon. This depiction comes from an iconic narrative of Saint George rescuing a princess from a dragon in a swamp, symbolizing the victory of good over evil. The early iconographers most likely intended to depict Satan in this dragon, and yet Saint George’s victory over evil. You can read the full story of his unbelievable torture here, and yet God was in the midst of it.
Fast-forward to a few weeks ago. My husband’s Greek Orthodox church is named St. George Orthodox Church after said Saint George. Because Saint George was an early saint before the later schisms, he is venerated by every branch of apostolic Christianity.
One day, I had a conversation with my spiritual father. We had talked about my children and how both of them had walked away from the Christian faith. My spiritual father said to me, “I want you to pray to the Virgin Mary and to Saint George every time you go to church.” He knows I worship with Nick at his church before going down to my Syriac Orthodox church in the valley.
I took a deep breath and replied to him: “Abouna (Father), I will try to do this, but please know that I have zero relationship to Saint George.” He had previously helped me with my relationship with the Virgin Mary by having me listen to or sing “Agni Parthene” (Rejoice, o Unwedded Bride) until I spent real time with the Virgin. He had recently encouraged me to find an icon of Saint George.
While he is Coptic Orthodox, he understands the Eastern Orthodox world well and knows I spend much time there. He also knows that I am quite plugged in at my husband's church on top of my work for my Syriac Orthodox church. I do all the social media for my husband’s church, am part of the Building Action Committee, am a member of Philoptochos (the ladies’ organization within the Greek Orthodox world), and my husband and I provide meals for the Agape coffee hour after liturgy every few weeks.
What came next literally took my breath away. My spiritual father stopped me mid-sentence and said, “With all you do for this parish, which is named after him, do you not think that Saint George knows you?” Within seconds, tears welled up in my eyes, and I just sobbed. Yes, of course, the dear Saint knows me. How silly of me to think I have to have a relationship with him first. He never doubted we had one!
A few days later, about ten people from St. George Orthodox Church drove three hours south to St. Anthony’s Greek Orthodox Monastery in Florence, AZ. After touring the monastery, we had a chance to browse the gift shop, where books, icons, prayer ropes, various foods, incense, and other items are sold. I looked around, intent on finding an icon of Saint George. There were exactly two: one big one with a “Sold” sticker on it, and the other a wood-burning icon, which didn’t appeal to me.
Disappointed, I was ready to leave the shop. At the last minute, I decided to share with the monk-priest in the store that I had intended to find a Saint George icon. He looked at me and said, “Wait here. Would you mind a slightly bigger icon?” I said, “No, that would be fine.” After a minute, he returned from behind a curtain, holding a still boxed 8x10 icon of Saint George that couldn’t be more beautiful. He told me it had literally just come in a couple of days prior, and they hadn’t brought it out yet. The price was amazingly right, too!
So the Saint now lives in my rather eclectic icon corner, happily sharing space with Saint Severus, a Syriac Orthodox saint, Saint Mina, a Coptic Orthodox saint, Saint Olga, a very recent Eastern Orthodox saint, along with the Virgin Mary and Saint Elizabeth and their children, our Lord Jesus Christ and His relative John the Baptist, as infants in the womb.
My fondness for Saint George has grown exponentially since being introduced to his friendship with me! He is now regularly asked for intercession with our Lord for my children and grandchildren. I thank my spiritual father for opening my eyes to a great truth that I had been completely oblivious to.
I realize that this is not a problem for cradle Orthodox who grew up around saints, but it is for a number of us converts. I venerate the saints without question, but I want so much more than just to say hello to them! I want them to become my dear friends I can rely on to pray for me when I can’t. The communion of the saints is a reality, and I intend to experience it fully. The "cloud of witnesses" in Hebrews 12:1 is cheering for us in front of the throne. Of that, I am sure.
Finally, I am in the middle of reading a book by Brandi Willis Schreiber, whose birthday it is today, March 17th, according to information I was given this morning by her friend (hi, Nicole Roccas!). Brandi, a former Protestant like me, also struggled to build a relationship with the Virgin Mary. Her book tells the story of her journey to find that close connection. You may want to check it out.
Beautiful. I love our saints and so appreciate their intercession for us. God bless your life, sweet Elke.
Thank you for writing about St. George. He is very popular here in my land, especially among the St. Thomas Christians.