Baring-Gould’s sources: 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 [a hermit, sometimes walled into a cell beside a church], 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 [the title of the bishops of the great ancient sees: Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem], 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 [medieval Christian name for Arab and Muslim peoples]. 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.
Her body is preserved at Cortona.
In art, she appears contemplating a corpse, or more often a skull at her feet, whilst a dog plucks at her robe.
