George of Develtos

Holy Hieromartyr George of Develtos, a bishop, is remembered together with the bishops Manuel, Peter and Leontius and the priests Sionius, Gabriel, John, Leontius and Parod, who suffered in the time of the emperor Leo the Armenian (813-820) and of the Bulgarian khan Krum and his successors. Develtos is today Zagara, on the shore of the Black Sea.

According to the account of Saint Dimitry of Rostov, the saints were from various parts of the Empire and lived in Adrianople. The Bulgarian king Krum laid waste Thrace and Macedonia and, after a three-⁠month siege, took Adrianople in 814, carrying off captives up to forty thousand people. Krum died an evil death, and to rule the Bulgarians came, after Dukum, Dicengus, who ordered Bishop Manuel sawn in two and his remains thrown to the dogs. Dicengus was struck by blindness and killed by his own people, and after him came Murtagon, who began a persecution of those who would not renounce Christ.

The bishops George of Develtos and Peter, who strengthened their flock in the faith, were beaten without mercy with rods and then had their heads cut off with the sword; the same punishment was received with them by seven Christians. The commanders John and Leontius were beheaded with the sword, Bishop Leontius of Nicaea was pierced in the belly, Gabriel and Sionius died by the sword, and the priest Parod was stoned. Many other faithful were imprisoned and beaten in those times. On the same day is commemorated also the venerable martyr Anastasius, deacon of the Caves. The saints are commemorated on 4 February.