George of Ptolemais

Holy Martyr George of Ptolemais was born on the island of Cyprus and received a martyr's end in the year 1752. He served in Ptolemais, today Acre, in Israel, in the house of a European consul.

At his master's charge, George often went to the house of a poor Muslim, from whom he bought eggs. Some Turkish women who traded nearby slandered the youth out of envy, accusing him of an unlawful relation with the master's daughter. He was offered to accept Islam to escape punishment, but he answered that he was born a Christian and would die a Christian. The court condemned him to death.

On 25 April 1752, in the old style, the Turks led the saint to the seashore, shot him and began to cut his body in pieces. As soon as the martyr's blood reached the sea, great waves rose. Frightened, the Turks left the martyr's relics, and Christians buried them. Over his grave for three nights a pillar of light appeared. The life of the new martyr is included in the New Martyrology of Venerable Nicodemus of the Holy Mountain. On 13 April 1967 the relics of Saint George were carried with great solemnity to Nicosia, in Cyprus, and laid in the cathedral of the holy Apostle John the Theologian. The saint is commemorated on 6 May. He is not included in the present calendar of the Russian Church.