Prologue in Sermons: April 23

The Saints of God Lovingly Receive Gifts Offered in Their Memory

April 23

(First Miracle of Saint George)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

Many Christians honor with special love certain saints of God and, out of this love, bring their offerings to churches dedicated in their name. However, brethren, is there benefit for those who offer such gifts? And are such offerings pleasing to the saints of God? What shall we say to this?

In the regions of Syria there was a city called Orovlie,* and in it a church was being built in the name of the Holy Great Martyr George. Since the church was intended to be large, many columns were needed for its support. The Christians were greatly concerned about obtaining such columns and transporting them to the place of construction.

At that time, a certain woman, who had great love for the Holy Martyr, purchased at her own expense one column needed for the building of the church. But the difficulty was how to bring it to the site. She transported it, at her own cost, to the seashore and began to beg the man who was carrying other columns to take hers as well across the sea. But he refused her, loaded only his own columns onto the ship, and sailed away with them.

The woman, in her sorrow, fell to the ground, weeping bitterly, and fervently prayed to the Great Martyr to help her bring her column to the place of the church’s construction. And the Great Martyr heard her prayer.

In a dream she saw the Great Martyr in military armor, and he said to her: “Why do you grieve, woman, and what is the cause of your sorrow?” She replied that she wished to do something good for the Great Martyr but was unable. The Saint, descending from his horse, said: “Where would you like your column to be placed?” She answered: “On the right side of the church.”

The Saint then wrote with his finger on the column that it should be set as the second column on the right side of the church. Then he said to her: “Now you yourself help me.” And together with the woman he cast the column into the sea. With this, the dream ended.

But on the next day the column was found near the church under construction, exactly where it was meant to be. The ruler and the people, seeing such a miracle, were filled with awe and glorified God, and they set the column in the place that had been indicated by the finger of the Great Martyr.

Thus, our offerings, brought to the Saints of God for churches built in their honor, are pleasing to the saints, and therefore they will not be lost for us. The saints, illumined by the light of the face of God, see us and know what feelings we have toward them; and so, without doubt, they receive our offerings and will repay us a hundredfold. They will return love for love and will raise up their prayers to the Lord on our behalf. Amen.

Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos. 

 

* There is no such city in Syria with this name, and probably should say Diospolis or Lydda instead.