Every Day Is Special: November 23 - Saint George's Day in Georgia

November 23 - Saint George's Day in Georgia

Posted on November 23, 2019

I read that Saint George is viewed as so important in the nation of Georgia, a majority of the churches in that country were built in his honor.

St. George Church at the Gelati Monastery,
in Georgia.

And that St. George is considered the patron saint of the nation.

And that St. George appears in Georgia's emblem / coat of arms.

And that Giorgi, which derives from the name "George," is the most popular name for boys and men in the nation!

One of Georgia's more famous Giorgis is footballer
Giorgi Chakvetadze, considered a rising star in 2019.

(Apparently, the name of the country of Georgia did not come from the saint, even though the rumor that it did has been around for centuries.)

I read that every day a feast dedicated to St. George is served somewhere in Georgia.

St. George is supposed to have died on April 23, and most people who celebrate St. George's Day do so on April 23; however, others celebrate on January 25, April 24, May 6, and November 23.

I read that St. George's Day is celebrated in Georgia twice a year: on the anniversary of the saint's death, May 6 (which is April 23 on the Julian calendar), and on the anniversary of the saint's torture, November 23 (Nov. 10 on the Julian calendar). There are festive church services and feasting, and people have the day off from work and school.

St. George lived during the late Third and early Fourth Century; he was a Greek man who served as a soldier in the Roman Empire. He was tortured and eventually killed for refusing to give up his Christian beliefs.

By the way, the beast at the bottom of this photo is the dragon that St. George is supposed to have slain.