From the Prologue of Ochrid
This glorious and victorious saint was born in Cappadocia as the son of wealthy and pious parents. His father suffered for Christ, and his mother moved to Palestine. When George came of age, he entered the army, where by his twentieth year he had attained the rank of tribune, and as such was in the service of Emperor Diocletian. When this emperor began the terrible persecution of Christians, George stepped before him and boldly confessed that he too was a Christian. The emperor cast him into prison and ordered that his feet be placed in stocks and a heavy stone laid upon his chest. After that he ordered him bound to a wheel, beneath which were boards with great iron nails, and that he be turned upon it until his entire body became one bloody wound. After that he had him buried in a ditch, so that only his head was above the ground, and left him in the ditch for three days and three nights. After that, through a certain sorcerer, he gave him a deadly poison. But through all these torments George prayed unceasingly to God, and God healed him instantly and delivered him from death, to the great astonishment of the people. When he even raised a certain dead man by his prayer, then many received the Christian Faith. Among these was the emperor's own wife Alexandra, the chief priest Athanasius, the farmer Glycerius, and Valerius, Donatus, and Therina. At last the emperor condemned George and his own wife Alexandra to be beheaded by the sword. The blessed Alexandra breathed her last at the place of execution before the beheading, and Saint George was beheaded in the year 303. The miracles that have occurred at the grave of Saint George are without number. Without number also are his appearances in dream and in waking vision to the many who have commemorated him and sought his help, from that time to this very day. Having been inflamed with love for Christ the Lord, it was not difficult for Saint George to leave all things for the sake of that love: his rank, his wealth, imperial honors, his friends, and the whole world. For this love the Lord rewarded him with a crown of unfading glory in heaven and on earth and with eternal life in His Kingdom. Moreover, the Lord bestowed upon him power and authority to help in troubles and afflictions all those who glorify him and invoke his name.
