Saint George: Today is his great feast - Customs throughout Greece

The feast of Saint George is considered one of the most important in Orthodoxy and because certain troparions sung in his memory refer to resurrection, it can never be celebrated before the Resurrection of Christ.

Therefore, when the Resurrection is after April 23, the feast is transferred to Easter Monday.

This year, however, the feast of Saint George 2025 falls after Easter and is thus celebrated today.

The life and death of Saint George

According to Orthodox tradition, although the calendar includes more than 50 figures with the name "George", the Saint who is officially celebrated is Saint George the Great Martyr and Trophy-Bearer.

He lived during the reign of Emperor Diocletian in the late 3rd and early 4th centuries. He came from Asia Minor, specifically from Cappadocia, and was the scion of an aristocratic family and an officer in the Roman army.

In 303 AD, when the persecutions of Diocletian began, George did not hesitate to confess his Christian faith, provoking Diocletian's wrath, because he held a high position and was one of the officers he valued highly.

Initially, he offered him wealth, land and slaves to convert, and when George refused, the Roman Emperor subjected him to horrific torture.

Christian tradition describes that after spearing Saint George, his flesh was torn with a special wheel of knives. Then, he was thrown into a pit of boiling lime and then forced to walk in red-hot metal shoes. According to Christian tradition, through all these trials, God miraculously kept him alive.

George was finally martyred by beheading on Friday, April 23, 303 AD. According to the calculation of the Christian historian and apologist Saint Eusebius, this day corresponded to the Friday of the Transfiguration of Easter.

The Christians took his remains and buried them together with those of his mother, who was martyred on the same or the next day. Christian tradition states that George's faithful servant, Pasikrates, fulfilling his wish, took George's remains, along with those of his mother, and transported them to Lydda in Palestine. From there, the Crusaders transported them to the West.

Customs throughout Greece

In Olvio of Xanthi, the custom of the pehlivanis is being revived. Young wrestlers (pehlivanis), wearing leather pants and smeared with oil, engage in a type of Greco-Roman wrestling, particularly popular in Turkey. The winner is the one who turns his opponent's back or pulls down his pants. The custom is said to represent the battle of Saint George with the dragon and came to Greece from the refugees of Constantinople.

The custom of pehlivanis is also being revived in Anthi, Serres. Its roots, here, lie in the years of Turkish rule, when young villagers, receiving the blessing of Saint George, fought with the leading lads of the Turks and managed to defeat them by demonstrating strength and courage.

In Neo Souli, Serres, the village youth reenacts the victory of Saint George over the dragon. The event of the “Dragon Slaying” attracts a large crowd every year. It is followed by a feast with dancing, wine and traditional food.

Arachova in Viotia honors its patron saint with three-day events, the “Panigyraki”, as the locals call it. It includes events, traditional games, local dances and traditional music. The icon of Saint George, during its procession, is accompanied by young men and women from the area in local costumes.

In Asi Gonia, Chania, the area’s livestock breeders flock with their flocks to the church of Agios Georgios Galatas to receive his blessing. The animals, adorned with the most melodious bells, are herded into the "kurta" outside the church and milked one by one.

In many areas of Greece, improvised horse races are held in honor of the Saint (Kalliope in Limnos, Platy in Messinia, Agios Georgios in Messolonghi)

Agios Georgios Mantilas

On the day of the feast of Agios Georgios, the custom of handkerchiefs is revived in Kastraki, Kalambaka, centered on the chapel of Agios Georgios Mantilas.

Residents of the village, the region, and visitors from all over Greece honor the saint by offering a handkerchief and taking a piece as a talisman from the previous handkerchiefs, which were left in the ruined monastery.

They are taken down by climbers and those who manage to climb up there, which is a difficult and sometimes dangerous climb, while at the same time they raise the new handkerchiefs.

Simultaneously with the raising and lowering of the handkerchiefs, the Divine Liturgy is celebrated in the small chapel of Agios Georgios.

The custom began a long time ago when a Turkish soldier was cutting down trees in the forest of Agios Georgios, which existed under the hermitage of the same name.

During the cutting, a trunk crushed him, resulting in serious injury.

Then the Turk's wife took off her kerchief covering her mouth (ferentze) and "gave" it to the saint to heal her husband.

Immediately, a resident of Kastraki raised the handkerchief to the monastery and the Turk recovered.