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| Translation of the Relics of St. George of Cyprus (Feast Day - April 13) |
The Holy New Martyr George was originally from Cyprus and later moved to work in Ptolemais in Palestine, which today is known as Acre. There he was martyred as a Christian by the Turks in 1752 by being shot and stabbed multiple times. The Christians of that city then buried his relic with honors, and for three nights a pillar of light shined over his grave. To commemorate this miracle, the Christians of Ptolemais would gather every Friday night at his grave for decades and offer prayers, candles and incense, and many miracles were reported to have taken place, according to his biography by Saint Nikodemos the Hagiorite. His feast day was established for April 23rd.
The grave of the Saint was located between the Church of Saint George the Great Martyr and the Metropolis of Ptolemais until 1963. Then, after consultation with Archbishop Makarios III of Cyprus and Patriarch Benediktos of Jerusalem the grave was opened in the presence of Metropolitan Isidoros of Nazareth, the abbot of the Holy Monastery of Machairas in Elpidi, and the monk Nikandros of the Holy Monastery of Stavrovouni and other clergy of Palestine. They were placed in a suitable case and were initially preserved in the nearby Church of Saint George the Great Martyr.
The sacred relics of the New Martyr were transferred to his homeland in Cyprus, on 13 April 1967, by a delegation of the Church of Cyprus, headed by the Choroepiskopos George of Trimythountos and later Metropolitan of Nicaea. They were placed for veneration in the Cathedra Church of Saint John the Theologian in Nicosia.
Today portions of his relics are located in the Church of Saint George in Agios Dometios, Nicosia; the Cathedra Church of Saint John the Theologian, Nicosia; the Monastery of Agathonos in Fthiotida; and a portion of his skull is in the Monastery of Mega Spelaion in Kalavryta.
The grave of the Saint was located between the Church of Saint George the Great Martyr and the Metropolis of Ptolemais until 1963. Then, after consultation with Archbishop Makarios III of Cyprus and Patriarch Benediktos of Jerusalem the grave was opened in the presence of Metropolitan Isidoros of Nazareth, the abbot of the Holy Monastery of Machairas in Elpidi, and the monk Nikandros of the Holy Monastery of Stavrovouni and other clergy of Palestine. They were placed in a suitable case and were initially preserved in the nearby Church of Saint George the Great Martyr.
The sacred relics of the New Martyr were transferred to his homeland in Cyprus, on 13 April 1967, by a delegation of the Church of Cyprus, headed by the Choroepiskopos George of Trimythountos and later Metropolitan of Nicaea. They were placed for veneration in the Cathedra Church of Saint John the Theologian in Nicosia.
Today portions of his relics are located in the Church of Saint George in Agios Dometios, Nicosia; the Cathedra Church of Saint John the Theologian, Nicosia; the Monastery of Agathonos in Fthiotida; and a portion of his skull is in the Monastery of Mega Spelaion in Kalavryta.