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November 4, 2021

Clarification on a Photo of Saint George Karslides


This photo is said to have been taken on July 20, 1919, which depicts Saint George Karslides, who was then named Athanasios, after he was tonsured at the age of eighteen a monk with the name Symeon. This took place in Donda, Georgia at the Monastery of the Dormition of the Theotokos, and during his tonsure the bells of the monastery began to ring by themselves. Soon after this he was ordained a Hierodeacon. Not long after this, Monk Symeon would be imprisoned by the Communists, where he miraculously escaped execution. On September 8, 1925 he was ordained Hieromonk and Confessor by Metropolitan John Tsiaparaski in Sukhumi of Georgia, and was given the new name George.

Based on the above information and the details of the photo with the vestments, it seems this photo was in fact taken when Saint George was already a priest, perhaps on the day of his ordination on September 8, 1925.