On the 9th of this month [February], we commemorate the translation of the relics of Venerable George Karslides.
Verses
The fragrance of your relics George,
Proves that grace dwells within you.
Verses
The fragrance of your relics George,
Proves that grace dwells within you.
Below is the testimony of a nun who witnessed the translation of the relics of Saint George take place on February 9, 2006:
"It was nine o'clock in the morning. We had been standing on our feet since nightime. As much as they could they alternated between diggers. We were chanting, said the prayer, the Salutations to the Panagia, in the icy landscape that reminded us of Russia where he came from. There was silence, in order to hear the shovels and the pickaxes and the murmuring of the prayer and the supplications to the Lady Theotokos and the name. The weather was hazy, cloudy, frosty, and the whole surrounding atmosphere had the semblance of the resurrection. Within the ice one could smell the spring, our thoughts had been purified, our inner man had become unburdened, the passions had become hidden.
At around 12 we arrived at the time for the skull to emerge. We could hardly believe it. The deacon bent down with fear and reverence and slowly freed it. At first it was white because of the soil, but then a yellowish color was slowly revealed. There was an obvious cross on the skull in the front on the forehead. 'Every one of his cells was crucified for Christ,' Elder Ephraim of the Skete of Saint Andrew in Karyes of Mount Athos later said.
We could not believe what we saw happening until we realized we were all surrounded by snow. Flakes descended gently as a kind of sign. It remained this way until we removed almost the entire holy relics. After the skull the lower jaw came out golden-yellow, and then immediately his engolpion, beautiful and untouched for almost half a century in the earth. It was snowing, we were chanting 'What God is as great as our God' and the holy relics of the much-suffering Saint were being placed in the white baskets."
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
Apolytikion in Plagal of the First Tone
Your grace-flowing and all-sacred relics were translated, from the grave, godlike ascetic, we now hasten to celebrate your grace, and full of the most inexpressible joy in the soul, we cry out from within: Bless the faithful without ceasing and sanctify them George.
Kontakion in the Fourth Tone
The translation of your relics we now celebrate, from your grave grace-flowing venerable one, guardian and keeper and helper of Drama, and builder of the revered Monastery of the Ascension, accepting your inexhaustible grace, we cry out: Rejoice blessed George.
Megalynarion
With longing we kiss your reliquary, of your revered relics, in the Ascension Monastery, filling Drama with your divine grace, Venerable George, treasury that is new.
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
Your grace-flowing and all-sacred relics were translated, from the grave, godlike ascetic, we now hasten to celebrate your grace, and full of the most inexpressible joy in the soul, we cry out from within: Bless the faithful without ceasing and sanctify them George.
Kontakion in the Fourth Tone
The translation of your relics we now celebrate, from your grave grace-flowing venerable one, guardian and keeper and helper of Drama, and builder of the revered Monastery of the Ascension, accepting your inexhaustible grace, we cry out: Rejoice blessed George.
Megalynarion
With longing we kiss your reliquary, of your revered relics, in the Ascension Monastery, filling Drama with your divine grace, Venerable George, treasury that is new.
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
