The Miracle of St. George and the Dragon is a vita icon — the medieval version of the biography of saints.
Saint George was a warrior at the end of the 3rd and the beginning of the 4th century AD. He was born in Cappadocia, Asia Minor, and grew up in a deeply religious family. When he was 20 years old, he joined the Roman army of the emperor Diocletian. The pagan ruler issued a decree ordering to persecute the Christians, destruct churches, and burn holy books. When George heard about this, he gave his inheritance to the poor and set his slaves free. He spoke in the Senate, where he openly declared that he was a Christian and urged everyone to accept the true faith in Christ. For this, George was thrown into prison, tortured, and finally beheaded.
The miracle of St. George and the dragon is the most famous of all the miracles performed by saint. According to the story of the saint, the princess Elisava was to be sacrificed to a terrible dragon, which settled near the city and demanded human lives. George came to her aid and pierced the dragon with a spear. Therefore, people consider him the patron saint of brides.
The icon of St. George with scenes from his life, which is displayed in the exhibition, follows the iconographic tradition. In the centerpiece is the image of the saint who slays the dragon. George rides a white horse; his red cloak flutters behind his shoulders. In the iconography of the martyrs, this detail symbolizes the suffering and blood shed for the faith.
In the top left of the centerpiece, Jesus Christ blesses George to perform the feat. An angel holds a crown over the warrior — a symbol of heavenly protection. On the right is a city with residents on its walls. After they had been saved from the terrible dragon, they converted to Christianity. Therefore, George’s victory is not just a victory of good over evil, but also a victory of Christianity over paganism.
The middle part of the icon is surrounded by 16 scenes. These sections are separate, most often rectangular fragments of an icon that complement the centerpiece. They tell about George’s feats, his sufferings for the faith, his miracles and preaching.
Saint George was also believed to be the patron saint of the Moscow princes. The rider who pierces the dragon with a spear became Moscow’s coat of arms and the emblem of the Russian state. In 1769, the Russian empress Catherine II established the Order of St. George divided into four classes.
Saint George was a warrior at the end of the 3rd and the beginning of the 4th century AD. He was born in Cappadocia, Asia Minor, and grew up in a deeply religious family. When he was 20 years old, he joined the Roman army of the emperor Diocletian. The pagan ruler issued a decree ordering to persecute the Christians, destruct churches, and burn holy books. When George heard about this, he gave his inheritance to the poor and set his slaves free. He spoke in the Senate, where he openly declared that he was a Christian and urged everyone to accept the true faith in Christ. For this, George was thrown into prison, tortured, and finally beheaded.
The miracle of St. George and the dragon is the most famous of all the miracles performed by saint. According to the story of the saint, the princess Elisava was to be sacrificed to a terrible dragon, which settled near the city and demanded human lives. George came to her aid and pierced the dragon with a spear. Therefore, people consider him the patron saint of brides.
The icon of St. George with scenes from his life, which is displayed in the exhibition, follows the iconographic tradition. In the centerpiece is the image of the saint who slays the dragon. George rides a white horse; his red cloak flutters behind his shoulders. In the iconography of the martyrs, this detail symbolizes the suffering and blood shed for the faith.
In the top left of the centerpiece, Jesus Christ blesses George to perform the feat. An angel holds a crown over the warrior — a symbol of heavenly protection. On the right is a city with residents on its walls. After they had been saved from the terrible dragon, they converted to Christianity. Therefore, George’s victory is not just a victory of good over evil, but also a victory of Christianity over paganism.
The middle part of the icon is surrounded by 16 scenes. These sections are separate, most often rectangular fragments of an icon that complement the centerpiece. They tell about George’s feats, his sufferings for the faith, his miracles and preaching.
Saint George was also believed to be the patron saint of the Moscow princes. The rider who pierces the dragon with a spear became Moscow’s coat of arms and the emblem of the Russian state. In 1769, the Russian empress Catherine II established the Order of St. George divided into four classes.
