ON ST. GEORGE, SOLITARY ON MOUNT MALEOS IN LACONIA.
IN THE FIFTH OR SIXTH CENTURY.
CommentaryGeorge, Solitary on Mount Maleos in Laconia (St.)
BY G. H.
There are many Saints to whom the name of George has fallen; seven have been celebrated by us in the first three months, and various others come up to be celebrated in this fourth month of April. But two above the rest occupy the full ecclesiastical office of the day in the Menaia of the Greeks: the chief is the Great George, Martyr, who is also honored in the Roman Breviary with an ecclesiastical office on April 23; the other is Saint George the Solitary, to whom this fourth day is dedicated, though he is referred by some even on the following day, The arena of his virtue on Mount Maleos or on May 12. The arena of his virtue was Laconia, the last province of the Peloponnese; and indeed its southern shore, which extends toward the islands of Cythera and Crete, where by Ptolemy in book 3 of his Geography is placed Μαλέα ἄκρα ἐν τῷ Λακονικῷ κόλπῳ—where, says Pliny in book 4 of his Natural History, "all things are enclosed by the promontory of Maleos." Concerning which is also this verse of Ovid:
"Nor would I fear your bays, curving Maleos."
The Greeks in the Menaia prefix this title to the fourth day of April: Τοῦ ὁσίου Πατρὸς ἡμῶν Γεωργίου, Memory on April 4 and 5 and May 12 τοῦ ἐν τῷ Μαλαίῳ. Which in Latin are read in the Menology of Cardinal Sirlet also in the first place: "Of our holy Father George dwelling in the region of Maleos." In the manuscript Synaxarium of the Paris College of Clermont of the Society of Jesus, on April 5 and May 12, at the end of the eulogy is thus added, ἐν τῷ Μαλαίῳ ὄρει, "on Mount Maleos." Bredenbach observes that this bay or promontory is called by Christian sailors "The Wings of Saint Michael." And in the region itself even now there is a town called "from Saint Angelo," near which some mountains are situated, where we think Saint George led a solitary life. In the Typicon of Saint Sabas augmented by later hands, Saint George is also celebrated "on Maleos": which Genebrardus in his edition of the Calendar of the Greeks, and Molanus in his additions to Usuard, transferred from it. The Greek Menaia manuscripts of the Ambrosian library at Milan, marked with the letters n and o, refer him to the following day. In the Arabic Martyrology of Egypt, which is preserved at Rome in the College of the Maronites, the memory of Saint George is celebrated on this and the following day. The manuscript Synaxarium of Chifflet has him on both this 4th day and on May 12, adding the same distich which is found in the printed Menaia, with some allusion to the name George, that is "Farmer":
Ψυχὴν ὁ Γεόργιος ἀσμένως δίδως Ψυχῶν γεωργῷ καὶ φυτουργῷ σαρκίων.
Gladly George gives his soul to God, Who bears the cultivation of our soul and flesh.
[3] The things hitherto related confirm his sacred cult and veneration: but we are sorry that no history of his life and virtues and miracles is any longer extant, A summary of his life gathered from the Menaia and the Odes which the Greeks are accustomed to recite in his honor on this day will supply their place. We do not however bring them forth consecutively, but with the order changed; and what are addressed to him in the second person, we relate of him in the third person in sequence, with nothing added. They are of this sort.
[4] Saint George, made a son of God through baptism, by the purity of his life preserves the treasure of his paternal inheritance, Baptism shining forth with the grace of the sons of God, which he accomplishes holily and justly, and carrying out his office, he is governed by the best wisdom. He takes up the name of George, that is, "farmer," Name of George prudently cultivating the furrow of his mind; whose famous life, seasoned with the salt of the divine Spirit, demonstrates the divine planting of the divine farming. Withdrawal from secular life Illumined by the triple light in the majesty of the Deity, he left the world with all the storm of perturbations that is in it; and, avoiding the tumult of fleeting things, he obtained divine providence as the leader of his ways, which showed him the straight path to heaven: and thus, walking through the path of salvation into ages that would not fail, he did not turn aside to any part, and he led a life worthy of a noble man, and acquired the tranquility of his soul pleasing to God, destined to have a dwelling in the eternal tabernacles, recognizing God as merciful and the rewarder of all good things.
[5] State of life Made a minister and deacon of Christ, and a sincere dispenser and director of his mysteries, he applied a remedy to the passions of body and soul. Excelling moreover in the highest degree of a settled mind, Passions subdued clothed with the shining garment of chaste temperance, he laid the tumults of the passions to sleep; and he drove out the unstable fancies of the mind, constantly intent on divine meditation. Hence no storms of iniquities could move his soul or draw it to the inroads of delights. The grace of the divine Spirit dwelt in him as in a most pure and gentle tabernacle, Exercises of virtues and illuminated his soul with all kinds of virtues and diverse gifts of graces. Hence fortified with faith, hope, and charity, he shone with grace, and by his kindly humility prudently raised to the highest virtue, in the heavenly field he deposited his husbandry; wholly intent on his soul with full fervor, he worked out the divine fruits of the Spirit: tranquility, continence, charity, hope, longsuffering, patience, and continual abstinence, which the leanness of his body showed. Besides these, transferring all his desire to God, he shone with divine beauty, which every creature ought to seek after: and adorning himself splendidly with practical contemplation and an immaculate life, he acquired a pure heart, by which he deserved to see God who is invisible to others.
[6] Triumph over the devil through the cross of Christ Strengthened by faith and fortified by the virtue of Christ, he escaped the snares of the devil: and serving the Lord of all in exultation, he avoided all the snares and illusions of demons. Always girded with the ever-invincible arms of the cross of Christ, he passed through the flaming sword or spear, and opposed the sacred cross to the cohorts of those who hated him, strengthened by the power of Christ: indeed he expelled even the most wicked spirits, powerful by the power of the Holy Spirit. Allured by holy hope of future goods, he sustained his labors more easily with joy, and stretched his eager mind to things beyond, prudently forgetting the things which were behind; and therefore he attained a blessed end. And because he shone by the workings of virtues, he will always enjoy divine blessedness: who, being himself made a holy rule of life to others on earth, full of the splendor of sanctity, faith, and charity, was held to be the throne of the interior senses and of the wisdom of God.
[7] Blessed are you, George, and it shall be well with you, who about to praise the Lord with the Angels have received the reward of your labors and contests. Heavenly blessedness Adorned with a most beautiful variety of virtues and with ways more splendid than any light, you flew up to God. You have passed to a life that will never be dissolved and to delights that will never perish; to eternal glory and to a light that will never set you have borne up your divine husbandry. Possess blessedness and immortal life, you who have opened up divine ascents impassable to others. Much fruit of your exercise you brought into Christ's field, you who cast the ripe cluster into the winepress, The honor and virtue of the relics and you pour out the wine of compunction upon all who honor you. You offered a most timely pledge to Christ, who, all the passions of the body being subdued, led the angelic life on earth: hence we celebrate the sacred day of your dormition, and are surrounded by the caskets of your relics, from which you pour out healings upon all who wish to honor you. Patronage For us therefore, the faithful who celebrate your memory, implore Christ unceasingly, that He may not cease to free us from the waves and storms of temptations, and from all dangers and perverse passions; and that He may deign to grant peace to the world. This is the chief substance of the Canon appointed for this day, which is held without the author's name under such an Acrostic:
Τοὺς σοὺς προθύμως ὦ Πάτερ μέλπω πόνους.
"Your labors, O Father, I gladly sing."