Draft:George the Hungarian

Saint George the Hungarian, in Russian “Георгий Угрин” and in Hungarian “Sandor,” is a Russian Orthodox saint. One of the earliest records of Saint George the Hungarian is The Legend of Boris and Gleb, is part of the Primary Chronicle documenting the lives of Saints Boris and Gleb written in 1040 to 1118 by various different authors. Saint George the Hungarian was martyred along side the Saints Boris and Gleb in the year of 1015. In the year of 1071 the trio became the first canonised saints in the Russian Orthodox Church.



The Legend of Saint George the Hungarian:

The oldest Saint of the Saints Boris and Gleb, Boris, owned a servant who was from Hungary,Saint George. Saint Boris gifted Saint George a golden necklace as “he was loved by Boris beyond reckoning”. When Sviatopolk tried to kill Boris and Gleb (due to rivalry and wanting to seize the throne), he sent assassins to Boris’ and Gleb’s house were they and Saint George were in the midst of praying. Suddenly the 4 assassins struck on the back on Boris and he was killed on the spot. Saint George grasped the body of Saint Boris’ body and cried out “I will not be left behind, my precious lord! Ere the beauty of thy body begins to wilt, let it be granted that my life may end.” The assassins tore Saint George away and stabbed him, his body was flung out of the tent. After Saint George’s death the assassins noticed the golden necklace and they tried to rip it out of his neck but it failed, so they cut of his head and stole the necklace.

Saint George the Hungarian’s Legacy:

The saint’s story became popular around the 14th century, with countless icons being made on their honour. The most famous of these icons however were from the Church of Saint Boris and Gleb in the Russian City of Kolomna. Due to the popularity of Saint Boris and Gleb in the Russian Orthodox Church the popularity of Saint George waned. Due to that, he is mostly unknown to some people. His feast day is on the 24th July.