The Monk George, Metropolitan of Mytilene,
Commemorated on April 7
The Monk George,
Metropolitan of Mytilene, from his youth led a monastic manner of life,
having become especially accomplished in the virtue of wise-humility. In the
reign of Leo the Isaurian (716-741) the saint underwent persecution from the
iconoclasts and received the appellation Confessor.
During the years of
the reign of the emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitos (780‑797) Saint
George was elevated onto the archbishopal cathedra of the city of Mytilene,
situated on the island of Lesbos. The life of the saint was radiant with
prudence and purity and resembled Angelic life. He possessed a gift of
wonderworking, cast out unclean spirits and healed incurable diseases. The
saint distinguished himself by compassion, and generously he helped all the
needy. Towards the end of his life – in the year 815, during the reign of the
iconoclast Leo the Armenian (813-820), the holy archpastor was banished and
sent to Chersonesus, where he died after the year 820. In the hour of his death
over the city of Mytilene there shone a bright star in the heavens.
© 1996-2001 by translator Fr. S. Janos.
