Hieromonk
Venerable Martyr George (in the world, Georgy Dmitrievich Pozharov) was born in 1886 in the village of Malaya Privalovka, Voronezh District, Voronezh Province, into a peasant family. In 1927 he moved to the city of Voronezh. He served at the Alekseevsky Akatov Monastery and shared the views of the Josephites.
In the winter of 1930, Father George was arrested together with a large group of clergy and laypeople of the Voronezh Diocese in the so-called “Buevtsy case,” supporters of Bishop Alexei (Buy). He was accused of “spreading anti-Soviet provocative rumors and agitation against the measures of Soviet power in the sphere of collectivization and industrialization.” The investigation conducted by the God-fighting authorities regarded Father George as one of the leaders of a “church-monarchist organization” in the Usman District. As a result, he was sentenced to death.
Venerable Martyr George (Pozharov) was executed by shooting on August 2, 1930, in the vicinity of Voronezh, together with other condemned prisoners.
He was numbered among the saints as one of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia in August 2000, at the Bishops’ Council of the Russian Orthodox Church.
Days of commemoration: August 2 (July 20 according to the Old Style), in the Synaxis of the Saints of the Voronezh Metropolis and in the Synaxis of the New Martyrs and Confessors of the Russian Church.
