The beeswax icon is hand-carved with great attention to details. Thanks to the addition of incense during the manufacturing process the icon exudes a light aroma, which is firmly associated in our minds with the calming atmosphere of church rooms.
The Holy Monastery of Zograf in Mount Athos is dedicated to Saint George; it is home to a miraculous icon made without hands, where the saint is depicted in full-face. According to tradition, this image of Saint George miraculously appeared as a revelation to the three pious founding brothers, who could not decide to whom to dedicate the new monastery.
In the Holy Monastery of Xenophontos there are two cathedral churches dedicated to St. George. The icon of the Saint miraculously arrived to this monastery during the period of iconoclasm. The brethren of Xenophontos venerate St. George together with St. Demetrius, whose icon had been in the monastery before the appearance of the image of St. George.
St. George is venerated by the Church as a hero and miracle worker, a "lad of faith," along with St. Demetrius.
He was born around 275 A.D. in Cappadocia into a Christian family. When George was ten years old, his father was martyred for Christ. His mother then took George with her to her homeland of Palestine, where she had her own land holdings. When he was 18 years old, George enlisted in the Roman army. There he was quickly singled out for outstanding ability, and was soon promoted and granted the title of count.
When George was called to confess his faith in Christ, Diocletian decided to subject him to terrible torture, as emperors usually did with officers and prominent citizens who professed Christianity. The long and cruel torture to which George was subjected gave him the title of great martyr.
Two men, prompted by the courage and patience of the saint, began to confess their faith in Christ: Athanasius (April 23), who had previously been a sorcerer, and Alexandra, Diocletian's wife (April 21). St. George's mother, St. Polychronia, was martyred along with her child (April 23).
After enduring all the tortures with the strength of the Lord, the saint was beheaded on April 23. This day became the day of his memory and veneration.
