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The Ain Bourdai Icon
of St. George
(Notice the child-like face of the
Saint. This is very typical of Arabic
icons - which attempt to reflect an image of
innocence through holiness.)
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To Milwaukee
Before the turn of the century, Milwaukee's Middle
Eastern Catholics found expression for their beliefs in
the home of a community woman at her shrine to St.
George. In the 1880's the tiny church of St. George in
Ain Bourdai, Syria (Lebanon) was demolished to make room
for a new church building. From the original church as
cherished icon of St. George was saved. It became a
priceless family heirloom which eventually passed to an
emigrant on her way to Milwaukee. The dark Byzantine
image was displayed prominently in her Milwaukee living
room. When members of the Syrian / Lebanese community
were sick or in need, they would make a pilgrimage to
this house to pray before the icon. Asking intercessions
from St. George and lighting candles before his image,
the devout received consolation and assistance from the
'Great Martyr.' When the American penitent's request was
answered, a donation was sent to the tiny chapel of St.
George in Ain Bourdai. So prior to the establishment of
the Milwaukee Melkite community in 1911, the people
continued to believe and support their native church. In
1976 this treasured family heirloom was donated to the
Milwaukee Church of St. George. The image of St. George
continues to play a special role in
the life of the community.
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St. George was born in Cappadocia, an ancient Roman Empire
province located in modern east central Turkey. St. George's
father was most probably a Syrian who was martyred for his
Christian faith. On the death of his mother, St. George inherited
the large family estate in Palestine. At the age of twenty George
became a professional soldier in the Emperor Diocletian's Army.
The young man's noble birth, loyalty, and unusual intellect
brought St. George to the notice of the Emperor. In time St.
George became a trusted member of the royal court and was
promoted to the level of tribune in the army. He might have
become a leading officer had not Diocletian (245 - 313 AD)
started a persecution of the Christian community.
St. George refused to conduct war on his Christian brothers
and would not honor the imperial edicts which outlawed the faith.
Instead he quit his exalted positions, left his distinguished
military career, and gave a way his massive estates to the poor.
When the imperial edicts were officially posted in the eastern
capitol of Nicomedia, St. George tore them down and demanded that
the Emperor rescind his unjust persecution. For his defense of
the true faith, St. George was tortured and condemned to death.
On the first day of his imprisonment St. George was stabbed
with lances, but the spears broke like straws. The Lord would not
allow his skin to be penetrated. Next he was tied to the ground
and a crushing weight was placed upon his chest. When Diocletian
returned on the following day. St. George was alive and
proclaiming the protection of Jesus Christ. The Emperor next had
the saint strapped to a wheel studded with knives and sword
blades. Diocletian thought this would surely kill any man, but
George lay perfectly still conversing with an angel. At the end
of the day, totally unharmed, St. George was removed. For the
next five days the glorious martyr suffered tortures beyond
description. He was submerged in quicklime, had his limbs beaten,
was forced to run in red-hot iron shoes, was scourged, and was
made to drink two cups of poison, No matter what was done to him,
St. George survived to praise the Lord. Many witnesses to these
miracles concerted to Christianity.
On the seventh day of his imprisonment, Our Lord visited St.
George in a dream. Jesus laid a golden crown on the martyr's head
and told him to prepare for Paradise. On awaking, St. George
called his servant. After recording his memoirs, St. George asked
the servant to have his body taken to his beloved Palestine for
burial.
On the eighth day St. George was again dragged before the
Emperor and once again was asked to deny his faith. St. George
refused. Instead he demonstrated his faith by exorcising devils
from the statues which lined the Emperor's court. From the statue
of Apollo, St. George drew out a demon who was forced to admit
that he was a fallen angel. Then, of their own accord, all the
statuary in the great room smashed to the floor. The Empress
Alexandra, seeing the many miracles, converted to Christianity on
the spot, as did her servants Isaac and Croates. Enraged, the
Emperor had his wife and the servants immediately killed. St.
George was thrown back into the dungeon, where he died two days
later on April 23, 303 AD.
The tale of St. George and the dragon is more symbolic than
historical. The legend that he saved a Libyan princess by killing
a dragon arose in the 12th century. ''George and the Dragon'' may
have arisen from the myth of Perseus who slew a sea monster near
the site of George's supposed martyrdom. The Perseus myth has
origins in traditional sixth century North African folktales.
The dragon, traditionally, was a symbol of evil passions and
paganism. Though these beasts are often depicted as fire
breathing monsters, they always dwelt in low wetlands, caves, or
wells. When the evil passions were disturbed, the monster
devoured mankind, usually in the guise of a drought or a dry
windstorm. According to the folk tales a fierce dragon lived in a
marshy lair outside of Selena, Libya. The great beast ravaged the
countryside and could only be placated by regular sacrifices.
Every day the villagers were forced to offer the dragon two
sheep. When the animals no longer satisfied the monster, a human
sacrifice was offered. The land's fairest young maidens were
selected by means of a lottery. One day the King's own daughter
was chosen to sate the beast's hunger.
St. George, so the folk tale goes, happened across the
princess as she prepared for death. On hearing the maiden's
story, St. George made the Sign of the Cross and went to do
battle with the monster. Several powerful blows of George's broad
sword rendered the beast helpless. St. George then led the dragon
in chains to the heart of the village. The townspeople marveled
at the saint's faith and the power of his God. All of the
community accepted baptism and converted to the true faith. The
grateful King promised half of his lands to the savior of the
town, but St. George declined the offer of earthly rewards.
Instead he told the monarch to do honor to the true Savior by
safekeeping God's churches, honoring the clergy, and having pity
on the poor.
In addition to his close relationship with the peoples of
Lebanon and Syria, St. George is the patron of England, Portugal,
Aragon, Catalonia, and Lithuania.
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