This
great little article shows that the saints love everyone, and help all. Even
among Muslims, who don’t even have saints, the knowledge that the Christian
saint, the Greatmartyr George of Lydda,
helps those who ask him, brings thousands to ask his aid and intercession. And
he responds swiftly to help them. How much more will he aid and protect those
fellow disciples of Jesus Christ who call upon him in faith, asking for his
powerful intercession before God, and granting the gifts of healing and more
through his prayers!
The Monastery of St. George Koudounas
This
historic Monastery of Saint George Koudounas, on Prince’s Island outside of
Constantinople, was according to tradition built by the Byzantine Emperor
Nikephoros Phokas in 963 AD. A miraculous icon of St. George was brought here
from the Monastery of Peace, which was founded by Emperor Justin II, in Athens
at that time.
The
Monastery was later sacked in the Fourth Crusade. Then in 1302 the pirate
Giustiniani plundered all the buildings and monasteries of the island. Not
wanting their holy icon stolen by the Franks, the monks hid the icon under the
earth and place the holy altar above it. The miraculous icon however was lost
for many years.
Later,
St. George appeared to a shepherd in a dream and told him where to find his
icon. When he approached the area, he heard the ringing of bells, and having
unearthed the icon, found it decorated with bells. This is the source behind
the epithet “Koudouna” which means “bells”.
The
Monastery was later attached to Hagia Lavra in Kalavryta, and eventually to the
Patriarch of Constantinople.
The
current church was built in 1905.
The
miracles of the Saint are many, not only towards Christians [Romans], who
approached always with great reverence (in olden times there wasn’t a Christian
family which had not visited Koudouna at least once a year), but towards
everyone without exception, who approach his grace with faith. Thus there is a
great mass of people who come from other faiths from throughout Turkey. The
pilgrims number about 250,000 a year, the majority being muslim Turks.
The great
iron gate of the Monastery, as we learn from its engraving in Greek and
Turkish, was offered from the Muslim Rasoul Efenti, as a gift of gratitude
towards the Saint for the healing of his wife.
On April
23rd, in other words the day when the Saint is honored and the Monastery
celebrates, tens of thousands of pilgrims arrive, not only from Constantinople
but from other cities, to venerate the Great Martyr and to seek help in their
problems.
Roughly
all of these pilgrims are from other faiths.
Many will
return later to thank St. George, who heard their prayer and granted their
desire, bringing the indispensable oil for his vigil lamp. You hear with
passion how he healed this person’s son, how another became a mother after
being barren for many years, how a third acquired a house, etc.
The
Monastery also celebrates on the feast of Saint Thekla, and on this feast about
10,000 Muslims visit the Monastery seeking the prayer of Saint George.
Muslim Vows
Some come
barefoot up the hill which takes about 30 minutes to climb to the Monastery,
others come with offerings of oil, candles, and sugar so that their lives may
be sweet. Some do not speak as they climb up to the Monastery until they kiss
the icon of St. George. They follow the services with hands lifted in the air
holding lit candles. They ask priests for antidron to bring home with them for
a blessing. They have great faith and respect for Orthodoxy.
On
September 24 I witnessed at 6:00 AM four modern looking Turkish girls
approaching the Monastery. I asked them for what purpose they came. They
responded: “Faith in the Saint brought us here. It doesn’t matter that we are
Muslims. We prayed that he would help us. We have heard so much about the
Monastery.”
Oral came
from Smyrna in order to venerate the Saint with her vow. She brought three
bottles of oil. When I asked why she, as a Muslim woman among the thousands,
visit the Orthodox Monastery, she responded: “It is not forbidden by anyone for
us to believe in Saint George. Religions have one common agreement, the one and
only God. We could be hiding within us a christian.”
Of the
many interviews I conducted that day with Muslims, the responses were basically
the same.
A
different answer was given by Antil however. He said: “Life in Turkey is
difficult. The people need something to give them strength. They have turned to
religion. They have been bored by everything so they seek help elsewhere. Why
not Saint George?”
And one
Turkish newspaper reported: “Saint George has distributed hope to the
suffering.”
Testimonies of Monks From the Monastery
Hieromonk
Ephraim of Xenophontos, who has lived for three years at “Koudouna”, is
astonished with the faith of the thousands of Muslims who visit the monastery.
“These people live with their heart”, he affirms, “Because faith is the sight
and the strength of the heart, for this reason they can and they do experience
our Saints.”
Monk
Kallinikos of Xenophontos, who serves as a priest, relates: “We are astonished
with that which occurs here. Many times we see people who find the Lord with
the faith of the Roman centurion.” To our question if the Saint responds to the
supplications of the thousands of pilgrims, he replied: “During my three years
here, we ourselves are witnesses of miracles, such as the healing of
paralytics, mutes, and the giving birth to children.”
We asked
the monks at St. George to comment about their stay in Turkey, and they told
us: “All of their behavior is perfect. From the highest ruler, to the lowest,
they treat us with such respect that many times we wonder which would be
better, to live in Christian Greece or Muslim Turkey. We should tell you that
we go everywhere with the monastic dress and our experiences have always been
positive.
Thus, St.
George has become a place of worship for thousands of atheists, Christians,
Jews, and especially Muslims, who with every means come to the island and bring
their tamata (vows), and place them before the Saint, as they place their hopes
in him. And the Saint shows that he does not judge and ‘imparts healing’ to
every faithful person.”
The Sick Turkish Woman
A Turkish
woman from Levkochori had a serious health problem. She had heard a lot about
St. George and wanted to come [venerate], but they did not let her come into
the church because she was Turkish. But this didn’t deter her from remaining
outside the church the whole night. In the morning they gave her holy oil from
the vigil lamp of the Saint and she became well. After this, her husband gave
many gifts to the church.
St. George Saves a Young Muslim Girl
A Muslim
woman with her mother were taking a taxi for a long trip. The Muslims, as is
well known, respect St. George very much.
On the
road the taxi driver abandoned the proper course and began to show a
threatening attitude towards the girl—the women apparently were praying—and at
some point the taxi driver stopped the car and attempted to rape the girl.
Immediately a police officer on horseback appeared, who ordered the taxi driver
in a very powerful manner to the nearest police station. He went full of fear
with the policeman, and the policeman on horseback went with him to the
station, and issued a complaint for attempted rape. He signed the police book
and left. When the taxi driver later came out of the interrogation, they looked
in the book and said to him:
“There is
no hope for you to escape! Do you know who brought you here?” Saint George.
Note: These and similar miracles and
sentiments do not at all vindicate the false religion of Islam, nor the
terrible actions of some Turks against Christians, but the faith and love of
some simple Muslims towards Christ and His Saints. Similarly, Christ found in
the Roman Centurion greater faith than any in Israel (Matthew 8:10). And often,
this presence of the Holy Spirit out of love not only acts to heal the bodies
of non-Orthodox, but more crucially the souls, as many later embrace the light
and are baptized Orthodox. May Christ grant us all repentance, that we all may
be saved, and come to the knowledge of the Truth. St. George the Trophy-bearer,
intercede for us all and help us! Amen.
Why Do
Muslims Venerate Saint George? According to Archimandrite Damianos, overseer of
the Holy Sepulchre, there are three reasons:
“1. His
green garments, which for Muslims represents “life” and for which reason they
call him “the Green One”;
2.
Because many Muslims hear about and experience his miracles;
3.
Because as a Trophy-bearer with a cape and sword he inspires a certain amount
of fear and respect.”
It is
because of the great respect for St. George that none of the Orthodox churches
dedicated to him in Turkey have been demolished, as well as churches dedicated
to the Theotokos who also is greatly respected by Muslims.
Source: http://prescottorthodox.com/miracles-of-st-george-to-muslims/
CONVERSATION