SAINT GEORGE (KEVORK) THE COMMANDER

This Saturday, September 28, the Armenian Church commemorates St. George (Kevork) the Commander, a third century Roman general who challenged the emperor’s persecution of Christians by publicly tearing up the emperor’s decree, and urging others to follow his example. To this day he remains a popular saint in the Armenian Church and is the patron saint of soldiers and scouts. As in many other instances, the Armenians have given St. George an Armenian national character. The Feast of St. George is always on the Saturday before the Feast of the Holy Cross of Varak.