George the Serbian

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The holy, glorious, right-victorious martyr George the New (Свети Ђорђе Кратовац), also called George of Sofia, was a Serb from the town of Kratovo.

He was a goldsmith by trade and, in his heart and soul, was a convinced and a devout Christian. He was born in Kratovo and later moved to Sofia. George was eighteen years old when the Turks tried to convert him to Islam. George remained firm as a diamond in his faith. The Turks tortured him cruelly and then finally burned him at the stake. He suffered and was martyred for the faith of Christ on February 11, 1515, in Sofia, Bulgaria, during the reign of Sultan Selim and was glorified with unfading glory in the heavens. A priest from the Serbian colony in Sofia, presbyter Peja wrote a Life of new martyr George from Kratovo. Saint George was glorified in both the Serbian and Bulgarian Churches. His feast days are February 11 and May 26.