✝ Venerable Giorgi of Mt. Athos, the Builder (†1029)
July 28 / August 10 (Julian Calendar)
On this day, July 28 according to the Julian Calendar (August 10 civil calendar), the Georgian Orthodox Church commemorates Venerable George the Builder of Athos.
Venerable George the Builder was the third abbot of the Iveron Monastery on Mount Athos. As George the Athonite (commemorated June 27), the chronicler of the lives of the Athonite holy fathers, relates, the monastery’s first abbot, Venerable John (commemorated July 12), entrusted the leadership of the community to his son, Venerable Euthymius (commemorated May 13), and instructed him that after his own time the fatherhood should pass to George, “a man renowned and vigilant in bodily affairs,” who was of their own kin. According to some accounts, George was John’s nephew.
After Euthymius stepped down, George took up the governance of the monastery with great energy. Under his direction the main church of Iveron was built, dedicated to the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos. The inscription of the church declares: “I have established its pillars, and unto the ages they shall not be moved. George the monk, a Georgian, and the Builder.”
The abbot of Iveron was held in great honor at the court of the Byzantine emperor: “George was greatly distinguished before Emperor Romanos, and was much beloved and honored.” Later, however, in a way that God alone knows, he was accused of sedition and treachery, exiled to the island of Monovatia, and there he reposed.
George’s exile proved fateful for the Iveron Lavra. The slanderers found new pretexts, won over the nobles of Greece and the dignitaries of the palace, and brought grievous hardship upon the Georgian monks of Athos. In those days the monastery’s wealth, acquired by the fathers with blood and sweat, was plundered and destroyed.
In the days of the pious and Christ-loving Emperor Michael, the monastery’s rightful possessions were restored to it, and the former peace and sweetness returned to the brotherhood. The Georgian monks translated George’s body from Monovatia back to Athos.
In the Iveron Monastery on Mount Athos, the memory of Saint George the Builder is celebrated together with that of Venerable John and Venerable Euthymius.
May the intercessions of Venerable George the Builder of Athos be with us all.