George of Amastris

George of Amastris (died between 802 and 807) was a Byzantine monk who was made bishop of Amastris against his will.

Born into the local Paphlagonian aristocracy, George received an education suitable to his birth. As a young man, he began a career in the church administration, but left it to become a hermit on Mt. Agrioserike. Still later, he joined a monastic community at a place called "Bonyssa". When the see of Amastris fell vacant, Patriarch Tarasios appointed George to fill it. George was consecrated as bishop in Constantinople c. 790. During his time as bishop of Amastris, George presided over the return of the remains of John of Gothia to the latter's native city of Parthenia, Crimea. George died early in the reign of Emperor Nikephoros I, of whom George was a notable supporter.

George is the subject of a hagiography preserved in a single manuscript dating to the 10th century. In it, the saint is credited with a postmortem miracle of saving the city from a raid by the hitherto-unknown Rus'. He is recognized as a saint in the Orthodox liturgy, and his feast-day is 21 February.

Editions

V. Vasil'evskij (ed.) Russko-vizantijskie issledovanija 2 (St. Petersburg: 1893), 1-73. Greek text available at the Dumbarton Oaks Hagiography Database. English translation by Jenkins, et al. available from the University of Notre Dame.

External links

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