"Numbered among the Saints" - St. George Karslides of Drama (+1959)

(http://www.pigizois.net/latreia/paraklitikoi_kanones/ag_georg_karslidis/par_kanon_ag_georgioy_karslidi.pdf) 

Apolytikion of St. George Karslides the Righteous of Drama (amateur translation from the above Greek)

O river of Divine Grace, O God-bearing George, and vessel of miracles of all kinds, we praise him crying out, Ascension, Holy Monastery's Founder, and Drama's protector and shelterer, do not despise those who entreat you, and magnify you, O Righteous Father. Glory to Christ Who glorified you. Glory to Him who sanctified you, Glory to Him who showed forth this new ascetic fruitful.

Greetings!

I just thought I would upload a short clip from TV4E (http://www.tv4e.gr/) of the Patriarchical Great Vespers on the evening of November 1st (2008), at the Metropolis Church of Drama. Patriarch Bartholomew was there to help recognize St. George Karslides the Righteous as a Saint. This clip shows the chanting of his apolytikion (included above in Greek, with a first draft of a translation), and you can see the church, his icon and the case of his Holy Relics. Note: I'm not aware of any of TV4E's regulations against posting a clip like this, but if this is problematic with respect to any copyright laws, let me know.

And though I'm not an expert at all, from what I know the Orthodox Church and its hierarchs do not get together and agree to make someone a saint (which seems different from from other faiths). It is a life and struggle in Christ's Holy Church with the Grace of God that brings sanctification, enlightenment and salvation. The Orthodox Church leadership only acknowledges and brings to people's attention the presence of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the Saints and codifies the devotion of the faithful towards them. As is clear, St. George Karslides was a great grace-filled Father of our Church, and may he intercede for all of us, while we emulate his life and faith.

Picture of Patriarch Bartholomew venerating the Holy Relics of St. George in Drama (taken from: http://www.imdramas.gr/images_file/view_image.php?image_id=1093)

For more information on St. George, see the following excellent books:

-Precious Vessels of the Holy Spirit: The Lives and Counsels of Contemporary Elders of Greece, by Herman A. Middleton. Published by Protecting Veil Press 2003.

-The Blessed Elder George Karslides (1901-1959) by Monk Moses the Athonite. Published by Orthodox Kypseli Publications.

Also, see previous posts on the life (http://full-of-grace-and-truth.blogspot.com/2008/10/life-of-st-george-karslides-righteous.html) and sayings (http://full-of-grace-and-truth.blogspot.com/2008/10/sayings-of-st-george-karslides.html) of St. George, along with: http://orthodoxwiki.org/George_(Karslidis)_of_Drama.

Icon of St. George the Righteous (taken from: http://vatopaidi.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/agios-georgios-karslides-01.jpg)

"The Christian who loves all people has a great reward, especially if he forgives those who do him evil. For if we don't love our neighbor, all the good works we do will be worthless. They amount to nothing, we will be worthless. Love, my bretheren, God requires love from us."

-St. George Karslides of Drama (+1959)

(quote from Precious Vessels of the Holy Spirit, Middleton)

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!