May 6 marks the day of Saint George, who is the patron of the Russian Orthodox military. Before the Revolution, this day was considered a day of Russian military glory.

Today, this is reminded by the George ribbon, a two-colored ribbon associated with the Order of Saint George, the George Cross, and the George Medal, which were abolished in 1917.

The Order of Saint George the Great Martyr and Victorious was the highest military award in pre-revolutionary Russia. It was established by Empress Catherine II on December 7, 1769, in honor of Saint George to reward officers for their merits on the battlefield and their service in military ranks.

The George Cross, the Badge of Distinction of the Military Order, was an award associated with the Order of Saint George in the Russian Guard, army, navy, and other Armed Forces of Russia for lower ranks from 1807 to 1917.

The George Medal, a medal of the Russian Empire inscribed "For Bravery," was established on August 10, 1913.

Saint George the Great Martyr was the son of wealthy and pious parents who raised him in the Christian faith. He was born in the city of Beirut (formerly, Belit), at the foot of the Lebanese mountains.

Upon joining the military service, Saint George stood out among other warriors for his intellect, bravery, physical strength, military bearing, and beauty. Soon he achieved the rank of thousand commander and became a favorite of Emperor Diocletian. Diocletian was a talented ruler but fanatically adhered to Roman gods. In an effort to revive the dying paganism in the Roman Empire, he went down in history as one of the most brutal persecutors of Christians.

After unsuccessful attempts to force George to renounce Christ, the emperor ordered him to be subjected to various tortures, but the saint bravely endured the suffering and glorified the Lord. Eventually, the emperor ordered his execution by beheading. Saint George the Victorious is called so for his courage, spiritual victory over the torturers who could not make him renounce Christianity, as well as for his miraculous help to people in danger. The relics of Saint George the Victorious were placed in the Palestinian city of Lydda, in a temple bearing his name.