XVII PREFACE
be made a count. George! was the grandson of John, the chief governor of Cappadocia, and the son of Anastasius, the governor of Melitene, and of Kira Theognésta, a noble lady the daughter of Dionysius the count of Lydda or Diospolis. George's ancestors had been orthodox Christians, and he boasts that none of them had ever been idolaters. When Anastasius was about thirty-six years old, he died, and left behind a widow and a family of three children, George and his two sisters, Kasia and Mathréna, aged ten, —
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six and two years respectively, Anastasius and his wife — were exceedingly rich in cattle and possessions, and. they were greatly beloved by all the country round about by reason of their good deeds. Shortly after the death of Anastasius, a new governor called Justus was appointed — to rule over Palestine, and he was a God-fearing and good man; and he asked permission from George's mother to bring the boy up to the profession of a soldier. Kira Theognésta consented, and Justus shortly after ap-
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pointed George captaim over five thousand men. Justus next wrote to the emperor and informed him of the birth and position of the young man, and the emperor paid George a salary of three thousand pieces of money a month, For ten years George lived happily with Justus, who associated him with himself in the government of
“ . ‘ . . : Palestine, and made him master of his house, and heir to all that he possessed. Moreover, Justus betrothed his | daughter then about twelve years of age to him, but while
1 He is said to have been calied George after the name of his great-grandfather. :
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