A dragon-slaying martyr who was adopted as the patron saint of a land he never visited, just who was St George?
On Thursday, April 23, England celebrates St George’s day in honour of its patron saint. This year celebrations will low key, with pubs, clubs and restaurants shut due to the coronavirus pandemic. But lockdown or no lockdown, it is still a day to mark the saint whose red cross adorns the English flag.
Unlike Ireland and St Patrick, who is said to have converted the Emerald Isle to Christianity, St George has no obvious connection to England.
Little is known about St George, other then the legend about him slaying a dragon. Which was most likely made up by an Italian author.
Who was he?
There are two popular theories about St George’s origins, but the consensus is that he was born the Middle East. Some say his birthplace was in what is now modern day Turkey, others say he came from Palestine.
Thought to be born to Christian parents, he was a soldier in the Roman Army, but was said to have been persecuted and tortured for refusing to ditch his faith in favour of Roman paganism. According to legend, George was both boiled and sandwiched between two wheels of spikes.
He was executed on April 23, 303AD after he refused Emperor Diocletian’s order to renounce Christianity. It is claimed St George was dragged through the streets of Lydda and beheaded.
Where does the dragon come into it?
As you’re probably aware, St George is not likely to have actually killed a dragon. But paintings of the martyr feature him slaying one. It is likely this is to represent him defeating the devil or evil, or reflects his bravery in refusing to bow down to Roman persecution. Jacobus de Voragine first came up with the dramatic back story for St George in his book ‘Golden Legend’. In it, George kills a dragon which was guarding a well, just before villagers planned to sacrifice a woman to keep it happy.
Why is he patron saint of England?
He never set foot in England, but the country adopted George as its saint for his qualities of chivalry and bravery.
He was made patron saint in 1415.
April 23 was chosen as his day because it is the anniversary of George’s execution.
Many English soldiers believe they had seen an armour-clad St George fighting alongside them, which adds to his legend.
The red cross seen on England’s flag is a depiction of the emblem George wore on his shield.
St George is not just celebrated by the English
Ever wondered why FC Barcelona’s badge features St George’s cross? It’s because he’s the patron saint of Catalonia, the autonomous region of Spain which Barcelona is in.
St George is also important to the Portuguese, who have attributed military victories to him. Romanians celebrate him too, as do Georgians and the Maltese.
