Saint George of Lydda was born in what is now Turkey in somewhere around 270/281 AD. He is the patron saint of England and the memorial of his death in 303 is celebrated. The celebration of St Georges Day is somewhat muted in England when compared with other national saints. Both Scotland and Ireland have public holidays for their saints’ days and the Welsh when surveyed had an 87% majority in favour of a national holiday for Saint David. Maybe the low-key celebrations can be put down to the English character of not being outwardly patriotic, though the question of patriotism itself is rarely in question. St George is not only the patron of England but also of Aragon, Catalonia, Georgia, Lithuania, Palestine and Portugal. However the celebrations take place on different dates depending on the county involved. Georgia for example celebrate twice on 6th May and 23rd November being the dates recognised by the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Russian Orthodox Church respectively.
In England he is perhaps most associated with the slaying of the dragon. The myth of the slaying of the dragon was bought back from the crusades (the first crusade started in 1095 against the Turk dynasty that ruled from Turkey to Persia). The earliest known depiction of George as a soldier slaying the dragon dates back to the eleventh century in what is now modern Turkey. Eventually the story of the dragon is embellished so that by the 15th century the western version tells of the dragon making it’s nest in the water supply of the city of Silene. In order to remove the dragon each day and let the water flow an offering is made. Firstly a sheep is offered but if no sheep is available a maiden is offered. One day the drawing of lots, used to determine the victim for offering, chooses the Princess. The monarch’s pleas to save her fail just George is passing and using the sign of the cross to protect himself George slays the dragon and rescues the Princess. Thus it came to pass that in every town or village in England shall be found a pub called the George and Dragon!
George was beheaded on 23rd April 303 by Emperor Diocletian for failing to renounce his Christian beliefs. For this George became a martyr and eventually a saint.
We hope you have a good St George’s day wherever and however you celebrate.