ST GEORGE; 23rd APRIL PATRON SAINT OF ENGLAND

 ST GEORGE

23rd APRIL
PATRON SAINT OF ENGLAND



St George came from a noble Christian family at the time of the Emperor Diocletian. His father was a Roman officer and Christian. George, however, was orphaned and became an officer in the Imperial Roman army – a Tribunus and an Imperial guard for the Emperor.
The Emperor Diocletian, in an effort to eradicate Christianity, promulgated an edict that every Christian would be arrested (and executed), and that every Roman officer would be compelled to offer sacrifice to the Roman gods. George refused. Diocletian was displeased but valued his friendship with George’s father. Then George publicly declared his beliefs, which Diocletian could not abide. Diocletian offered George money, land and slaves in exchange for George offering sacrifice to the Roman gods.
Eventually, Diocletian ordered George’s execution. In preparation for his death, George gave money to the poor. He was tortured on a wheel of swords and required resuscitation three times but refused to turn away from God.
On 23rd April 303AD, George was decapitated. The Empress Alexandria was converted by his example of courage. His remains were taken to Lydda (now Lod, Israel), the homeland of his mother and were later transferred to a church that was built in his name there. St George’s chapel, in Windsor Castle, is said to have once had two fingers, part of the heart and part of the skull of St George - relics that were probably destroyed during the reformation.
St George has been reported to assist in battle by Richard the Lionheart and the Crusaders. Legends of him as a warrior-saint, dating from the 6th century “became popular and increasingly extravagant” (2). Jacob de Voragine’s Legenda Aurea (1265; Golden Legend), tells the story for which he is most famous: A dragon had terrorised the people in Silene, (modern-day Libya). The people offered the dragon a sheep each day until the sheep disappeared. They then decided to offer a maiden and drew straws for the sacrifice victim. The young women of the village were sacrificed and one day the princess’ straw was drawn. The King begged for her life, but to no avail. The princess was offered to the dragon. However, before the dragon could kill her, St George appeared, protected himself by the sign of the cross and slew the dragon.
The people of the village then abandoned paganism and converted to Christianity.
St George was known and popular in England by the 8th century. Returning Crusaders likely popularised his cult as he was said to have helped the Franks at the Battle of Antioch in 1098.
King Edward II, (reigned 1327-1377), made St George the patron saint of the newly founded Most Noble Order of the Garter. He was also made the patron saint of other medieval powers, including Portugal, Genoa and Venice.
With the protestant reformation, the cult of St George was suppressed and dwindled as a result, although his feast day is observed by the Church of England and remained a holy day of obligation for Catholics until the late 18th century.
St George is the patron saint of England and Georgia and is venerated as one of the 14 Holy Helpers, (Auxiliary Saints). In Bulgaria, St George’s day is celebrated with the slaughter and roasting of a lamb.
(1) Catholic online

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