April 23 is celebrated as St. George’s Day in England. In observation, many places are flying the white flags with this red cross on it, the flag of England.
My favorite radio station did a list of 102 great things that are English. Which after reading the history about St. George, kind of made me laugh. St. George was Greek and one of the most prominent/important patron military saints.
St. George is the patron saint of England. His cross forms the national flag of the United Kingdom. Traces of the cult of Saint George in England pre-date the Norman Conquest in the 11th century. Edward VIII declared him the patron saint of England and protector of the royal family in the 14th century.
Saint George is best known in legend for slaying a dragon. The legend says that a dragon guarded the water source of the people. Sacrifices were made to the dragon so that the people could continue to get the water. The people tried to sacrifice sheep, but if not sheep were found then a maiden was chosen. The maiden that was chosen in the myth was the daughter of the ruler. Saint George showed up and saved the proverbial day. The dragon is said to represent the Roman empire and the water was Christianity. These tales were brought back by the English Crusaders.
Who Saint George actually was is up for debate. It has been postulated that it is George of Cappadocia, who was a bishop. It is also thought that he could be a man that was born to a Greek noble family in Lydda, Palestine. His parents died when he was a teen and he went into the military like his father.
Saint George is widely accepted though Christianity and is also well known to Muslims. His history can be found though out the Middle East from Egypt to Asia Minor. The myths and legends have become some what of a composite of characters with elements from the Biblical Quranic and folklore sources an at times being partially identified with Al-Khidr. St. George has patronages in 19 different countries.
St George was venerated as a martyr and was made a saint in 494 by Pope Gelasius I. There is a chapel in Bala Jaita, the Christian quarter of Jerusalem that is visited by Christians and Muslims alike.
My favorite radio station did a list of 102 great things that are English. Which after reading the history about St. George, kind of made me laugh. St. George was Greek and one of the most prominent/important patron military saints.
St. George is the patron saint of England. His cross forms the national flag of the United Kingdom. Traces of the cult of Saint George in England pre-date the Norman Conquest in the 11th century. Edward VIII declared him the patron saint of England and protector of the royal family in the 14th century.
Saint George is best known in legend for slaying a dragon. The legend says that a dragon guarded the water source of the people. Sacrifices were made to the dragon so that the people could continue to get the water. The people tried to sacrifice sheep, but if not sheep were found then a maiden was chosen. The maiden that was chosen in the myth was the daughter of the ruler. Saint George showed up and saved the proverbial day. The dragon is said to represent the Roman empire and the water was Christianity. These tales were brought back by the English Crusaders.
Who Saint George actually was is up for debate. It has been postulated that it is George of Cappadocia, who was a bishop. It is also thought that he could be a man that was born to a Greek noble family in Lydda, Palestine. His parents died when he was a teen and he went into the military like his father.
Saint George is widely accepted though Christianity and is also well known to Muslims. His history can be found though out the Middle East from Egypt to Asia Minor. The myths and legends have become some what of a composite of characters with elements from the Biblical Quranic and folklore sources an at times being partially identified with Al-Khidr. St. George has patronages in 19 different countries.
St George was venerated as a martyr and was made a saint in 494 by Pope Gelasius I. There is a chapel in Bala Jaita, the Christian quarter of Jerusalem that is visited by Christians and Muslims alike.
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