Saint George

Yesterday was the 23rd of April, just another day unless you live in Georgia, Greece, Beirut, England, Ethiopia, the lands of the former Kingdom of Aragon, Genoa, Venice, Portugal, Brazil, Russia, Serbia… Well, perhaps it’s not just another day then.

But who was “Saint George”? What is behind the myth and the legend of this historical and, undoubtedly real, man?

The only things that can be established, beyond reasonable doubt, is that he was a Roman soldier and was decapitated under orders of the Roman Emperor Diocletian in or around 303 AD (even this date is disputed) for refusing to give up his Christianity.

Beyond that, everything else we know is either myth, embellishment or supposition. However, he is a key figure in the evolution of Christianity and, as such, has become a patron Saint of countries and cities and is celebrated to this day.

Before the Emperor Constantine founded Byzantium (Constantinople/Istanbul) and then made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire, Christianity was on the fringes of the Roman world. Christians were a relatively minor sect which occasionally annoyed the establishment and was regularly persecuted but were otherwise ignored. 

Constantine’s predecessors (and one successor) regularly sanctioned persecutions against this monotheistic “sect”, especially Nero who famously blamed them for the great fire of Rome. Trajan, Valerian and the mentioned Diocletian also made a habit of blaming Christians for any misfortunes much as centuries later Christian’s would use persecuting the Jews as distractions from domestic troubles. During these persecutions the myths and legends surrounding Christianity’s early Saint’s began – Peter, Valentine, George, Marcellinus, Agnes, Sebastian, Pancras. Add “saint” to the beginning of each name and we will instantly recognise them even if we do not know why or who they were. 

Having given the, scant, details we can be sure of, the rest is supposition and hearsay, but the generally accepted biography of George is thus: George of Lydda (to give him his secular name) was born in modern-day Greece. He is often confused with an Arian bishop, George of Cappadocia, but this is a mistranslation. Lydda in his name makes reference to the place of his martyrdom, then in Palestine.

As with many men of his time, seeking adventure and advancement, joined the Roman army. There he was promoted, eventually becoming a Praetorian Guard, a member of the inner sanctum of the emperor and his part of his personal bodyguard. These guards would soon become all powerful and begin electing and assassinating emperors at will, but for now, they were a military unit close and loyal to the emperor.

His slaying of the dragon, for which he is best remembered and most associated with, was a later myth added to his biography in the 11th Century AD. Some 800 years after he died. Most likely it was a Christian rendition of the legend of Perseus who was said to have rescued Andromeda from a sea monster near Lydda. This has added to the myth of Saint George to add weight to his legend and for geographical associations. 

According to the myth, George rescued a Libyan princess who was being held by a dragon in Silene (modern Libya) and in the process slayed the dragon. However, as we have said, this had little to do with his initial veneration and was added later to give him hero status.

George’s initial fame and veneration was limited to Palestine and it came from the manner of his martyrdom. In refusing to recant his Christianity he was subjected to 7 years of excruciating torture. Diocletian eventually, tiring of this obstinate sectarian, had his head cut off. In the process, however, over 49.000 pagans were converted to Christianity and George became a symbol of strength against oppression, his religion said to be the source of his immense ability to withstand torture and infinite patience. 

It was not until the 8th Century that we find any mention of George in England and even that is in passing. With the advent of the First Crusade (1096-1099) launched by Pope Urban II, after the Council of Clairmont, George became known name in Christian Europe. He was said to be present at the siege of Antioch, encouraging and fighting alongside Christian soldiers. Remember, at this point he had been dead for 700 years. These soldiers, mostly German and French, brought the name and the myth of George back to Europe.

The Plantagenet Kings of England, with their deep ancestral roots in France, would have been familiar with the myth of Saint George and imported it to England. However, it was King Edward III (r. 1327-1377) that made George truly important in England by naming him as patron of the Order of the Garter (an order that still exists today and is considered a signal honour). Soon after, Saint George was made Patron Saint of England. 

Today Saint George is remembered best as the dragon slaying Saint, and in Shakespeare’s play, Henry V, with the immortal line “Once more unto the breach dear friends, once more… cry for ‘God for Harry, England and Saint George!’”. The English flag, with the red cross of Saint George, still remembers this man and his achievements and is part of the Union Flag alongside the crosses of Saint Andrew and Saint Patrick.