The
story of Saint George is so wrapped in myth and legend that
it’s
difficult to extract the historical facts. Some believe he never existed or
that he’s a Christianised version of an older pagan myth.
In
the early centuries of Christianity, followers would write
up fabulous accounts of the lives of their heroes. This enhanced
George’s reputation but left the details of his life
very blurred.
What we believe to be the truth is that George was born
in the Cappadocia region of central Turkey in the 3rd century;
that his parents were Christians; and that when his father
died, George’s mother returned to her native Palestine,
taking George with her. George became a soldier in the Roman
army and rose to the rank of Tribune. The Emperor of the
day, Diocletian (245-313 CE), began a campaign against Christians
at the very beginning of the 4th century. In about 303 CE
George is said to have objected to this persecution and resigned
his military post in protest. George tore up the Emperor’s
order against Christians. This infuriated Diocletian, and
George was imprisoned and tortured, but he refused to deny
his faith. Eventually he was dragged through the streets
of Diospolis (now Lydda) in Palestine and beheaded. It’s
said that Diocletian’s wife was so impressed by George’s
resilience that she became a Christian and that she too was
executed for her faith.
Myths
In the stories George is said to have been tortured in a
number of gruesome and hideous ways. He was forced to swallow
poison; crushed between two spiked wheels; boiled in a cauldron
of molten lead. None of these attempts killed him and his
wounds were healed in the night by Christ himself. George
was told his life would be spared if he would offer sacrifice
to the Roman gods. The people assembled to see him do so
but instead George prayed to the Christian God. Immediately,
fire came down from heaven, an earthquake shook the ground,
and priests, idols, and the temple buildings were destroyed.
However, by this time it was God’s will that St. George
should die for his faith, and he was beheaded without further
trouble. Stories of this nature abounded about pagan and
Christian figures in the early Middle Ages. People would
have expected their heroes to have undergone such experiences
and in an age when many things seemed mystical, few were
sceptical about such stories.
 The Dragon
I have encountered 2 versions of this legend.
1: “The Legend in which George slays a fierce dragon,
symbolising evil, and rescues an innocent maiden from death
is thought to have appeared as late as the 12th century and
may have origins in the story of Perseus, who defended the
virgin Andromeda against the monstrous Medusa.”
2: “A pagan town in Libya was victimised by a dragon
(representing the devil), which the inhabitants first attempted
to placate by offerings of sheep, and then by the sacrifice
of various members of their community. The daughter of the
king (representing the Church) was chosen by lot and was
taken out to await the coming of the monster, but George
arrived, killed the dragon, and converted the community to
Christianity.”
St George and England
The earliest known British reference to Saint George occurs
in an account by St. Adamnan, the 7th century Abbot of lona.
He’s believed to have heard the story from Arcuif,
a French bishop who had travelled to Jerusalem and other
holy places in Palestine. The saint is also mentioned in
the writings of the Venerable Bede. George's reputation grew
with the returning crusaders. A miracle appearance when it
is claimed that he appeared to lead crusaders into battle,
is recorded in stone over the south door of a church at Fordington
in Dorset. This still exists and is the earliest known church
in England to be dedicated to St. George. The Council of
Oxford in 1222 named 23rd April Saint George’s Day.
The Flag of St George
The flag of Saint George is a red cross on a white background
which is incorporated into the Union Jack.
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