Saint George of England - Our patron saint.

Although certain politicians and self appointed politically correct spokespersons seem to think it should be kept hidden, The Cross of Saint George is England’s national flag, and Saint George our patron Saint. They have been for hundreds of years and hopefully will remain so for hundreds more. The more people who refuse to hide it, the longer it will be recognised as part of our English heritage. Fly your flag with pride.
Cry God for Harry, England and Saint George... William Shakespeare . Henry V, Act 3, Scene 1.

A Soldier and a Martyr of the third or fourth century. Saint George is not only known to England, but for different reasons, all over the world. He has also been named “The Victory Bringer”, due to his exploits as a soldier on the side of good against evil. Whether or not you believe the legends or even that he existed doesn’t alter the fact that he has been recognised as patron since Saint George's Day was first named in England by the Oxford Synod of 1222.

Several stories have been attached to Saint George, the best known of which is the Golden Legend. In it, a dragon lived in a lake near Silena, Libya. Whole armies had gone up against this Fierce creature, and had gone down in painful defeat. The monster ate two sheep each day; when mutton was scarce, lots were drawn in local villages, and maidens were substituted for sheep. Into this country came Saint George. Hearing the story on a day when a princess was to be eaten, he crossed himself, rode to battle against the serpent, and killed it with a single blow with his lance. George then held forth with a magnificent sermon, and converted the locals. Given a large reward by the king, George distributed it to the poor, then rode away. There are many versions of this story all over the world. I believe that the ‘Dragon’ is used simply to depict evil.

Due to his chivalrous behavior (protecting women, fighting evil, dependence on faith and might of arms, largesse to the poor), devotion to Saint George became popular in the Europe after the 10th century. In the 15th century his feast day was as popular and important as Christmas. Many of his areas of patronage have to do with life as a knight on horseback. The celebrated Knights of the Garter are actually Knights of the Order of Saint George. The shrine built for his relics at Lydda, Palestine was a popular point of pilgrimage for centuries. One of the Fourteen Holy Helpers. Saint George was a man who abandoned one army for another: he gave up the rank of tribune to enlist as a soldier for Christ. Eager to encounter the enemy, he first stripped away his worldly wealth by giving all he had to he poor. Then, free and unencumbered, bearing the shield of faith, he plunged into the think of the battle, an ardent soldier for Christ. He was tortured and beheaded in Lydda, Palestine around 304 AD. The Catholic Encyclopedia.

The man definitely existed, there is no doubt in my mind about that. As with most old legends though, the passing down of the stories are mainly verbal, and just like the Chinese whispering game, these stories tend to lose parts and gain additions as they are passed on in other directions over a period of many years.
There are many stories relating to the man known as Saint George and there is no doubt that he was indeed a soldier who fought in defense of the Christian faith. Men who fought in the Crusades came back with stories they had heard of the man who fought wearing the martyr’s cross. Stories which even then, were centuries old. King Richard I (Lion heart) used this same cross on his army’s uniform while fighting the battles of the crusades.

Some say he was a Roman tribune, some say he was born in England. Could these not both be true? After all, the Romans were here for over four hundred years, and I am sure there must have been many children born to them during their stay. Early writings dating from the year 322 AD tell us that a man of high rank was beheaded on April 23rd in the year 303 AD. This happened in Nicomedia, which was a city in what is today called Turkey. Unfortunately there is no name mentioned. Inscriptions dating back to the middle of the fourth century were found in Syria which related to Saint George.
The mere fact that so many people have chosen him as their patron saint over the past thousand years must add credibility to the legend.

The earliest mention of his place of burial that we know of is from Theodosius in the year 550. He was on a pilgrimage in Lydda, and confirmed that there was indeed the tomb of Saint George.
There are many other legends, and they can only add to the confusion. Maybe one day some indisputable evidence will be uncovered. There are also numerous paintings and artwork depicting Saint George with his shield and flag bearing a red cross on a white background. Surely this alone must be proof of his existence.

There are also however, many negative theories about the origins and identity of Saint George which I will give brief mention to. But to me, it is the idea not the man that I follow.