Saint George's Feastday

We must make mention of this pretty important medieval saint, Saint George, patron saint of England (it's in the Union flag!) and many other places.

Saint George. A fourth century martyr, George became the patron of many countries, including England, as he was the patron of soldiers and armies. He was born in Lydda, Palestine and was himself a soldier. He is best known for his heroics found in the Golden Legend, practically a field guide to the middle ages compiled by Jacobus de Voragine in the 13th century, who gathered the lives of many saints. The familiar legend wherein George slew a dragon to save a fair maiden from a gruesome death is more metaphor for his accomplishments fighting the evil of paganism. Though it does make for great imagery in church windows. George became a soldier in the Roman army and a secret Christian. But Diocletian decreed that the Christians must be persecuted. George refused and even spoke out against it. Well, he was arrested, put to various tortures which he survived, never denouncing his faith, and was eventually beheaded.

His cult was so popular that by the 15th century his feast day was almost more important than Christmas. Because of his immense popularity, his feast day (death day) is celebrated on many different dates: 23 April (Roman Catholic); 3 November (Russian Orthodox); fourth Sunday in June (Malta); third Sunday in July (Gozo)

He is the patron of a dizzying array of countries, afflictions, and occupations: Amersfoort, Netherlands; Aragon; agricultural workers; archers; armourers; Beirut, Lebanon; Boy Scouts; butchers; Canada; Cappadocia; Catalonia; cavalry; chivalry; Constantinople; Crusaders; England; equestrians; Ethiopia; farmers; Ferrara, Italy; field hands; field workers; Freiburg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany; Genoa, Italy; Georgia; Germany; Gozo; Greece; Haldern, Germany; Heide, Germany; herpes; horsemen; horses; husbandmen; Istanbul; knights; lepers; leprosy; diocese of Limburg, Germany; Lithuania; Malta; Modica, Sicily; Moscow, Russia; Order of the Garter; Palestine; Palestinian Christians; plague; Portugal; Ptuj, Slovenia; riders; saddle makers; saddlers; Senj, Croatia; sheep; shepherds; skin diseases; skin rashes; soldiers; syphilis; Teutonic Knights; Venice.

So if you are a saddle-making farmer Boy Scout with herpes in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, take heart. Someone’s looking out for you.   

Comments

[Marie]

Where exactly is Gozo? It wouldn't have something to do with, "Gozer, the Gozerian", would it?

[Jeri Westerson]

Only if you are with the Ghostbusters.

[Linda C. McCabe]

There is also a festival in Mons, Belgium recreating the slaying of the dragon. It is called "Doudou." We had an exchange student who was from Mons, Belgium and told us all about it.

See www.doudou.mons.be for more information about this annual event.

[Jeri Westerson]

Oh Cool! Would like to see that.