Over the years I have had several friends name one of their sons George. With derivatives from the Greek words meaning “farmer” and “work,” it’s with good reason that it has always been considered a good, strong name. Plus, there’s the legend of Saint George the dragonslayer.
But while I’ve always heard of the legend, I never really knew where the story came from and how exactly it became so strongly tied to the Saint. So I set out on a mission to learn more, and this is what I discovered along the way.
The Legend
The symbol of George as the dragonslayer was popularized by a thirteenth-century book titled The Golden Legend, written by Italian Archbishop Jacobus de Voragine.
The story goes that in one of the cities in Libya, a ferocious dragon lived in a large pond. In order to keep the dragon at bay, the people would feed sheep to it. When sheep no longer seemed to satisfy the beast, they then drew names to determine which person would be sacrificed in the animal’s place.
Then, one day, the name of the king’s daughter was chosen. As she made her way towards the pond, George passed by and killed the dragon with his spear. Some say he made the Sign of the Cross over it before slaying it. This then became known as a great example of faith overcoming evil. It is also why his story of courage is one in which many children, especially boys, find inspiration and encouragement.
The Man
While the legend endures, there is truth which speaks to the courage of this Saint. Vatican News tells us that George was born to a Christian family in Cappadocia, Turkey, towards the end of the third century. When he moved to Palestine he enlisted in Diocletian’s army. However, upon learning of the emperor’s plan to persecute Christians, George gave his possessions to the poor, and tore Diocletian’s decree right in front of him. He did not do this silently, but did so while speaking up for what he believed in and declaring his faith in Jesus Christ. This testament to the truth ultimately led to Saint George’s torture and beheading.
While Saint George is not considered a Saint because of slaying a dragon, he is considered a Saint because of his fearlessness in the face of torture and death and his strength of will in showing the power of Christ over evil.
Recognition and Honor
Not long after his martyrdom, a basilica was built over the land where he was buried in Lod, Israel. Today, his relics are spread all over the world.
Richard I of England named George as the protector of soldiers. In 1348, King Edward III established the Order of the Knights of St. George and named him the patron Saint of England.
He is the patron of knights, soldiers, scouts, fencers, and archers and is often invoked in prayers against the plague, leprosy, and poisonous snakes.
His feast day of April 23 is an Optional Memorial in the Church calendar, due to the lack of factual information about his life, but devotion for this Saint continues to grow strong. Children learn about his legend through Margaret Hodge’s Caldecott Medal-Winning book, Saint George and the Dragon, and his legacy lives on as the patron Saint of England. In fact, the flag of England is also considered the flag of Saint George or Saint George’s cross. This flag is also incorporated into the national flag of the United Kingdom, the Union Jack. The same flag that incorporates flags from Scotland (the cross of Saint Andrew) and Ireland (the cross of Saint Patrick).
Why Saint George Matters
Father Christopher Smith wrote a piece for the National Catholic Register, speaking about Saint George’s relevance and powerful intercession:
St. George may look from the outside as a mere relic of a superstitious past. But he is most definitely not. He survives as a model for true masculinity, bravely fighting to protect and provide, in an age where manhood is dismissed as being toxic. [. . .] He remains a force capable of uniting Christians, East and West, Muslims and even nonbelievers, through the shared culture of what it means to be truly human, to seek love and to pursue justice.”
We can invoke his intercession with this prayer, part of a novena in honor of Saint George:
Faithful servant of God and invincible martyr, St. George; favored by God with the gift of faith, and inflamed with an ardent love of Christ, thou didst fight valiantly against the dragon of pride, falsehood, and deceit. Neither pain nor torture, sword nor death could part thee from the love of Christ. I fervently implore thee for the sake of this love to help me by thy intercession to overcome the temptations that surround me, and to bear bravely the trials that oppress me, so that I may patiently carry the cross which is placed upon me; and let neither distress nor difficulties separate me from the love of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Valiant champion of the Faith, assist me in the combat against evil, that I may win the crown promised to them that persevere unto the end.
Susanna Parent is a regular contributor to the BIS blog, speaker and a freelance writer. While a Wisconsin native, she now begins her mornings brewing French press coffee in the home she shares with her husband and children in the Twin Cities. When the sun sets, you’ll find her with friends enjoying a glass of red wine, preferably outside underneath twinkly lights. When not exploring all that the Twin Cities has to offer, she is indulging her wanderlust spirit by brainstorming their family's next new adventure. You can find out more about her here. Read all of Susanna's posts here.
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