Happy St George's Day!
- 1 day ago
- 1 min read
Happy ✝St George's Day✝ to all of those celebrating his feast today.
St George was a Roman soldier born around AD 280 in modern-day Turkey who died for his Christian beliefs.
He suffered a hideous martyrdom for his refusal to sacrifice to pagan gods.
According to tradition, a fierce dragon was causing panic in the city of Silene in Libya when George arrived there. To keep the creature from ravaging the city, the inhabitants gave it two sheep each day, but when the sheep were no longer enough, they were forced to sacrifice people chosen by the townsfolk themselves. Eventually the king's daughter was selected, and no one was willing to take her place. George saved her by slaying the dragon with a lance. The king was so grateful that he offered George treasures as a reward for saving his daughter's life, but George refused and urged him to give them to the poor instead. The townspeople were so astonished by what they witnessed that they all became Christians and were baptised
It wasn't until the time of Henry VIII that the St George's cross became the national flag.
He is also the Patron Saint of farmers, soldiers, archers and even… scouts!
His shrine in the Holy Land was venerated (honoured) by not only Christians but also Muslims and Jews.
