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An EnglishAn EnglishGuide toGuide toSt. GeorgeSt. George

8r History 8r History with Mr with Mr BaptistBaptist

St. George – The Facts ?

A lot of the real-life history of St George is unknown, is unreliable or has been totally made up.

The cult of St George predates the Norman Conquest of England in 1066!

The earliest known British reference to Saint George occurs in an account by St. Adamnan, the 7th century Abbot of lona. Adamnan is believed to have heard the story from Arcuif, a French bishop who had travelled to Jerusalem and other holy places in Palestine.

He is mentioned in ninth-century books used at Durham Cathedral and in a tenth-century Anglo-Saxon book about martyrs.

• George's reputation grew with the returning crusaders. It was claimed that he appeared to lead crusaders into battle. This is recorded in stone over the south door of a church at Fordington in Dorset. This is the earliest known church in England to be dedicated to St. George.

• There are also dedications to St. George at Southwark and Doncaster.

• Edward III created the Order of the Garter in 1348 and replaced England’s then patron saint (Edmund) with George and encouraged the battle cry 'St George for England!'

• St George's Day continued to grow in popularity and the 23rd April soon became an occasion for feasting in monasteries across England.

•At the Council of Oxford in 1222, St George's Day was declared a public holiday.

• From the 14th century Saint George was regarded as a special protector of the English.

• English soldiers were called to wear "a signe of Saint George" on chest and back.

• He became, in our popular imagination, English.

• In the 16th century:

• William Shakespeare helped St George to stay in the minds of the English when he wrote Henry V. The English troops are rallied with the cry “God for Harry, England and St George,”

• Edmund Spenser included St. George as a central figure in his epic poem The Faerie Queen.

The George CrossThe George Cross• In 1940 King George VI

inaugurated the George Cross for 'acts of the greatest heroism or of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme danger'.

• The award is usually awarded to civilians.

• Saint George slaying the dragon is depicted on the silver cross.

• In 1963 the Roman Catholic Church demoted St George to a third class minor saint and removed him from the Universal Calendar.

• It was left to individual groups and countries to honour him.

• In 2000 Pope John Paul II restored St George to the Calendar, and he appears as the Patron Saint of England.

The flag of Saint GeorgeThe flag of Saint George

• The flag of Saint George - a red cross on a white background - is incorporated into the Union Flag.

Who was Saint George?Who was Saint George?

• The story of Saint George is so wrapped in myth and legend that it's difficult to decide what is fact or fiction.

• Some people believe he never even existed or that he's a Christianized 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 definitely enhanced George's reputation but left the details of his life very blurry!!

Early lifeEarly life• What we believe to be the truth is that George

was born in the Cappadocia region of central Turkey in the 3rd century.

• His parents were Christians• 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.

Persecution of ChristiansPersecution of Christians

• The Emperor of the day, Diocletian (245-313 AD), began a campaign against Christians at the very beginning of the 4th century. In about 303 AD George is said to have objected to this persecution and resigned his military post in protest.

Torture and martyrdomTorture and martyrdom

• George tore up the Emperor's order against Christians.

• This angered 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.

St. George being sentenced by Diocletian St. George being sentenced by Diocletian

and being beheadedand being beheaded

Stories about St GeorgeStories about St George

Adapted from The Golden Legend:A dragon makes its nest at the spring that provides water for the city of Silene

The people of Silene began to feed the dragon two sheep every day to prevent it attacking them; when the sheep failed, they began to give it one sheep and one man.

The king decreed that the human sacrifice should be chosen by lot. This continued until the king's daughter was selected. The king tried to bargain his way out of it, but the townspeople were adamant that she should be delivered to the dragon just as many of their children had been.

The king embraced her, kissed her and led her to the place where the dragon was.

George, who was passing, asked the lady what was happening. She told him about the dragon and begged him to leave before it appeared and killed him too.

Then said St. George: Fair daughter, doubt ye no thing hereof for I shall help thee in the name of Jesus Christ.

She said: For God's sake, good knight, go your way, and abide not with me, for ye may not deliver me.

As they spoke together the dragon appeared and came running to them, and St. George was upon his horse, and drew out his sword and made the sign of the cross, and rode hardily against the dragon which came towards him, and smote him with his spear and hurt him sore and threw him to the ground.

And after said to the maid: Deliver to me your girdle, and bind it about the neck of the dragon and be not afeard.

When she had done so the dragon followed her as it had been a meek beast.

The princess led the defeated dragon into the city, causing much panic and alarm until George told the people not to be afraid. He said Ne doubt ye nothing, without more, believe ye in God, Jesus Christ, and do ye to be baptized and I shall slay the dragon.

The king was baptized, followed by all his people. George killed the dragon and had it dragged out of the city and its body thrown into the fields.

The king set up a church of Our Lady and Saint George. On the site there sprang up a fountain of living water, which healed sick people that drank from it.

Myths about his martyrdomMyths about his martyrdom

• In the stories George is said to have been tortured in a number of gruesome and hideous ways.

• Among them he was forced to swallow poison, crushed between two spiked wheels and 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 God.

• Immediately, fire came down from heaven, earthquakes 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.

• By tradition, a red rose, England’s national flower is worn in the button holes of jackets.

• In modern times England has not celebrated St George’s day like Americans celebrate the 4th of July; with fireworks and large gatherings.

• In fact, you are still more likely to see big St Patrick’s Day parades in England celebrating Ireland's National Day, more than you would see any sign of St Georges Day being celebrated.

• For most people in England St George's Day is just another ordinary working day

Celebrating St George’s DayCelebrating St George’s Day

• In early 2009 the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, spearheaded a campaign to encourage the celebration of St George's Day

Celebrating St George’s DayCelebrating St George’s Day

• In areas where St George's Day has traditionally been celebrated it has been the responsibility of local groups and organisations to create their own events to mark England’s special day.

Celebrating St George’s DayCelebrating St George’s Day

How we celebrated St George’s DayHow we celebrated St George’s DayWe abandoned our lessons for the whole day!

All of year 7 made a St. George window and re-enacted the story.

Year 8 did the collaborative learning activity involving research and presented their findings in assemblies.

He is also known as The Victory Bringer

Memorial:

23 April (Roman Catholic); 3 November (Russian Orthodox); fourth Sunday in June (Malta); third Sunday in July (Gozo)

Profile:

Soldier. Martyr. That's all we know for sure!

Saint George Quick DataSaint George Quick Data

George is Recognized as a Patron George is Recognized as a Patron of the Followingof the Following

Aragon; agricultural workers; archers; armourers; Beirut, Lebanon; Boy Scouts; Butchers; Canada; Cappadocia; Catalonia; Cavalry; Chivalry; Constantinople; Crusaders; Equestrians; Farmers; Ferrara; field hands; field workers; Genoa, Italy; Georgia; Germany; Gozo; Greece; Haldern, Heide, Germany; Herpes; Horsemen; Horses; Husbandmen; Istanbul; Knights; Lepers; Leprosy; Lithuania; Malta; Modica, Sicily; Moscow; Order of the Garter; Palestine; Palestinian Christians; Plague; Portugal; Ptuj, Slovenia; Riders; Saddle makers; Saddlers; Sheep; Shepherds; Skin diseases; Skin rashes; Soldiers; Syphilis; Teutonic Knights; Venice

So as you can see we share our Patron Saint with quite a collection!

Saint George a SummarySaint George a Summary

• Saint George's Day is April 23.• Saint George is the patron saint of England. • He's popularly identified with England and

English ideals of honour, bravery and gallantry - but actually he wasn't English at all.

• Very little, if anything, is known about the real Saint George.

• Pope Gelasius said that George is one of the saints "whose names are rightly reverenced among us, but whose actions are known only to God."

Facts in briefFacts in brief

• Born in Turkey (in Cappadocia)• Lived in 3rd century AD• His parents were Christian• Later lived in Palestine• Became a Roman soldier• Protested against Rome's persecution of Christians• Imprisoned and tortured, but stayed true to his faith• Beheaded at Lydda in Palestine• 23rd April was named as Saint George's day in 1222• Some people have campaigned for Saint Alban to be the

patron saint of England instead of George.