Feeling that it is imperative that it lives up to its name, English Heritage has really been ripping into the St. George’s mood. Having burst a blood vessel with excitement over the weekend just gone with a plethora of exciting family-orientated events, its web page has been boning up on the St. George story, with tales of derring-do, and a chance to really understand what the dragon episode is all about.
 |
| English Heritage is making the most of St George's Day |
In line with many patron saints, he wasn’t actually born in the country that now adopts him, but most likely to have been from Cappodocia, that well known enclave of Asia Minor. He was thought to have become a high-ranking cavalry officer in the Army of Rome. He is recognised as a historical figure by Christians because he was beheaded in Lydda, Palestine (in AD 303) for refusing to carry out Diocletian's orders for Christian persecution. Canonisation followed in 494AD by Pope Gelasius.
Edward III’s reign in the fourteenth century turned out to be the turning point in St. George’s fortunes, although whether he was a dragon slayer is open to conjecture. It is not thought likely that St George ever came to England, but he was known here from as early as the eighth century. His reputation for virtue and chivalry became the spiritual inspiration for the Crusaders, and by 14th century the story had gained widespread popularity.
Did you know that :-
• St George is also the Patron Saint of Bavaria, Beirut, Portugal and Hungary, to name but a few. He's also patron saint of soldiers, archers, cavalry and chivalry, farmers and field workers, riders and saddlers, and sufferers of leprosy, the plague and syphilis.
• Baden Powell also named St George is also the patron saint of Scouts, as "St George was typical of what a scout should be."
• At the Synod of Oxford in 1222, St George's Day was declared a public holiday.
• Shakespeare died on St George's Day 1616, and if the story is to be believed, was born on St George's Day, 1564.
No comments:
Post a Comment