George ofLydda | |
|---|---|
 Icon of St. George (Byzantine and Christian Museum,Athens) | |
| Megalomartyr, Wonderworker | |
| Died | 23 April 303 |
| Venerated in | Anglicanism Eastern Orthodoxy Lutheranism Oriental Orthodoxy Roman Catholicism Umbanda Druze faith[1] |
| Feast | 23 April |
| Patronage | agricultural workers, farmers, field workers; soldiers;archers; armourers; equestrians, cavalry, saddle makers; chivalry; peacekeeping missions; skin diseases,lepers and leprosy,syphilis; sheep, shepherds, scouting,Georgia,Ethiopia,England[2],Aragon,Catalonia |
As a highly venerated saint in both theWestern andEasternChristian churches,Saint George is connected with a large number ofpatronages throughout the world, and his iconography can be found on the flags andcoats of arms of a number of cities, regions, and countries.[3][4]
Saint George is a patron saint ofGeorgia, and it is claimed that he is the most venerated saint in that nation. An 18th-century Georgian geographer and historianVakhushti Bagrationi wrote that there are 365 Orthodox churches in Georgia named after Saint George, according to the number of days in one year.[5][6][7] Of the many churches in Georgia named after the Saint, the Cathedral of St. George at theAlaverdi Monastery is one of the largest.
Devotions to the saint in Georgia date back to the 4th century. While not technically named after the saint (Sakartvelo is the Georgian name for the country), its English name is an early and well-attestedback-derivation of Saint George. The terms Georgia and Georgians appeared in Western Europe in numerous early medieval annals, gradually replacing the ancient exonyms of Iberia and Iberians. The French chroniclerJacques de Vitry and the English travelerSir John Mandeville wrote that Georgians are calledGeorgian because they especially revere Saint George.
The Georgian Orthodox Church commemorates St. George's day twice a year, on 6 May (O.C. 23 April) and 23 November. Thefeast day in November was instituted bySt Nino ofCappadocia, who was credited with bringing Christianity to the land of Georgia in the 4th century. She was from Cappadocia, like Saint George, and was said to be his relative. This feast day is unique to Georgia, and it is the day of St George'smartyrdom.
There are also many folk traditions in Georgia that vary fromGeorgian Orthodox Church rules, because they portray the Saint differently from the Church, and show the veneration of Saint George by the common people of Georgia. Different regions of Georgia have different traditions, and in most folk tales Saint George is venerated very highly. In the province ofKakheti, there is an icon of St George known asWhite George. This image is also seen on the current Coat of Arms of Georgia. The region of Pshavi has icons known as theCuppola St. George andLashari St. George. TheKhevsureti region hasKakhmati,Gudani, andSanebi icons dedicated to the Saint. The Pshavs and Khevsurs during theMiddle Ages used to refer to Saint George almost as much as praying toGod and theBlessed Virgin Mary. Another notable icon is known as theLomisi Saint George, which can be found in theMtiuleti andKhevi provinces of Georgia.[5]
An example of a folk tale about St. George is given by author Enriko Gabidzashvili:
Once the LordJesus Christ, the prophetElias and Saint George were going through Georgia. When they became tired and hungry they stopped to dine. They saw a Georgian shepherd man and decided to ask him to feed them. First, Elias went up to the shepherd and asked him for a sheep. After the shepherd asked his identity Elias said that, he was the one who sent him rain to get him a good profit from farming. The shepherd became angry at him and told him that he was the one who also sent thunderstorms, which destroyed the farms of poor widows.
After Elias, Jesus Christ himself went up to the shepherd and asked him for a sheep and told him that he was God, the creator of everything. The shepherd became angry at Jesus and told him that he is the one who takes the souls away of young men and grants long lives to many dishonest people.
After Elias and Christ's unsuccessful attempts, St George went up to the shepherd, asked him for a sheep and told him that he is Saint George who the shepherd calls upon every time when he has troubles and[to protect him from all evil]... The shepherd fell down on his knees and adored him and gave him everything." The tale shows the degree to which St George was venerated in Georgia, and similar tales are told in parts of Georgia today.[5]
გიორგი (giorgi), the Georgian variant of nameGeorge, is historically the most popular given name for men in Georgia.
Traces of the cult of St George predate theNorman Conquest, in 9th-century liturgy used atDurham Cathedral, in a 10th-century Anglo-Saxonmartyrology, and in dedications to Saint George atFordington, Dorset, atThetford,Norfolk andDoncaster. He received further impetus when theCrusaders returned from theHoly Land in the 12th century. At theBattle of Antioch in 1098, St George,St Demetrius andSt Maurice were said to have been seen riding alongside the crusaders, and depictions of this event can be seen in a number of churches.[8] KingEdward III (reigned 1327–77) was known for promoting the codes ofknighthood and in 1348 founded theOrder of the Garter. During Edward's reign, George came to be recognised as thepatron saint of the English monarchy; before this,Saint Edmund had been considered the patron saint of England, although his veneration had waned since the time of the Norman conquest, and his cult was partly eclipsed by that ofEdward the Confessor. Edward dedicated thechapel atWindsor Castle to the soldier saint who represented the knightly values ofchivalry which he so much admired, and the Garter ceremony takes place there every year. In the 16th century,Edmund Spenser included St. George (Redcross Knight) as a central figure in his epic poemThe Faerie Queene.William Shakespeare firmly placed St George within the national conscience in his playHenry V, in which the English troops are rallied with the cry "God for Harry, England and St George," and inRichard III, andKing Lear.
Advance our standards, set upon our foes Our ancient world of courage fair
St. George Inspire us with the spleen of fiery dragons...Richard III. act v, sc.3.
Come not between the Dragon and his wrath...Shakespeare. King Lear. Act I, Sc 2
A late 17th-century ballad,St. George and the Dragon, also claims St. George as an English patron. The ballad compares other mythic and historical heroes with the merit of St. George and concludes that all are less important than St. George.
With the revival ofScottish andWelsh nationalism, there has been renewed interest within England in Saint George, whose memory had been in abeyance for many years. This is most evident in theSt George's flags which now have replacedUnion Flags in stadiums where English sports teams compete. Above thePalace of Westminster, there are six shields above each of the four clock faces ofBig Ben, twenty-four in total, all depicting the arms of St George, representing theFlag of England,London as the capital city of England, and St. George as thepatron saint of England. This symbolism is also repeated in the central lobby of theHouses of Parliament, in an enormous mosaic created bySir Edward John Poynter in 1869, depictingSt George and the Dragon with these arms, entitled "St George for England".[9]
St George's Day is also celebrated each year in London with a day of celebration run by theGreater London Authority and the London Mayor. The UK Houses of Parliament also celebrate St George's Day each year with a reception and other events, organised by theSt. George's Day All Party Parliamentary Group, including providing every MP with a red rose to wear in his/her lapel. The Royal Society of St. George, City of London Branch hold a Banquet on St George's Day either in the Guildhall or a London Livery Hall, they also hold a Christmas Banquet at the Mansion House.
The city ofSalisbury holds an annual St George's Day pageant, the origins of which are believed to go back to the 13th century.[10][11][12][13][14]
TheOrder of St Michael and St George, a British order of chivalry, was founded in 1818, and partly named after the saint.
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Saint George[a] is venerated as the patron saint ofEthiopia and theEthiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church.[17] His figure plays a significant role in Ethiopian religious life, national identity, andartistic traditions. Often depicted on a white horse slaying a dragon, he remains one of the most frequent used subjects in Ethiopianiconography and continues to appear on churches, coins, and national emblems throughout the country.[18]
His veneration is deeply rooted in Ethiopian history and culture, symbolizing divine protection and national identity. During theBattle of Adwa in 1896, EmperorMenelik II reportedly invoked the help of Saint George before leading Ethiopian forces to a historic victory overItalian colonial troops. This victory, which preserved Ethiopia's independence, is often attributed to divine intervention, with Saint George being credited as having appeared on horseback on the battlefield to guide the troops.[19][20] Afterwards,Menelik II commissioned the construction ofSt. George's Cathedral inAddis Ababa to commemorate this victory. Completed in 1911, it now stands as a national symbol of resilience and faith.[21]
One of the most enduring tributes to Saint George is theChurch of Saint George (Bete Giyorgis) inLalibela, a monolithic rock-hewn church dating back to the late 12th or early 13th century.[22] Commissioned by KingGebre Mesqel Lalibela, the church is carved in the shape of a cross from a single block of volcanic rock and is considered a masterpiece of Ethiopian medieval architecture. It is part of theLalibela complex, recognized as aUNESCO World Heritage Site.[23]
His influence also permeated Ethiopian oral tradition, songs, and proverbs as a symbol of courage, righteousness, and divine justice.[24] Throughout the country, numerous communities recount miracles attributed to Saint George, including protection from danger, healings, and apparitions. Annual processions, especially in areas where churches are dedicated to him, reinforce his prominence as a patron and protector.[25]Additionally, his name lives on in Ethiopia's modern cultural and public life with elements like theSaint George Sports Club, based inAddis Ababa, is the country's most successful football club and bears his name and symbol.[26] In the commercial sphere, St. George Beer, produced byBGI Ethiopia, is one of the oldest and most popular beer brands in the country, often associated with national pride.[27] These cultural expressions demonstrate his lasting presence in the moral and spiritual imagination of theEthiopians.[28]
TheEthiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church commemorates Saint George'smartyrdom onMiyazya 23 (May 1) and celebrates additional feast days, including the consecration of the first church dedicated to him onHidar 7 (November 16). These feasts often involve pilgrimages, prayers, and fasting, and highlight the saint's spiritual role as intercessor and protector.[29]
InSpain, Saint George also came to be considered as the patron saint of the medieval and early modernCrown of Aragon, the territory of four currentautonomous communities of Spain:Aragon,Catalonia,Valencia and theBalearic Islands. Nowadays Saint George is the patron saint of both Aragon and Catalonia, as well as the patron saint ofBarcelona (seeFlag of Barcelona) and other historically important Spanish towns such asCáceres orAlcoi (Spanish language:San Jorge,Catalan language:Sant Jordi,Aragonese language:San Chorche).[30]
His feast date, 23 April, is one of themost important national holidays of Catalonia, where it is traditional to give a present to the loved one; red roses for women and books for men. In Aragon it is a public holiday, celebrated as the'National Day of Aragon'. It is also a public holiday inCastile and Leon, where the day coincides with the commemoration of the defeat at theRevolt of the Comuneros.
Apparently, the Englishcrusaders who helped KingAfonso Henriques (1109–85) in the conquest ofLisbon in 1147 introduced a devotion to Saint George toPortugal. Nevertheless, it was not until the time of KingAfonso IV (1291–1357) that the use ofSão Jorge!! (Saint George) as abattle cry, substituted for the formerSant'Iago!! (Saint James).Nuno Álvares Pereira (1360–1431),Saint Constable of Portugal, considered Saint George the leader of the Portuguese victory in thebattle of Aljubarrota. KingJohn I (1357–1433) was also a devotee of the saint and was in his reign that Saint George replaced Saint James as the main patron saint of Portugal. In 1387, he ordered that its image on horse be carried in theCorpus Christi procession.[31]
As part of thePortuguese Empire,Brazil inherited the devotion to Saint George as patron saint ofPortugal. In the religious traditions of theAfro-BrazilianCandomblé andUmbanda,Ogum (as thisYoruba divinity is known in thePortuguese language) is often identified with Saint George in many regions of the country, being widely celebrated by both religions' followers. Popular devotion to Saint George is very strong inRio de Janeiro, where the saint vies in popularity with the city's official patronSaint Sebastian, both saints' feast days being local holidays.
Saint George is also the patron saint of thefootball clubCorinthians, ofSão Paulo. The club stadium isParque São Jorge (Saint George's Park).[32]
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St. George is praised by the Bulgarians as "liberator of captives, and defender of the poor, physician of the sick". For centuries he has been considered by the Bulgarians as their protector. Possibly the most celebrated name day in the country, St George's Day (Гергьовден, Gergyovden) is a public holiday that takes place on 6 May every year. A common ritual is to prepare and eat a wholelamb. St. George is the patron saint of farmers and shepherds.[33]
St. George's Day is also the Day of the Bulgarian Army (made official with a decree ofKnyaz Alexander of Bulgaria on 9 January 1880), and parades are organised in the capitalSofia to present the best of the army's equipment and manpower.
In Russia, the cult of Saint George arrived in the 11th century during the reign ofYaroslav the Wise (1010–19). The earliest icon of Saint George is atStaraya Ladoga, in achurch dedicated to him, dating from the 12th century. The cult, as in Lithuania, displaced that of a pagan deity, the sun god Dazhbog, which involved shepherds bringing their flocks to pastures.[34] Saint George was Yaroslav's patron saint, and also that of his descendantYuri Dolgorukiy (reigned 1149–51 and 1155–57), who founded what was to become the Russian capital city,Moscow, in 1156 (Yuri is Russian for George).
The city'scoat of arms originally displayed a mounted soldier slaying a dragon. However, it was not until 1730 that Saint George was officially adopted as Moscow's patron saint, and the mounted soldier would be interpreted as Saint George. There are several statues of Saint George and the dragon in Moscow, all of which are recent, since theRussian Orthodox Church forbade sculptural representations of saints, and theSoviets discouraged religious emblems.The arms of Moscow also appears on thecoat of arms of Russia, as a small shield on the breast of the double-headed eagle. Two of Russia's highest decorations are called theCross of St. George and theOrder of St. George.
"Đurđevdan" (Serbian:Ђурђевдан – George's day) is aSerbianreligious holiday, celebrated on 23 April by the Julian calendar (6 May by Gregorian calendar), which is the feast of Saint George and a very importantSlava. Đurđevdan is celebrated all over theSerbian diaspora but mainly inSerbia,Montenegro,Kosovo, andBosnia and Herzegovina.
In the Serbian language, St. George is calledSveti Đorđe (Serbian Cyrillic: Свети Ђорђе).[35]
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Saint George is the patron saint ofLebanese Christians,[36]Palestinian Christians,[37] andSyrian Christians.[38]
The 16th-century monastery known as theMonastery of Saint George is nearal-Khader, Palestine. In theWadi Qelt nearJericho stands theSt. George's Monastery.
Saint George is among the most celebrated saints inSyria, especially among the Antiochian churches. The historicalSaint George's Monastery in Meshtaye village near the city ofHoms is aGreek Orthodox religious complex dating back to the 5th century. It consists of three leveled churches from the 5th, 13th and the 19th centuries respectively. The oldest one is entirely built in Byzantine style. The monastery is one of the busiest destinations for local and foreign pilgrims, mainly at the feast of Saint George and the feast of the elevation of the Holy Cross (14 September).
AtMughni (Armenia), there is amonastery dedicated to Saint George, inArmenian Սուրբ Գեւորգ (Surb Gevork). First mentioned in 1278, the monastery is said to contain relics of the saint.[39]
TheChurch of Saint George inLalibela, Ethiopia dates to around 1200 AD.[22][40] The church is dedicated to the saint, and is one of elevenmonolithic churches in Lalibela, a holy city in Ethiopia and a site of pilgrimage.[40]St. George's Cathedral inAddis Ababa is also dedicated to the saint, and the city's main football club isSaint George S.C. A localbeer is named after the saint.[41]
InGreece, there is amonastery on the island ofSkyros devoted to the saint.
One ofMontenegro's islands is calledSveti Đorđe (Serbian Cyrillic: Свети Ђорђе), where there is a monastery devoted to the saint.
AbbotHatto (888–913) of theMonastic Island of Reichenau had a St George's Church erected, after he had received relics from the hands ofPope Formosus. The laterArchbishop of Mainz made a major contribution to spread the veneration of Saint George throughoutEast Francia. TheGeorgslied, a set of poems and hymns to Saint George inOld High German was composed on Reichenau island and the scholarHermann of Reichenau wrote aHistoria sancti Georgii in the mid-11th century, which today is lost.About 1056 ArchbishopAnno II of Cologne had the St George's Basilica erected, one of thetwelve Romanesque churches of Cologne. About 30 years later, formerVogts of Reichenau Abbey established theSt. George's Abbey in the Black Forest. Saint George was also a patron saint of theTeutonic Knights, theState of the Teutonic Order and present-dayLithuania. EmperorMaximilian I (1493–1519), the "Last Knight", chose Saint George his personal tutelar.
Notable Italian churches named for the saint are in theProvince of Ragusa, in the southern part ofSicily, in the cities ofModica (whose patron is St. George) and inRagusa. Both of them are in theWorld Heritage List byUNESCO.
One of the main pilgrimages of St. George in Kerala is at Edappally (Ernakulam District), where the feast is celebrated on 4 May. Edathwa also attracts thousands of pilgrims. Angamaly Basilica is named after St. George. All these three churches areCatholic churches belonging toSyro-Malabar rite. In all Christian families in India, especially Kerala, the name George or Varghese is very popular.There are numerous churches dedicated to Saint George in India, especially inKerala, practicingOriental Orthodoxy, and shrines to the saint. On the banks of theKodoor River in the district ofKottayam in Kerala, the village ofPuthupally is known for its 16th-century St. George Orthodox Syrian Church. The feast of this church, held on May 6 and May 7, attracts pilgrims from all over Kerala. It is one of the largest pilgrim centers of Saint George in India, where they celebrate his feast on the first Saturday and Sunday in May.
A Roman Catholic church dedicated to Saint George in Puthiyathura,Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala, is also a pilgrim centre with an annual St George's Day celebration.[citation needed] InTamil Nadu,Kanyakumari district, Nagercoil Town,Thalavaipuram—a famous church for St George and the people of the town—celebrates the feast of St George for ten days from the second Friday of May every year. There is also a Roman Catholic church inAleppey,Edathua, visited by pilgrims from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
Saint George is the patron saint ofBeirut, Lebanon.[42] Many bays around Lebanon are named after Saint George, particularly theSaint George Bay, at the mouth of theBeirut River, as local tradition identifies it as the site where he killed the dragon.[43]In Lebanon, Saint George is believed to have cleaned off his spear at a massive rocky cave running into the hillside and overlooking theJounieh Bay. Others[who?] argue it is at the Bay ofTabarja. The waters of both caves are believed to have miraculous powers for healing ailing children. A gilded icon of St. George is kept in the Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Beirut.[43]
Saint George is a patron of thePodgorica, the capital of Montenegro. As in Serbia, his day, known in the local language asĐurđevdan (Serbian:Ђурђевдан – George's day), is an important religious holiday. It is held on 23 April in theJulian calendar, corresponding to 6 May in theGregorian calendar.[44]
Saint George (Greek: Άγιος Γεώργιος) is a particularly loved and venerated Saint in Greece. He is the patron Saint of the Hellenic Army and Infantry, as well as the patron Saint of numerous Greek cities, towns and villages includingArachova,Eratyra,Goumenissa,Ierapetra,Nemea,Nigrita,Sidirokastro,Soufli,Vevi, etc., and the island ofSkyros.
InMons (Belgium),[45] Saint George is honoured each year onTrinity Sunday. In the heart of the city, a reconstitution (known as the "Combat dit Lumeçon") of the fight between Saint George and the dragon is played by 46 actors.[46] According to the tradition, the inhabitants of Mons try to get a piece of the dragon during the fight. This will bring luck for one year to the ones succeeding in this challenge. This event is part of the annual Ducasse festival and is attended by thousands of people.
Saint George (Sint Joris) is the patron saint of the cityAmersfoort inThe Netherlands. It also appears on its coat of arms(Stadswapen).
Saint George is the patron saint of the German city ofFreiburg im Breisgau. He also appears on thecoats of arms of several German towns and cities, includingBamberg,Bürgel,Dießen am Ammersee,Eisenach,Mengeringhausen,Schwarzenberg, and, of course,Sankt Georgen im Schwarzwald. He is also a secondary Patron Saint ofMarburg with a statue of George slaying the dragon in the center of the market place in Marburg.
InChennai, India, Saint George was made the patron saint of the city whenFort St. George was built, which was finished onSaint George's day. The English decided to name the fort after Saint George, who became the city's patron saint.
InItaly, Saint George is one of thePatron Saints ofGenoa,Milan andBologna as well as the patron saint ofFerrara,Reggio Calabria,[47]Ragusa,Cellatica inBrescia,Sassuolo andLocorotondo.Saint George is also the patron saint ofSan Giorgio di Mantova (nearMantua)andSan Giorgio La Molara (near Benevento).The historical bank that was the backbone of theRepublic of Genoa, "Repubblica Marinara di Genova", was dedicated to St George, "Banco di San Giorgio". The power of theRepubblica passing from commerce to banking, Genoa lent money to all the European countries and sovereigns, so the power of the "Repubblica" was identified with its patron saint.[48]
Two parishes are dedicated to Saint George in Malta and Gozo, theParish of Qormi, Malta and theParish of Victoria, Gozo. Besides being the patron of Victoria where aSt. George's Basilica, Malta is dedicated to him, St George is the protector of the island Gozo.[49]
In Lithuania, Saint George is the second most important patron saint, afterSaint Casimir. His cult spread throughout Lithuania in the 15th century as a compromise to the former rituals to the pagan spring god Pergrubis, since his feast day in mainlyRoman Catholic Lithuania, as in the rest of the Western Church, falls on 23 April. For most of Lithuania's modern history, the day was celebrated by farmers with offerings of animals in churches and the baking of special bread.[50]Today several Lithuanian towns, includingMarijampolė,Prienai andVarniai, display Saint George on theircoats of arms.
St George's Day is also celebrated with parades in those countries of which he is the patron saint. Also, St George is the patron saint ofScouting.[51] On St George's Day (or the closestSunday), Scouts in some countries choose to take part in a parade and some kind of church service in which they renew theirScout Promise. In the United States, both the Episcopal Church and the Catholic Church (in both the Roman Rite and in Eastern Rites) offer a Saint George Award to adults; theBaden-Powell Scouts' Association holdsSt. George's Scout as their highest youth award; Orthodox Churches offer a Saint George Award to both Cub Scouts and Brownie Girl Scouts.[52]St George is the patron saint of theBoy Scouts of America.[53] As with many otherNATO countries, St. George is the patron saint of theU.S. Army's Armor Branch.[54]
He is also the patron saint of skin disease sufferers andsyphilitic people.[56]
SeveralUnited Nations (UN) peacekeepers also celebrated Saint George's Day during their peacekeeping missions in conflict-stricken countries.
St. George is also the patron saint of Lebanese and Palestinian Christians.
He is also the patron saint of the Palestinian Christian community.
There are several examples of this: "Besides being the patron saint of England and of the Christians of Syria.
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