Saint George is the patron saint of England - and of Aragon and Portugal. Scholars have differed in their opinions of who Saint George was. One theory is that he was George of Cappadocia, the Arian bishop of Alexandria but the most favoured view is that he was born in Armorica in Palestine and served as a soldier in the Roman Army. He was beheaded on the order of one Datianus during the persecutions of Christians by the Emperor Diocletian on April 23rd AD 303. His martyrdom is mentioned by St Jerome, St Gregory and the Venerable Bede in their writings during the Dark Ages. From the ninth century onwards veneration of Saint George spread throughout the Christian world. The Merovingian Kings of Gaul claimed descendancy from him. He became the patron saint of soldiers and cavalry, of smiths and all those who were concerned with the business of warfare. Richard I - the "Lionheart" made him the patron saint of the Crusades. The Crusaders believed that he had been with them at Antioch in 1098 and aided them in their struggle to win back the Holy Land for Christendom. His banner was an upright red cross on a white background which has now been absorbed into the Union Flag of Great Britain.

In 1222 the Council of Oxford commanded his festival to be observed in England as a holiday of lesser rank and in 1415 his feast day 23rd April, the anniversary of his martyrdom, was raised to a holy day of obligation for the English Roman Catholic Church.

In medieval times it was believed that he would drive out demons and witches and so he was also the saint protecting farmers and those who worked on the land. The Greek word for farmer is "Georgios". Many St. George’s day customs in Northern and Eastern Europe stem from these beliefs. In Germany and Austria boys would crack whips on the eve of his feast day to help the saint drive away devils. In towns and villages in Slovakia, children wearing masks ran through the streets shouting "Rejoice because tomorrow is the feast of St George". In Poland farmers lit fires in their barnyards to frighten away the evil spirits and on the morning of Saint George’s Day dew would be collected and mixed with the fodder and the animals were then driven through the dewy grass to keep them safe from witches and demons. In Alpine lands it was customary to send the animals up to their summer pastures accompanied by the blowing of trumpets on St George’s Day.

He was regarded as the epitome of courage and chivalry and in England when Edward III established the Order of the Garter he made Saint George its patron. It was to be the highest order of Knighthood in the land and is sometimes called the Order of Saint George. Its home is St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle. The George Cross and Medal, awarded for gallantry, carry the symbol of St George slaying the dragon. The story of St George and the dragon which is part of our heritage is an allegory of the triumph of the Christian hero destroying evil which St John the Divine beheld as the image of a dragon. His dragon slaying exploits are re-enacted in the mummers play "Saint George for Merrie England" and it is still performed at festivals today.

Although Saint George’s Day is no longer a holiday in England his flag is flown on churches and other buildings on April 23rd. In the Eastern Orthodox church this warrior saint is still much revered and his image is seen in churches. About twenty years ago the Roman Catholic Church decided to no longer observe his feast day and doubt was cast on his authenticity.

However, St George the dragon slayer, the driver out of demons, the protector of farmers and of those who fought for the Cross is still England’s patron saint. The image of the crusading knight in fall armour wearing the blood red cross on his white tabard, wielding his sword and battling against evil is how we all see him. April 23rd is also the birthday of William Shakespeare and we will leave the final words on George to the Bard himself! From his play "Henry V" King Henry encourages his army before the Battle of Harfleur with these words:-

"Cry God for Harry, England and Saint George"