Stand Strong

Hari OM

Story-day is for cultural exploration, puraanas and parables and finding out about leading lights in spiritual philosophy.

St George's day was on April 23rd. It is barely celebrated in the land where he is most famously the patron saint, England, though in recent years there has been a movement to pay more attention. Almost certainly the whole dragon story is a complete myth... if interested, you can read more about how this came about on the page link which follows shortly. There are a number of other countries who pay homage to this saint, but some of the ambivalence may, in part, be due to the rather sketchy knowledge we have of this personage.  The following is taken from the BBC/Religion site;

Facts in brief

Everything about Saint George is dubious, so the information below should be taken as mythical rather than real.

·         Born in Cappadocia, an area which is now in Turkey

o    The story of Saint George is so wrapped in myth and legend that it's difficult to extract the historical facts of a real life. Some believe he never existed or that he's a Christianised 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 enhanced George's reputation but left the details of his life very blurred.

What we believe to be the truth is that George was born in Cappadocia, an area which is now in Turkey, in the 3rd century; that his parents were Christians; and that 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.

·         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

o    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.

George tore up the Emperor's order against Christians. This infuriated 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.

·         Beheaded at Lydda in Palestine

·         23rd April was named as Saint George's day in 1222

Patron saint

He is patron saint not only of England but also of Aragon, Catalonia, Georgia, Lithuania, Palestine, Portugal, Germany and Greece; and of Moscow, Istanbul, Genoa and Venice (second to Saint Mark). He's also patron saint of soldiers, archers, cavalry and chivalry, farmers and field workers, riders and saddlers, and he helps those suffering from leprosy, plague and syphilis. In recent years he has been adopted as patron saint of Scouts.

Whether we strip it back to these basics, or indulge in the slaying of the dragon story, what is to be taken is that, yet again, we are given the lesson of standing firm in faith, solid in spirit and fearless in the face of great odds.