Greycliff's Chronicles: Who was St. George?

Was St. George a real person? How did George get missed up with a dragon? When did England adopt George as it's Patron Saint? Read on and find out.

The actual person, George, lived somewhere between the third and fourth century. It is believed George was a son of a Roman officer from Cappadocia (Turkey) and a mother, who was from Lydda. As expected, George followed in his father’s footsteps and became a soldier. Lydia (modern day Lod) is 24 miles from Jerusalem. The story goes that George, who was a member of the Christian faith.

One manuscript, from the time between 350-500 AD, claims George’s father could have been Gerontius and his mother’s name was Polychronia. This was during the rule of the Emperor Diocletian. Gerontius was a pagan bit his wife was a Christian and it was she who converted George. When George rises through the Roman Imperial ranks, he travels to Diospolia. Remember, the Romans worshipped a multitude of Gods. George spoke out against Apollo when he arrived at Court and that didn’t go well. The ruler has him arrested and tortured. One manuscript has George being and tortured, killed and resurrected three times before dying as a martyr. The Emperor was referred to as a “dragon” which was a possible reference for a tyrant.

The word of George’s torment spreads. More people convert to Christianity, even the ruler’s wife changes her faith. Diocletian was angry and issued an edict against Christians from meeting, worshipping, and even had the Praetorian Guard destroy churches and religious texts. Constantine the Great supposedly built a church on honor of the martyr. Stories were told where Constantine was substituted for George. The church was said to have bas-reliefs of Constantine standing over a serpent.

Constantine and his Mother Helena

Evidence of St. George’s followers was found by the sixth century. People believed George had travelled to England. It was also believed George was a friend to Helena, the mother of Constantine and the person who claimed to have discovered “the True Cross”. His name was widespread by the eighth century. It wasn’t until the 12^th, that he was credited with killing a dragon. The story was embellished in the 13^th century via the Golden Legend which told of the valiant knight rescuing a maiden from an evil dragon. The book was written in 1266 and was a collection of tales about the saints by the Dominican Prior Jacobus de Voragine. Previous tales about George involved a serpent.

One story is of particular interest. An Abbot called Austrulph wrote of a lighthouse-shaped casket drifting ashore. When it was opened, various religious artifacts were found inside including piece of the True Cross, a copy of the gospels, and a reliquary holding part of George’s jawbone along with letters of authenticity. The Abbott hitched a pair of oxen to a cart, hefted the casket on the cart and let the oxen wander until they stopped. It was there, at Brix, where he declared a church be built to hold the relics.

Sir Robert of Flanders did his part in promoting St. George. Robert took part in the First Crusade, although as eldest son of his father, Robert I, the Count of Flanders, he took serious chance on risking his life and inheritance. He travelled with Godfrey of Bouillon and Bohemond. During his time in the Holy Lands, he was gifted with an arm said to belong to St. George, himself, by Emperor Alexis. Robert gave the arm to the Church of Anchin and later he founded the Monastery of St. Andrew at Berferkerke near Bruges. The ghost of St. George was said to lead the Christian armies against the Muslim forces during the Battle of Antioch.

The Lionheart believed whole-heartedly (no pun intended) in the legend of St. George. King Richard I of England introduced the Cross of St. George to his people. The flag is a red cross on a white background. Richard invoked George during his Crusades. Too bad the Saint couldn't help Richard achieve his goals.

King Edward III of England brought George to the limelight. A document called the Milemete Treatise was presented to the King by Master Walter of Milemete about 1326 or 1327. The Treatise still exists and it shows Edward being given his shield by St. George. Edward was said to own a vial of George’s blood. Edward started the Knights of the Order of the Garter on 23^rd April, 1348. The Order is based out of St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. The member’s hang their banner’s from the ceiling. The Order still exists today. On 17^th April, 1381, St. George’s cross was added to the arms of London. It was King Henry VIII who declared the arms of St. George to become the official flag of England. April 23^rd, St. George’s Day, is a National Holiday in England.