The Holy Great-Martyr George

A soldier of Christ

Saint George was born in the late third century in Cappadocia, of Christian parents; his father died a martyr. The young George took refuge with his mother in Palestine, entered the Roman army, and distinguished himself with such courage that he was raised to the rank of military tribune in the imperial guard of the Emperor Diocletian.

When Diocletian unleashed his great persecution of the Church, George declared himself a Christian and distributed his wealth to the poor. The historian Eusebius tells of a man “of no mean origin, but highly esteemed for his temporal dignities,” who, stirred by divine zeal, tore down the imperial edict against the Christians that had been posted for public view — a bold act long believed to be Saint George’s own.

His martyrdom

For this confession the saint endured torture upon torture — the wheel of blades, the pit of quicklime, the red-hot shoes, the scourge — and through them all, signing himself with the Cross, he remained unbroken. At last he was beheaded at Lydda in Palestine, about the year 303. The Greeks named him the Great-Martyr, and his tomb at Lydda became a place of pilgrimage for all Christendom.

The holy Great-Martyr George, soldier and trophy-bearer of Christ.

The dragon

The most familiar image of Saint George — the mounted knight spearing a dragon as a princess stands by — comes from a later legend. Riding past a city terrorized by a dragon, George found the king’s daughter sent out as its victim. He made the sign of the Cross and struck the beast down, telling the terrified people that if they would believe in Jesus Christ and be baptized, he would finish what he had begun. Thousands were baptized, and the saint took no reward — he asked only that the king build churches, honor the priests, and care for the poor.

The story of the dragon expresses Saint George’s courage and his trust in Christ. In honoring him, we remember a martyr whose faith endured in the face of suffering and death.

Saint George and the dragon — the victory of faith over the ancient serpent.

Patron of many peoples — and of this cathedral

Churches have borne Saint George’s name since the fifth century, in East and West alike; England took him for her patron, and his red cross still marks her flag. In the icons he is a youth in armor, mounted, his lance ending the dragon. To this parish he is more: our patron and intercessor, whose feast is usually celebrated on April 23, and whose courage before the powers of this world remains the pattern of our confession.