Saint George's Day

George and the Dragon

Who was Saint George and where did the legend of the dragon come from?

Although Saint George is England’s patron saint, George would likely have been a soldier somewhere in the eastern Roman Empire, probably in what is now Turkey – If he ever existed.
He is also the patron saint of: Ethiopia, Georgia and Portugal, and cities such as Freiburg, Moscow and Beirut.
According to legend, George was martyred for his faith under Emperor Diocletian in the early fourth century, and there is a major shrine dedicated to him in Lod, Israel.
The earliest legend that features Saint George slaying a dragon dates to the 11th century.
The tale may have started simply as a way to symbolise the triumph of good over evil.