George, Saint, is the patron saint of England, of soldiers, and of the Boy Scouts. George became the subject of many legends. The legend most associated with his name tells how he killed a dragon with a lance, saving the life of a ruler’s daughter. The story of Saint George and the dragon gained wide circulation through its appearance in The Golden Legend, a popular collection of saints’ lives written in the 1200’s by the Italian Dominican archbishop James of Voragine.
No historical details survive of Saint George’s life. According to legend, he became a soldier in the Roman army and rose through the ranks to a high position. However, his open acceptance of Christianity led to his arrest and execution, perhaps about A.D. 303.
During the Crusades, military expeditions to the Middle East in the 1100’s and 1200’s, Saint George became a favorite saint of the European soldiers. About 1348, King Edward III chose Saint George as patron saint of the Order of the Garter, the highest order of English knighthood. Saint George’s symbol is a red cross on a white background. This symbol still appears on the British Union Flag. George’s feast day is April 23. Saint George has been a popular subject in art.
See also Garter, Order of the .
