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3rd Sunday of Easter A, “The Solemnity St George, Patron of England” (Thursday 23rd April)

St. George’s great appeal to us, may stem from the artistic words Shakespeare attributes to Henry V in Act III: ‘Cry God for Harry, England and Saint George!’ Thus, the English associate George with ideals of honour, bravery and gallantry, but he was not English and never came here. So, while we may be proud to fly the ‘St George Cross’ on our homestead we might want to think twice about drawing them on mini-roundabouts or climbing lampposts if our motive could in any way be one that is misconstrued as lacking honour and tolerance, for George stood up for the Christian outcast, who was vulnerable, innocent and persecuted.

Born in Lydda, he was a Roman Solider and in 302AD Emperor Diocletian issued an edict that every Christian in the army be arrested and that all soldiers should offer sacrifice to the ‘roman gods’. George protested and Diocletian attempted to buy his silence, for he was a popular officer. Instead, George proclaimed his own faith in Christ and so, Diocletian tortured and executed him. What about the slaying of the dragon in Silene, Libya? It is seen in Eastern Orthodox Iconography, and the Crusaders brought the legend home to England. It was so popular that the ‘Council of Oxford’ declared George as England’s Patron. While we do not dismiss any tradition out of hand, the first record of it dates to 700 years after his birth, so, its provenance is low. It is, then, an allegory, the ‘dragon’ being any attitude seeking to attack the Church. So, happy Feast Day, one of love, respect, tolerance; full of virtue and truth.

Fr. Simon.