Born in Cappadocia; died c. 303. Many legends have gathered
around the name of Saint George and there are differing accounts
of his origin. There is evidence that George was a real martyr
who suffered at Diospolis (Lydda, Ludd) in Palestine before the
time of Constantine, probably under Diocletian.
Later he took refuge in Palestine, where he became a Roman soldier and displayed courage. He is said to have been raised to the rank of military tribune of the imperial guards. On his mother's death he inherited a fortune and attached himself to the court of the Emperor Diocletian in the hope of finding advancement.
Once when the emperor was present, heathen priests were consulting the entrails of animals to foretell the future. Those Christians among the guards made the Sign of the Cross on their foreheads. The emperor was extremely angry and ordered them flogged and dismissed. He then sent out an edict ordering the Christian clergy to make sacrifice to the pagan gods.
On the outbreak of persecution, George declared himself a Christian and distributed his money to the poor. When the decree which preceded the persecution was published, "a certain man took it as it was posted up for public inspection, and tore it to shreds as a most profane and wicked act." This man is believed to have been Saint George. As a result, he was subjected to nameless tortures over a period of seven years. One version says that by making the Sign of the Cross, he remained unhurt in all these trials. Frustrated that their tortures had little effect, George was beheaded.
His story also takes other forms, mainly legendary, the most familiar of which concerns his fight with the dragon. It is said that George was riding through the province of Lybia (Libya?), and came to a city named Sylene. Nearby was a marsh where a dragon lived. The people had tried to kill it but were poisoned by its breath. To placate the dragon, they gave it two sheep each day, but when they ran out of sheep, they had to substitute a human instead, using a lottery to determine who would be sacrificed. At the time of George's arrival, the lot had just fallen to the king's daughter. She was dressed in bridal finery and sent to meet the dragon.
George rode in upon this scene. The princess urged him to hurry on so that he would not also die. Instead of acting prudently (according to the wisdom of the world), George made the Sign of the Cross and then attacked the dragon. After an energetic battle, the saint peared it with his lance. He then fastened the princess's girdle around its neck, and the girl led the dragon into the city. The people were frightened and started to run away, but George told them not to be afraid--that if the whole city would believe in Jesus Christ and be baptised, he would slay the dragon. The "dragon" initially connoted the evils of paganism that were overcome by the saints (primarily missionaries). But the symbol gave rise to legends of deliverance from fierce dragons that were intent upon devouring whole populations.
Saint George is the patron of England, the Order of the Garter, Boy Scouts, the Italian cavalry, chivalry, Istanbul, Aragon, Portugal, Germany, Genoa, and Venice.