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There has been many arguments to replace St George as the English patron saint. He was not English, he is a myth as a Dragon Slayer and most likely a Roman officer, of Palestinian descent, born in Cappadocia in what is now Turkey in about the year 280 AD.
George held the rank of Tribunus Militum, an officer's rank roughly equivalent to a full Colonel in the Roman army and was beheaded by Diocletian at Nicomedia on 23rd April 303 AD, for protesting against the Emperor's persecution of Christians. George rapidly became venerated throughout Christendom as an example of bravery in defence of the poor, the defenceless and of the Christian faith.
In 1222, the Council of Oxford declared April 23 to be St George’s Day and he replaced Edward the Confessor as England’s patron saint in the year 1415. St George became the patron saint of England when English soldiers under Henry V won the Battle of Agincourt. The St George's Cross was adopted earlier by Richard I (Coeur de Lion) in 1189, for Knights tunics partly to distinguish themselves in battle in the Third Crusade against Saladin.
St George is not only patron saint of England but also of:
Bulgaria
Canada
Croatia, Senj
Ethiopia
Georgia
Germany, Rees-Haldern
Germany, Freiburg
Germany, Heide
Germany, Limburg
Gozo
Greece
Israel, Lod
Italy, Ferrara
Italy, Genoa
Italy, Modica
Italy, Nerola
Italy, Riano
Lebanon, Beirut
Lithuania
Malta
Netherlands, Amersfoort
Palestine
Portugal
Russia, Moscow
Slovenia, Ptuj
Spain, Aragon
Spain, Catalonia
Turkey, Istanbul
St George is also patron saint of soldiers, archers, cavalry and chivalry, farmers and field workers, riders and saddlers, and he helps those suffering from leprosy and plague. In recent years he has been adopted as patron saint of Scouts.
St George stands up as an example of heroism that the English seem to admire. Do the English really want to know everything about the reality of fact or fiction in their Saints? St George seems to be what one might want him to be.
In 1940, King George VI felt the need to formally recognise individual acts of outstanding bravery by the civilian population. He decided to create an award for the men and women of the Commonwealth whose courage could not be marked by any other honour. In the right column is a George Cross. Saint George slaying the dragon is depicted on the silver cross.
In 1942 King George VI awarded the cross for the first and only time to a whole population, the Maltese, for their efforts in the second world war. This cross is used on flags and emblems in Malta.
The only other group award was bestowed in 1999, Queen Elizabeth II awarded the George Cross to the Royal Ulster Constabulary.
BBC: Religions and Ethics. Saint George
Britannia: St George. England's Patron Saint
Royal Society of St George: Incorporated by Royal Charter
Wikipedia: Saint George
Woodlands Junior, Kent: Facts about St George's Day
David Woods: The Origin of the Cult of St. George
St George's Holiday.com: Movement for a St George Public Holiday
Recipients of the George Cross:
