Today is St George’s Day and though one would think that as the patron saint of England we know lots about him, there is in reality very little known. St George lived during the 3rd and 4th Centuries dying around 303 a.d. He was supposably an officer in the Roman army serving under the Emperor Diocletian. He suffered due to a profession of faith at a time when Christians were being persecuted, and though the year of his death is uncertain, churches were erected in his honour. For example the church in Thessalonica in the fifth century.
The story of his martyrdom goes along the lines of George being a higher ranked officer who resigned his commission not long after the persecutions started. The Emperor sought to induce him to reject his faith, to which he refused and died by the sword. Before his death his is supposed to have given his property and wealth to the poor.
It may be hard to understand how St George may have any value for us today, especially as it easy to see George as simply a myth and an image alongside the English flag. Yet when we consider what George stood for, perhaps we may see something for us to consider today.
The legend of George killing the dragon are well known, but this symbolises the victory of George as a martyr having a victory over the devil – it is about the spiritual fight between good and evil. One which many Christians are fighting today. And we should also remember that George was prepared to stand up for his faith, at a time when doing so clearly meant death. George ultimately symbolises courageous witness, sacrificial love, and the conviction that following Christ sometimes demands public costly discipleship. These are values that as Christians, living in a world which is challenging the faith we hold dear, should be prepared to uphold, and strive for. A figure of myth he may be, but let us not forget those values that the early Christians cherished, and perhaps start to be more bold in our faith as we live out the Gospel in our society today.