Several stories have been
attached to Saint George, the best known
of which is the Golden Legend. In it,
a dragon lived in a lake near Silena,
Libya. Whole armies had gone up against
this fierce creature, and had gone down
in painful defeat. The monster ate two
sheep each day; when mutton was scarce,
lots were drawn in local villages, and
maidens were substituted for sheep. Into
this country came Saint George. Hearing
the story on a day when a princess was
to be eaten, he crossed himself, rode
to battle against the serpent, and killed
it with a single blow with his lance.
George then held forth with a magnificent
sermon, and converted the locals. Given
a large reward by the king, George distributed
it to the poor, then rode away.
Due
to his chivalrous behavior (protecting
women, fighting evil, dependence on
faith and might of arms, largesse to
the poor), devotion to Saint George
became popular in the Europe after
the 10th century. In the 15th century
his feast day was as popular and important
as Christmas. Many of his areas of
patronage have to do with life as a
knight on horseback. The celebrated
Knights of the Garter are actually
Knights of the Order of Saint George.
The shrine built for his relics at
Lydda, Palestine was a popular point
of pilgrimage for centuries. |
