Saint George
Also known as
- Jirí
- Jordi
- Victory Bringer
- Zorzo
- 23 April (Roman Catholic)
- 3 November (Russian Orthodox)
- fourth Sunday in June (Malta)
- third Sunday in July (Gozo)
- 23 November (Georgia)
Profile
Soldier. Martyr. That’s all we know for sure.
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. One of the Fourteen Holy Helpers.
- against herpes
- against leprosy
- against plague
- against skin diseases
- against skin rashes
- against syphilis
- lepers
- agricultural workers
- archers
- armourers
- arms manufacturers
- boxers
- butchers
- castle chapels
- cavalry in general
- cavalry, French
- cavalry, Italian (proclaimed by Pope Pius XII on 23 April 1956)
- chivalry
- equestrians
- farmers
- field hands
- field workers
- fighters
- halberdiers
- horsemen
- horses
- husbandmen
- knights
- pugilists
- riders
- saddle makers
- saddlers
- sheep
- shepherds
- soldiers
- wrestlers
- Association of the Knights of Italy (proclaimed on 11 August 1937 by Pope Pius XI)
- Boy Scouts
- Bulgarian Armed Forces
- Crusaders
- Order of the Garter
- Palestinian Christians
- Romanian Army
- Teutonic Knights
- Worshipful Company of Armourers and Brasiers
- Canada
- England (proclaimed by Pope Benedict XIV)
- Ethiopia
- Georgia
- Germany
- Greece
- Lithuania
- Malta
- Montenegro
- Portugal
- Serbia
- Cappadocia
- Catalonia
- Palestine
- –
- Limburg, Germany, diocese of
- Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, eparchy of
- –
- in Belgium
- in Brazil
- in Croatia
- in France
- in Germany
- Bavaria
- Buttenheim
- Dinkelsbühl
- Eisenach
- Freiburg, Baden-Württemberg
- Haldern
- Heide
- Nebra
- in Greece
- Syros-Milos, diocese of
- in Italy
- Airola
- Andezeno
- Appignano del Tronto
- Arcinazzo Romano
- Arcole
- Arena Po
- Bagolino
- Bairo
- Balsorano
- Barbianello
- Baressa
- Battifollo
- Bergantino
- Beura-Cardezza
- Bitti
- Boltiere
- Bonnanaro
- Bratto, Pontremoli
- Brozolo
- Caccamo
- Calatabiano
- Campobasso
- Carpeneto
- Casalbuttano ed Uniti
- Casale Corte Cerro
- Casale di Scodosia
- Caselette
- Casorezzo
- Castegnero
- Castel Giorgio
- Castello-Molina di Fiemme
- Cavallermaggiore
- Cellatica
- Cerreto Grue, Alessandria
- Cervara, Pontremoli
- Chiauci
- Chieri
- Chieuti
- Chieve
- Chirignago
- Cicerale
- Cino
- Claut
- Coggiola
- Colico
- Colle Sannita
- Corte Palasio
- Costa di Mezzate
- Credaro
- Croviana
- Cumignano sul Naviglio
- Dello
- Donori
- Dorsino
- Endine Gaiano
- Eupilio
- Faggeto Lario
- Ferrara
- Fontanafredda
- Frabosa Sottana
- Genoa
- Gropello Cairoli
- Hône
- Lessolo
- Liscate
- Liveri
- Locorotondo
- Lodine
- Lozzolo
- Lurago Marinone
- Lusevera
- Maccarese
- Maccastorna
- Manfredonia-Vieste-San Giovanni Rotondo, archdiocese of
- Maropati
- Martone
- Maserada sul Piave
- Menconico
- Mezzano
- Mirabello Sannitico
- Modica
- Molteno
- Moncenisio
- Monforte San Giorgio
- Montagna in Valtellina
- Montanaso Lombardo
- Montappone
- Montechiaro d’Acqui
- Montecilfone
- Montegiorgio
- Nerola
- Neviglie
- Niella Belbo
- Orio al Serio
- Oriolo Romano
- Ovodda
- Paderna
- Pagnacco
- Pau
- Pecorara
- Pereto
- Perfugas
- Petrella Tifernina
- Piana degli Albanesi
- Piedimulera
- Piovà Massaia
- Pollein
- Porto San Giorgio
- Preone
- Prizzi
- Quartucciu
- Ragusa
- Reano
- Reggio Calabria
- Rhêmes-Saint-Georges
- Riano
- Riofreddo
- Ripi
- Roccabascerana
- Roccaforte Ligure
- Rovagnate
- Ruinas
- Sacca, Colorno
- San Giorgio Canavese
- San Giorgio Ionico
- San Giorgio La Molara
- San Giorgio Monferrato
- San Giorgio Morgeto
- San Giorgio Piacentino
- San Giorgio a Liri
- San Giorgio del Sannio
- San Giorgio della Richinvelda
- San Giorgio delle Pertiche
- San Giorgio di Lomellina
- San Giorgio di Mantova
- San Giorgio di Piano
- San Giorgio in Bosco
- San Giorio di Susa
- San Roberto
- Sanguinetto
- Sassuolo
- Scapoli
- Segariu
- Sessame
- Sestu
- Siliqua
- Solza
- Stazzano
- Stilo
- Suelli
- Tarano
- Tavenna
- Terdobbiate
- Tires
- Torresina
- Trecenta
- Treglio
- Tresnuraghes
- Tricerro
- Trinità
- Valduggia
- Valgreghentino
- Varenna
- Varzo
- Venegono Superiore
- Venice
- Vicari
- Vico nel Lazio
- Vigolo Vattaro
- Villanterio
- Villaputzu
- Viola
- Zandobbio
- Zimone
- Zumpano
- in Lebanon
- in Malta
- in Montenegro
- Amersfoort, Netherlands
- Terborg, Netherlands
- Białystok, Poland, archdiocese of
- Bronnitsy, Russia
- Moscow, Russia
- in Slovenia
- in Spain
- Constantinople
- Istanbul, Turkey
Readings
Saint George was a man who abandoned one army for another: he gave up the rank of tribune to enlist as a soldier for Christ. Eager to encounter the enemy, he first stripped away his worldly wealth by giving all he had to he poor. Then, free and unencumbered, bearing the shield of faith, he plunged into the think of the battle, an ardent soldier for Christ. Clearly what he did serves to teach us a valuable lesson: if we are afraid to strip ourselves of out worldly possessions, then we are unfit to make a strong defense of the faith. Dear brothers, let us not only admire the courage of this fighter in heaven’s army, but follow his example. Let us be inspired to strive for the reward of heavenly glory. We must now cleanse ourselves, as Saint Paul tells us, from all defilement of body and spirit, so that one day we too may deserve to enter that temple of blessedness to which we now aspire. – from a sermon by Saint Peter Damian
MLA Citation
- “Saint George“. CatholicSaints.Info. 23 April 2024. Web. 1 May 2024. <>