Thursday, October 21, 2010

Saint George is the patron saint of England (Scouting movement). Not much is known about his early life and nothing is certainly know about the man himself. It is estimated that he was born sometime in the year 263AD in Lydia in Jerusalem. St George travelled for months by land and sea until he came to Libya. His parents were from Cappodina a city in present day Turkey. At the time when Emperor Diocletian began his campaign of persecuting Christians. George who was a devout christian himself requested an audience with the emperor and was given his wish. 
               As stated earlier nothing is known about George himself. The earliest source that is available is by, Eusebius of Ceasarea, writing c. 322AD. It tells of a soldier of noble birth who was put to death under Diocletian at Nicomedia on April the 23rd, 303AD. But Eusebius makes no mention of his name, his country or his place of burial. At  this conference he pleaded the emperor to refrain from this practice. Diocletain was outraged by this and commanded George to give up his Christianity. George refused this he was arrested and tortured he then was put to death on April 23, 303AD. This day is known as Saint Georges day. 
                The banner of St. George, the red cross of a Martyr on a white Background shown below was adopted for the uniform of  English soldiers possibly in the reign of Richard 1.
                   St George is well known by the title of 'the Great Martyr' over many churches over the world. Along with the constructions of many churches world wide the creation of art and the spreed of the legend there has also been many genuine devotions and prayers to saint george  have developed over the centuries amoung many christians.
                Some paints include the following below:



 


               Some of the prayers given below have aslo been devoted to saint george:

"The Prayer to Saint George directly refers to the courage it took for the saint to confess his Christianity before opposing authority:[63]
Almighty God, who gave to your servant George boldness to Confess the Name of our Savior Jesus Christ before the rulers of this world, and courage to die for this faith: Grant that we may always be ready to give a reason for the hope that is in us, and to suffer gladly for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
The same sentiment is present within the following two Prayers to Saint George:[64]
St. George, Heroic Catholic soldier and defender of your Faith, you dared to criticize a tyrannical Emperor and were subjected to horrible torture. You could have occupied a high military position but you preferred to die for your Lord. Obtain for us the great grace of heroic Christian courage that should mark soldiers of Christ. Amen
Saint George Prayer:
O GOD, who didst grant to Saint George strength and constancy in the various torments which he sustained for our holy faith; we beseech Thee to preserve, through his intercession, our faith from wavering and doubt, so that we may serve Thee with a sincere heart faithfully unto death. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
There is also a Prayers of Intercession to Saint George:
Faithful servant of God and invincible martyr, Saint George; favored by God with the gift of faith, and inflamed with an ardent love of Christ, thou didst fight valiantly against the dragon of pride, falsehood, and deceit. Neither pain nor torture, sword nor death could part thee from the love of Christ. I fervently implore thee for the sake of this love to help me by thy intercession to overcome the temptations that surround me, and to bear bravely the trials that oppress me, so that I may patiently carry the cross which is placed upon me; and let neither distress nor difficulties separate me from the love of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Valiant champion of the Faith, assist me in the combat against evil, that I may win the crown promised to them that persevere unto the end
The Novena to Saint George does not have a specific warrior context, but simply asks God for divine assistance and the imitation of the life of the saint:[65]
Almighty and eternal God! With lively faith and reverently worshiping Thy divine Majesty, I prostrate myself before Thee and invoke with filial trust Thy supreme bounty and mercy. Illumine the darkness of my intellect with a ray of Thy heavenly light and inflame my heart with the fire of Thy divine love that I may contemplate the great virtues and merits of the Saint in whose honor I make this novena, and following his example imitate, like him, the life of Thy Divine Son."source: Wikipedia        
There also was a legend that was told by many ancient story tellers story was of:


"Ancient storytellers told legends of an Eastern city called Salem where a terrifying dragon lived in a swamp nearby.  The dragon demanded a daily tribute of sheep and cattle.  Soon, after exhausting these food supplies, the dragon demanded the sacrifice of two children a day.  A lottery system was devised to pick the victims.  Cleodolinda, the daughter of the King, was chosen for that day's sacrifice.
As Cleodolinda was sadly proceeding to her doom, along came the knight George.  Seeing the dragon about to gulp down the lovely princess, George promised the citizens deliverance from their troubles.  After making the sign of the cross, he transfixed the dragon with his lance and wounded it with his magic sword Ascalon.  George then had the princess bind the beast with her girdle.  The dragon then became docile and tame, and followed the princess and George back to the city.  There in the market square, George killed the dragon with his lance.
As George was killing the dragon, he told the city citizens that this act was to show the power of God.  Not only was the princess saved and the city relieved, but the people gave up their idols and accepted Christianity.  George was said to have married the princess and lived happily ever after." source: Scouts on Stamps Society International.
               The legend of St George and the dragon took a new lease of life during the counter reformation. The dicoveries in Africa, India and the Americas, in areas which maps had previously shown as populated by dragons, presented vast new fields for church missionary endevours, and St George was once again invocted as an example of danger faced overcome for the good of the church.
              Since the middle ages, the fact and legend about St Georges life story has come to symbolise the victory of good over evil and become part of the local christians traditions, festivals and celebrations that continue to date.

Video udio about Saint George: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9d4Bdn3Mmg

Additional Information:
  • The Church of England is considering rejecting England’s patron saint St George on the grounds that his image is too warlike and may offend Muslims.
    Clergy have started a campaign to replace George with St Alban, a Christian martyr in Roman Britain.
    The scheme, to be considered by the Church’s parliament, the General Synod, has met a cautious but sympathetic response from senior bishops.
  • 'I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips,
    Straining upon the start. The game's afoot:
    Follow your spirit; and, upon this charge
    Cry God for Harry, England and St George!'.
    Indirectly, the spirit of George the soldier saint played a part in modern English history when Sir Laurence Olivier's film of Henry V was issued in 1944 as an encouragement to our armies fighting for the liberation of France.

  



SOURCE:
HENRY V Act 3, Scene 1
Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more;
Or close the wall up with our English dead.
In peace there's nothing so becomes a man
As modest stillness and humility:
But when the blast of war blows in our ears,
Then imitate the action of the tiger;
Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood,
Disguise fair nature with hard-favour'd rage;
Then lend the eye a terrible aspect;
Let pry through the portage of the head
Like the brass cannon; let the brow o'erwhelm it
As fearfully as doth a galled rock
O'erhang and jutty his confounded base,
Swill'd with the wild and wasteful ocean.
Now set the teeth and stretch the nostril wide,
Hold hard the breath and bend up every spirit
To his full height. On, on, you noblest English.
Whose blood is fet from fathers of war-proof!
Fathers that, like so many Alexanders,
Have in these parts from morn till even fought
And sheathed their swords for lack of argument:
Dishonour not your mothers; now attest
That those whom you call'd fathers did beget you.
Be copy now to men of grosser blood,
And teach them how to war. And you, good yeoman,
Whose limbs were made in England, show us here
The mettle of your pasture; let us swear
That you are worth your breeding; which I doubt not;
For there is none of you so mean and base,
That hath not noble lustre in your eyes.
I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips,
Straining upon the start. The game's afoot:
Follow your spirit, and upon this charge
Cry 'God for Harry, England, and Saint George!'
By William Shakespeare.

( source: game spot
HEYHEY_MYMY’S blog
Last updated june 25th 2009

 
 
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