Cry God for Harry, England and Saint George!
Tuesday, 02, Dec 2008 04:46
William Shakespeare (Henry V)
St. George is the patron saint of England, and St. George’s Day is celebrated annually on April 24th.
St. George is one of the most popular Christian saints in history. He is purported to have slain a dragon, and whilst this is probably not the case (!) there is every reason to believe that he was a genuine martyr who suffered at Lydda before the time of Constaine. It is said that George was an officer in the Roman Army, who after confessing to Christianity was held captive and tortured for seven years before being beheaded.
He was first recognised at the Patron Saint of England, albeit unofficially, in the eighth century. By 1222 a national synod at Oxford included a feast in St. George’s honour and in 1348 King Edward introduced the battle cry "St. George for England" and later founded the Order of the Garter, with St. George as its patron.