Saint George
Martyr
- Feast Day
- April 23
- Life
- d. 303
- Born
- Cappadocia (traditional)
George was a soldier of the Roman army who was martyred at Lydda (modern Lod in Israel) under the persecution of Diocletian, traditionally dated to April 23, 303. The historical core of the cult is attested by the early existence of a basilica at Lydda over his tomb, recorded by sixth-century pilgrim accounts, and by the rapid spread of his veneration across the Christian East.
The Roman Martyrology records his memorial on April 23 and identifies him as a soldier-martyr of Lydda. The legendary accounts of his combat with a dragon, popularized in the West by Jacobus de Voragine's Legenda Aurea in the thirteenth century, are not part of the historical record and were already excluded from his feast in the reformed Roman Martyrology.
His cult was carried throughout the Byzantine world, into Georgia (which takes its name from him), and into Western Europe, where Crusaders particularly promoted his veneration. He was adopted as patron of England under King Edward III, who in 1348 founded the Order of the Garter under his patronage. He is also patron of Portugal, Catalonia, Georgia, and many other places.
Saint George is among the most universally venerated of the soldier-martyrs of the early Church, honored across both Eastern and Western Christianity. His feast on April 23, falling regularly within the Easter season, joins his witness of fidelity unto death to the Resurrection victory of Christ. The Roman Martyrology preserves him as a model of military service rightly subordinated to the law of God.
Patronages
England · Portugal · Georgia (country) · Catalonia · soldiers · scouts
Catholic Churches Named After Saint George
20 parishes on Catholic Church Times share Saint George's name. Find their Mass times, confession schedules, and adoration hours:
- St.George — Schernfeld , DELAWARE
- St. George — Shelby Township, MI
- St.George — Kestert, Rheinland-Pfalz
- St.George — Rathenow, Brandenburg
- St.George — Bad Camberg, Hesse
- St. George Greek-Melkite Catholic Church — Manchester, NH
- St. Anthony St George Catholic Church — Wilkes-Barre, PA
- Katholische Kirche St. Georgen — St. Gallen
- St. George Byzantine Catholic Church — Bay City, MI
- St.George — New Ulm, MN
- St. George — El Nido, CA
- St. George — Seattle, WA
- St. George — Paterson, NJ
- St. George — Linden, NJ
- St. George — Cranston, RI
- St.George — Konstanz, DELAWARE
- St. George Byzantine Catholic Church — Aliquippa, PA
- St. George Maronite Catholic Church — San Antonio, TX
- St. George — Georgetown, OH
- St. George Parish — St. George West, TX
Sources