Why Is St George Important

The patron saint of England, St George, is one of the most recognizable figures in Christian history. Although the iconic story of a knight in a red-crossed tunic valiantly fighting a dragon to save a maiden might not be true, the more accurate depiction of his life presents an inspirational example of a man willing to die for his faith. He is often called “The Protector of England” and gained status after his death as a martyr and defender of the poor.
St George’s exact birthdate remains in dispute, but historians estimate his birth at around 270 BC. He came from a noble Christian family and quickly joined the army under the Roman emperor Diocletian, who was a friend of George’s father. However, on February 24 in 303 AD, Diocletian passed an order that called for the arrest of all Christians. Those who were not Christian were required to make a sacrifice to the Roman gods. St George refused to denounce his faith by sacrificing to an idol. He also loudly declared his faith in public. Diocletian, not wanting to arrest a family friend, offered St George money, slaves, and power in exchange for a sacrifice. St George refused again, leaving Diocletian to send him to be tortured. St George’s
He turned away from the temptation presented by Diocletian and towards his faith. Actual grace helped St George to discern between good and evil. The dragon in the myth surrounding him is often interpreted as the Devil or anti-Christians. St George fought the dragon, or defied those who aimed to destroy Christianity. Aided by God, St George chose to to be tortured and executed for his faith instead of renouncing it and worshipping the Roman gods. In this way, the story of the dragon is a metaphor for his battle with the sin that would come with accepting Diocletian’s gifts and denouncing his faith. St George demonstrated actual grace through his refusal to betray