The Legend of Saint George and the Dragon

Saint George is honored all over Europe as the main saint of England. Most people hearing his name start imagining a brave knight in shiny armor slaying the dragon. Unfortunately, not much is known about George’s true identity. Over the centuries, his life facts have been intertwined with fiction and remain mysterious. In this post, let’s try to dig deeper and get closer to Saint George’s real-life story.

Saint George’s true personality

As it has been mentioned above, Saint George is considered the main saint of England. But, in fact, he never visited England. It is believed that he was born in Turkey in the third century and died in the ancient Greek city of Nicomedia, which is now also Turkey. Nor was Saint George a knight. However, he was a soldier in the Roman army. George was also a religious martyr who got executed for his Christian faith. Today, people celebrate his feast on the 23rd of April every year. This day is called Saint George’s Day.

The legend of Saint George and the Dragon

According to the legend, Saint George arrived in Silene, Libya to free the city from the dragon that had already eaten all the sheep and now demanded human sacrifices. Saint George found out that all the young girls had been killed, and only King’s daughter was still alive. A knight who would be able to overcome the vicious dragon was promised the princess’s hand in marriage. Saint George determined to rescue the princess. And he did so by striking the dragon under its wing with the sword. According to the Christian tradition, this legendary battle symbolizes an ongoing battle between the good and the evil.

The legend of Saint George and the Dragon is known around the world and appears in many pieces of religious art. The saint’s unwavering faith has always been a long-lasting source of strength for all Christians. Even these days, his legacy continues to endure and serve as the archetype of medieval courage.