St. George

Saint of the Month, Saint George!

From a Legend of St. George: In the year 280, in a town in Cappadocia, a great soldier and champion of the oppressed was born — the man we now call St. George. His parents were Christians, and they, especially his mother, carefully instructed and trained him in the faith.  When he reached the age of seventeen, he took up the profession of arms. Because he was gifted with good looks, intelligence, and fine manners, he rose quickly to a high military rank.  From the very beginning, the young soldier George had burned with anger at the terrible cruelties inflicted on Christians, and he had spoken out boldly in defense of his fellow believers. His friends urged him to be silent and cautious, but George would have none of it. He knew he might be called to suffer at any time, and he hoped to do better work for the world and die only after braver effort. So he distributed his money and fine clothing among the poor and needy, set free all the slaves he owned, and set out on knightly travels.

One day, riding across the plains of Libya, he came to a city called Silene, where the people were mourning a terrible misfortune. An enormous dragon had come out of a nearby marsh and devoured all their flocks and herds. The monster now lived close to the city walls, and the only way the people could keep him at that distance was by giving him two sheep every day to eat. If they ever failed to feed him, he would enter the city and poison every man, woman, and child with his plague-like breath.  But by now every flock and herd had been eaten. Nothing was left to fill the dragon’s endless hunger but the children of the town. Every day, two children had to be given to him. Each child was under the age of fifteen, and each was chosen by drawing lots. So it was that every house, every street, and every public square echoed with the wailing of heartbroken parents and the cries of the innocent children who were soon to be sacrificed.  Now it happened that the King of the city had one daughter, a girl of rare beauty in both mind and body. After many days of drawing lots, and after many young girls and boys had met an unhappy death, the lot fell to this maiden, Cleodolinda. So, the young princess was led out. She fell at her father’s feet, asking his blessing and declaring that she was ready to die for her people. Then, amid tears and weeping, she was led to the city walls and placed outside them.  She walked slowly and painfully toward the dragon’s lair, for the road was scattered with the bones of her playmates, and she wept as she went.

It was on that very morning that George, bravely seeking to help the weak and strong to serve the truth, was passing by on his knightly journey. He saw the foul road stretched out before him, and, moved by the sight of so beautiful a maiden in tears, he reined in his horse and asked her why she wept. She told him the whole pitiful story. The brave knight answered, “Do not be afraid; I will save you.”

“Oh noble youth,” cried the princess, “do not stay here, or you will die with me. Flee, I beg you.”

“God forbid that I should flee,” George answered. “I will raise my hand against this loathsome creature, and I will save you through the power that lives in all true followers of Christ.”

At that very moment the dragon was seen coming out of his lair, half flying and half crawling toward them. “Flee, I beg you, brave knight,” cried the girl, trembling. “Leave me here to die.”

But George did not answer. Instead, he put spurs to his horse and, calling on his Lord, charged at the monster. After a terrible and drawn-out battle, he pinned the massive creature to the ground with his lance. Then he called the maiden to bring him her girdle. With it he bound the dragon tight, placed the end of the girdle in her hand, and the subdued monster crawled after them like a dog.  Walking in this way, they approached the city. The people watching were struck with terror, but George called out to them, saying, “Fear nothing. Only believe in Christ, through whose help I have conquered this enemy, and live according to His teachings, and I will destroy the dragon before your eyes.”  So the King and the people believed, and they set out to live such a life.  Then St. George slew the dragon and cut off its head, and the King gave great treasure to the knight. But George distributed all the rewards among the sick and the needy, keeping nothing for himself, and then he went on his way of service.

Saint George, pray for us!

Fr. Luke Fleck