Behind the Design … from Thomas Glenn Collection

He is patron saint of England, Greece, Portugal, Russia and a host of cities and profession. Canonized in 494 AD, he is one of the most renowned saints in the Roman Catholic Church, Anglican Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, Oriental Orthodox Church, and the Eastern Catholic Churches. He is regarded as one of the most prominent military saints. Who is this epic figure? He is St. George and his chivalric character led to the allegorical fable of his slaying of the great dragon.

While there are no firm dates for his birth and death, sources estimate his date of birth between 275 and 281 AD and his death as April 23, 303. Born in Cappadocia in Asia Minor (now Turkey), his family was Christian and was part of the nobility.

St. George’s myth and legend seems to date back to the 12th century. Storytellers recounted his heroic deeds, which continued to mount through the centuries. By the 14th century, traveling troubadours spread his embellished, but certainly romantic, legend.

In Silene, Libya, there was a dragon doing his part to terrorize that portion of the country. The town of Silene had fed it the majority of their livestock in order to try and satisfy the monster. The monster was not appeased and proceeded to feed upon the townsfolk. Thinking that the dragon must desire an even better sacrifice and set upon offering up their local princess, Cleolinda. At that precise moment, St. George appeared, killed the dragon and rescued Princess Cleolinda. He married her, and the whole town converted to Christianity.