St George

[Scarlets]

I read recently that St George the patron saint of England had no affiliation with England, had never been to England and was infact Turkish born. Is that true?

[Scarlets]

really? ha. that's going to be no end of entertainment for my Irish friend.

[Alej]

St George is also the patron saint of Catalunya and called Jordi

[cheyenne]

and portugal?

[NetSquirrel]

Yes, it's amazing he's a saint at all really. What did he do again?

[cheyenne]

i think we are dragon this out a bit?

[Scarlets]

Don't most saints do something admirable for their country though? What did good old george do if he never set foot in England?

[beale]

George was adopted as the patron saint of England after he appeared to King Richard in a vision during the crusades. (He is also the patron saint of soldiers so that was quite fitting).

[rod]

http://www.innotts.co.uk/asperges/george.html hope this helps.

[Memphis]

Originally St Edward was the patron saint of England but it changed during the late medieval period (either Edward 1 or III, I cant remember which). It was changed to George because the dragon story was far more dashing and herioc, and of course, more chivalric.

[Peter Pedant]

yeah George was sort of brought back by Richard I

In fact the myth of St Michael killing the dragon was much older and more current in the Middle East, and he isnt exactly historical either - although he is an Archangel, and therefore kinda bigger as far as angels go.

Back in the Sixties, the Pope, John XXIII or Paul VI declared that St George was no longer a saint, for the defects that have been pointed out, and I suppose he went back to being Mr George. England is not a Roman Catholic country so didnt really hear of this.