We should celebrate contributions
On March 17 many celebrated St. Patrick’s Day, but there is nary a mention of the feast day of St. George, the patron saint of England, on April 23.
His standard is part of the Union Jack, which was a part of our flag until the maple leaf was adopted in 1965. That, with some, is still controversial. He, along with St. Andrew of Scotland, has been lost in time. Yet, the Saltire of St. Andrew, who also sits in oblivion, and the cross of Saint George along with Saint Patrick’s Saltire fly as the flag of the UK.
Saint George did not drive snakes away, he did not by some historical accounts ever see the British Isles. However, he was given by many, a place, a profile. The crusades were critical in British history. It is said he was there in spirit, for the English, but Islamic tradition has the persona of St. George as a prophet. His veneration by Jews, Christians and Muslims lies in his composite personality combining several Biblical, Quranic and other ancient mythical heroes.
Who was he? The sources are conflicting but they all agree he was executed by the Emperor Diocletian in 303BCE. He was a Roman officer who let ethics prevail over his own personal advantage. He was martyred for his beliefs. His respect for others, his love for humanity resulted in his demise.
History, real and mythology is so rife with traditions. Yet there is a common thread. Fairness, justice, equality are themes. Indeed, they are absolutes. St. George lived between AD 256 and 285. According to legend, was a Roman soldier of Greek origin and officer in the Guard of Roman emperor Diocletian, who was sentenced to death for refusing to recant his Christian faith. As a Christian martyr, he later became one of the most venerated saints in Christianity and was especially venerated by the Crusaders.
George’s parents were Christians of Greek background, his father Gerontius was a Roman army official from Cappadocia, and his mother Polychronia, was a Christian and a Greek native, from Lydda in the Roman province of Syria Palaestina. In hagiography, as one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers and one of the most prominent military saints, he is immortalized in the myth of Saint George and the Dragon. Numerous countries, cities, professions and organizations claim Saint George as their patron. St. George is also the Patron Saint of Aragon, Catalonia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Greece, Lithuania, Palestine, Portugal, and Russia. He is regarded as the heavenly advocate of a nationhood, place, crafts, activity, class, clan, of family or the person. St. Andrew of Scotland appears to have been common among the Jews, Christians, Islam, and other Hyalinized people of Judea.
No Hebrew or Aramaic name is recorded for him. According to Orthodox, and Catholic tradition, the apostolic successor to Saint Andrew is the Patriarch of Constantinople. Again, he was from his actions a beacon of hope and represents: Georgia, Cyprus, Malta, Romania, East Slavs, Scotland and Spain
Today we struggle with the past the present and the future. We draw lines in the sand. Our history and affiliations are part of who we are and who we want to be. Let us all reflect on our traditions and origins. The saints that we venerate saw no distinguishing criteria. They looked to the person, their efforts and potentials. They celebrated contributions as should we do the same.