Saint George and the Dragon

“Fairy Tales are more than true; not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.”
(G.K. Chesterton)

Today’s feast is of the great martyr, Saint George. Pious legends of dragon slaying notwithstanding, George was a soldier of the Roman army who was killed during the persecutions of Diocletian in the early fourth century. He is venerated in both the west and especially the east, where churches were built in his name less than forty years after his death.

The story goes that his father had served the Roman government for many years, and George had therefore secured a position as one of Diocletian’s personal guards. When the emperor began his persecutions, George turned himself in to his master, who had him tortured and beheaded.

Today’s collect:

Extolling your might, O Lord, we humbly implore you, that,
as Saint George imitated the Passion of the Lord,
so he may lend us ready help in our weakness.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.

Nobody’s really sure where the dragon legend came from, but it must have been early as it appears in both eastern and western accounts of the saint. Here’s the version of the story from the Golden Legend:

Saint George was a knight and born in Cappadocia. One time he came to the city of Silene in the province of Libya. Near this city was a pond, wherein there was a dragon which was poisoning all the country. Whenever he approached the city he poisoned the people with his breath, and therefore the people of the city gave to him every day two sheep to eat, so that he would do no harm to the people. When they ran out of sheep, he was given a man and a sheep. Then an ordinance was made that the children and young people of the town should be chosen by lottery to feed the dragon. Whoever the lot fell upon, wealthy or poor, he or she was delivered to the dragon.

One time the lot fell upon the king’s daughter, and the sorrowful king said to his people, “For the love of the gods take gold and silver and all that I have, but let me have my daughter.”

They said, “Sir, you have made the law, and our children are now dead, but you would do the contrary. Your daughter shall be given, or else we shall burn you and your house.”

Seeing that he could do no more, the king began to weep, and said to his daughter, “Now I shall never see you married.”

Then he returned to the people and asked for eight days’ respite, which they granted to him. When the eight days were passed they came to him and said, “You see that the city is perishing.”

Then the king had his daughter dressed like a bride, embraced and kissed her, gave her his blessing, then led her to the place where the dragon was.

When she was there Saint George passed by, and seeing the lady, he asked her what she was doing there.

She said, “Go your way, fair young man, lest you perish as well.”

Then he said, “Tell me why you are weeping.”

When she saw that he insisted on knowing, she told him how she had been delivered to the dragon.

Then Saint George said, “Fair daughter, doubt not, for I shall help you in the name of Jesus Christ.”

She said, “For God’s sake, good knight, go your way, for you cannot save me.”

While they were thus talking together the dragon appeared and came running toward them. Saint George, who was on his horse, drew his sword, made the sign of the cross, then rode swiftly toward the dragon. He struck him with his spear, injuring him severely.

Then he said to the maid, “Tie your belt around the dragon’s neck, and be not afraid.”

When she had done so the dragon followed her meekly. She led him into the city, and the people fled in fear.

Saint George said to them, “Doubt not. Believe in God and Jesus Christ, and be baptized, and I shall slay the dragon.”

Then the king and all his people were baptized, whereupon Saint George killed the dragon and cut off his head. It took four ox-carts to remove his body from the city.

Is it factual? No, probably not. But is it true? I will defer to the Venerable Chesterton:

At the four corners of a child’s bed stand Perseus and Roland, Sigurd and Saint George. If you withdraw the guard of heroes you are not making him rational; you are only leaving him to fight the devils alone.

(reprint)