George 			April 23
Martyr, Patron Saint of England
The beginnings of the story of St George appear to lie in the region of Lydda, a town on the coast of Palestine, where a certain George was martyred about 304. That would make him one of the victims of the attack upon Christians made by the emperor Diocletian in the last and most severe period of persecution before the Christian faith was recognised by the state. Little else is known for sure about George. He was possibly a soldier. His name occurs in many of the early lists of martyrs, and his cult became widespread in the church. He was known in England by the seventh and eighth centuries, though the process by which he became patron saint of England is by no means clear.
The enormous popularity of St George in England seems to have grown up during the crusades. A vision of St George and St Demetrius preceded the fall of Antioch on the First Crusade, and Richard I placed himself and his army under the saint’s protection. According to tradition it was King Edward III who made St George patron of the Order of the Garter in 1348, and whose soldiers first raised the cry, “For England and St George”. Soldiers and sailors began to wear his red cross on a white ground as a sort of uniform. With Caxton’s printing of the Golden Legend in the next century, the saint’s story was widely read, in particular the famous episode of his vanquishing the dragon, a story that is probably no older than the twelfth century and possibly derived from the ancient story of Perseus slaying the sea monster.
For Liturgical Use
George, who was martyred at Lydda in Palestine about 304 in a period of intense persecution, is celebrated as the patron saint of England. Virtually nothing is known of his life or even of his martyrdom. The growth of his popularity in England seems to stem from the time of the crusades. Caxton’s printing of the story of St George, including the famous but apocryphal and medieval story of the slaying of the dragon, enhanced his popularity even further. King Edward III made St George patron of the Order of the Garter.
Sentence
Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honour and glory and blessing.	Revelation 5:12
Collects
Almighty God,
you called your servant George to lay aside all fear
and to confess you even unto death;
grant that we whose banner is the cross of Christ
may triumph over all that is evil,
and serve you faithfully to the end;
through Jesus Christ our Saviour.

God of legend and chivalry,
we praise you for George the martyred soldier saint,
dragon slayer, rescuer of maidens in distress;
we thank you for all the idealism
his name has inspired;
keep us simple, we pray,
and faithful.
Psalms	17:6-16	121
Readings
Bel and the Dragon 23-28	Slaying the dragon
Revelation 19:11-16		The rider on the white horse
Luke 10:17-20		Nothing will hurt you
Post Communion Sentence
Share in suffering like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.	2 Timothy 2:3