SAINT GEORGE’S FEAST DAY

 

The feast day of Saint George

Also known as Saint George's Day

Is the National Day in England

Though not a Bank Holiday

Saint George is the patron Saint

Of patriotic Englishmen

 

His feast day is April 23rd

ST GEORGES DAY

 

Don’t bang the drum

Don’t raise a cheer

The liberals might hear

St George’s day

Must pass unnoticed

Uncelebrated

Unheeded

St George

Must remain

Unheralded

No fanfare

No flags unfurled

Lest we fall foul

Of patriotism

Or jingoism

There must be

No displays

Of Patriotic fervour

Or English pride

We must play it down

Let it pass

Lest we offend

After all this is England

SAINT GEORGE

 

Though he is immortalized in the tale

Of Saint George and the Dragon

It is as one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers

That his patronage is built upon

THE FOURTEEN HOLY HELPERS – GEORGE

The Fourteen Holy Helpers are a group of saints venerated together in Roman Catholicism because their intercession was believed to be particularly effective against various diseases.

This group of “helpers in need” originated in 14th century Rhineland, due largely as a result of the epidemic that grew to become the Black Death, but their veneration spread almost as quickly as the plague

Saint George was a Greek who became an officer in the Roman army.

His father was the Greek Gerondios from Cappadocia, Asia Minor, while his mother was from the city Lydda, which was a Greek city in Palestine dating from the times of the conquest of Alexander the Great.

It was ironic that George became an officer in the Roman army in the Guard of Diocletian who was ultimately the emperor who put him to death for his beliefs.

He has a great many Patronages around the world, as well as a wide range of professions, organizations and disease sufferers and domestic animals.

St Georges Day is celebrated on April 23rd. 

THE DRAGON SLAYER

 

Long, long ago in an eastern land

There did a heathen city stand

A city besieged by a malevolent beast

Who upon the people’s flesh did feast

Poisoning victims with rancid breath

The dragon then consumed their flesh

The Kings own daughter a maiden fair

Would be sacrificed at the dragon’s lair

In bridal white which showed virginity

She embraced her fate with dignity

Then came George a chivalrous night

Upon the field the creature to fight

 

The beast reared up he took his chance

And disabled the dragon with his lance

The wounded beast fell to the ground

He captured it then and had it bound

He would kill it if that they yearned

If the people to Christianity turned

When fifteen thousand souls agreed

He dispatched the dragon from his steed

So, a legend born in Christian prayer

The tale of George the dragon slayer

GEORGE OF LYDDA

 

Emperor of Rome Diocletian

Persecuted people’s Christian

And in the Roman Empire wide

Were the Christian martyrs tried

 

George the champion knight

Bearer of Christendom’s light

Tried for love of Christ divine

Was put to death in Palestine

 

Seven hundred years had gone

The Crusaders holy war raged on

When defeat at Antioch was feared

A vision of Saint George appeared

 

The English soldiers rallying

Fighting brave for God and King

Against the odds with fewer men

They win victory over the Saracen

 

Champion knight of Christendom

The patron saint of our kingdom

George the saint both now and then

The patron saint of Englishmen