Saint George

He was beheaded at Nicomedia near Lydda on April 23, 303, following his refusal of refuting his faith in Christ and accepting paganism.

He was honored as a martyr by the Christians and his remains were buried in a church in Lydda that’s named after him. His head was taken to Rome where it was preserved in a church dedicated to him.

After his spirit was sighted by the Franks at the Battle of Antioch in 1098 and a year later in Jerusalem, he was made patron saint of England in 1222 and St. George’s Day was declared a feast day.

Saint George is believed to have been born in the late third century around 275 AD or 280 AD in Lydda, Syria Palestine, in a Greek Christian family, to Gerontios, an officer in the Roman army, and Polychronia.

His father died when he was just 14 and then he lost his mother a few years later, after which he moved to Nicomedia to become a soldier under Roman Emperor Diocletian at the young age of 17.

He earned honor and position under Diocletian, since his father was one of the finest soldiers in his army. His excellent service got him promoted as a Tribunus and posted as imperial guard at Nicomedia.

Being a strict disciplinarian, Diocletian sought to unite his empire by popularizing the state religion, paganism, and suppressing the spread of Christianity, probably under the influence of his second chief commander, Galerius.

With rumors of Galerius’ death being plotted by Christians spreading around, Diocletian issued an edict to demolish all Christian churches and arrest all Christian soldiers, which was duly objected by George.

Despite Diocletian’s repeated attempts of converting him and offering him gifts, he stood firm on his decision and defended himself of being an ardent Jesus Christ follower and a loyal Christian.

He was arrested upon Diocletian’s orders after he refused to give in to the latter’s constant efforts. He distributed his property among the poor and freed the slaves before his execution.

His efforts of protecting Christianity from persecution got him imprisoned and executed brutally at the hands of the Roman emperor Diocletian, which eventually contributed in the spread of the religion centuries later.

His admiration and recognition spread across the Eastern Roman Empire and Georgia in the 4th century, where Christianity was gradually introduced and November 23 was honored as feast day by his relative, St Nino of Cappadocia.

His beliefs and values reached the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century, where he was patronized as a saint by Pope Gelasius I.

St. George’s Cross – a red cross on a white background, also known as Colors of Saint George, was adapted by numerous countries in their national flags, namely, England, Republic of Genoa, Georgia, Catalonia, Aragon, and so on.