St George has left the Chat
As we move into the annual shrug that the English give towards their patron saint, St George, I can’t help wondering how St George would be feeling about the English right now. St George moved from Cappodocia to his mother’s land of Palestine after the death of his father. He became a soldier in the Roman army, the army of the occupying power of Palestine at that time. Legend has it that he was tortured and then martyred for refusing to renounce his Christian faith. His body was returned to Lydda – now known as Lodd – where a church was built in his name. The other legend of St George is that he slayed the dragon that had taken the King of Libya’s daughter and returned the Princess to home. In gratitude, the king’s subjects all became baptised in the Christian faith, and George married the Princess. It is this story that became the legend of chivalry that medieval knights aspired to.
On our Saint’s day, it is difficult to reconcile the current Church and State with George.
If he were here, he would see the Church, for whom he gave his life, remain silent as his fellow Palestinians are martyred on a daily basis. He would see Ministers of State raise his flag in his honour, while apparently siding with the Dragon.
I’m not sure George would want to be our patron saint right now. We certainly don’t seem to be living up to his ideals.
A modern George would certainly be blocking us on his socials. George has left the Chat.