Saint George - patron saint of England
St George's day 23 April
Saint George is not only patron saint of England, but also to many other countries, including Greece, Germany, Portugal and Palestine. Saint George is also the patron saint of cavalry and archers.
As a high ranking Roman soldier, St George was beheaded [some texts suggest he was crucified] by Emperor Diocletian at the beginning of the fourth century because he was so vocally opposed to the persecution of Christians. He soon became revered as a role model in the Christian stance of good against evil, and became known as megalomartyros: the great martyr. This spiritual battle is epitomized in the familiar representation of Saint George and the Dragon, thought by many to symbolize St George (on the side of God) battling Emperor Diocletian (on the side of Satan) in the guise of a dragon. Interestingly enough, Diocletian was actually referred to as a dragon in very early texts.
