ST. GEORGE, MARTYR, PROTECTOR OF ENGLAND, April 23rd
Patron of the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of North America

Collect

O GOD, who makest us glad with the merits and intercession of blessed George thy Martyr : mercifully grant that we who by his aid implore thy bounty, may by the abundance of thy grace receive the same. Through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

For the legend

THE Martyr George beareth among the Easterns the title : The Holy and Glorious Archmartyr, George the Triumphant. However, little more is known of him than the fact that he suffered death for Christ's sake at Lydda, in Palestine, perhaps about 303, in the persecution under Diocletian. Soon after this date, when peace was given to the Church under Constantine, the memory of the Martyr began to be celebrated, and churches were built under his invocation at Lydda and Constantinople. Thenceforth an extraordinary enthusiasm with regard to him grew up among the faithful, first in all parts of the East, and afterwards in the West.

OF OLD time, when Christian armies were about to fight, they were used to put themselves under the patronage of such Saints as George, Maurice, and Sebastian. William of Malmesbury saith that the holy Martyr-Knight George was seen assisting the Franks in the battle of Antioch, in 1098. Whence it is apparent that the Crusaders returned to England with great devotion to this Saint whom they had found to be so much venerated in the Holy Land. And at the Synod of Oxford, in 1222, his feast was decreed a lesser holy-day for England, and in 1415 the Constitution of Archbishop Chichele made it one of the chief feasts of the year. Meanwhile King Edward III had founded the Order of the Garter, whereof Saint George hath always been Patron. And just as Edward the Confessor was venerated as the Patron-Saint of England, so George was venerated as the holy Protector thereof.

FROM early times the East had revered him as the Patron of soldiers. As such, many were the marvels attached to his name, and therefore he accounted as one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers ; that is Saints quick to succour in the time of need by their powerful intercession in heaven. As his fame grew, it was said that he was a Christian Knight of Cappadocia, who went far and wide to the succour of the oppressed. And because he saw how the persecution of the Christians was terrifying some of the weaker brethren into apostacy, he often bore public witness to the falsity of the pagan gods and to the majesty of the one true God. The testimony of his undefiled knightly life, whereby he encouraged and protected Christian folk during the cruel and
bestial persecution of Diocletian, is made manifest in the allegory of the great, maneating dragon which he is said to have tamed, and caused a little maiden to lead about as a meek beast, and debonnaire. For his daring witness he was apprehended, and first subjected to much cajolery to turn him from Christ. Failing which, he was beaten with clubs, and tortured with red-hot irons. Meanwhile the Saviour came often to his Knight to comfort and strengthen him. Wherefrom he took such courage that he withstood many other evils and torture, and finally consummated martyrdom by beheading.

From the Anglican Breviary