In honor of Saint George

According to legend, Saint George was born in Asia Minor, in Cappadocia, as the third son of a noble family. As a young man, he stood out for his strong faith and purity; as a youthful warrior, he achieved victory in numerous battles against pagan rulers, and the legends of the saints describe him as a conqueror of wolves, bears, and dragons. He suffered martyrdom during the reign of the Roman Emperor Diocletian because of his Christian faith. His mission led him to the imperial court, where he endured many trials and performed several miracles, as a result of which thousands converted to Christianity. In revenge, the emperor subjected him to various tortures and sought to take his life, but failed. In the end, he was beheaded; however, according to legend, God took vengeance by consuming the pagan ruler and his palace with fire. Soon after his death, already in the 4th century, he was widely venerated. His cult reached Europe through Roman legionaries who had converted to Christianity. By reshaping ancient European myths of dragon-slaying heroes and sun deities who conquer darkness, he became one of the most renowned saints of Christianity. He is most often depicted on a white horse in the epic moment when he saves the princess of Libya from the dragon. His symbol is a red cross on a silver-white background, representing his belonging to Christ and his later martyrdom. A diadem or crown on his head often symbolizes his close relationship with God and his justification, while the angel above him signifies divine assistance. In his hand he holds a spear with which he pierces the head of the beast; behind him stands the praying princess and the legendary city of Sylena. The dragon, subdued by his horse, is led through the city in chains, and after the inhabitants convert to Christianity as a result of this miraculous deliverance, he cuts off the monster’s head. This part of the legend reinforces Saint George’s triumphant and missionary aspect among believers. In the Middle Ages, he became one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers, who provide assistance in times of trouble, illness, or war.

His feast is celebrated worldwide on April 23 in the Christian world; however, the Hungarian tradition diverges in a unique way (April 24 is his nameday), as our ancestors dedicated April 23 to the revered kings named Béla in the Middle Ages. His veneration during the Árpád dynasty was preserved in our legends and chronicles. King Szent István (Saint Stephen) achieved his victories over Koppány and Ajtony under the banner of Saint George, and in gratitude founded numerous churches and monasteries in his name. In Syria (in the city of Lydda), he rebuilt one of the churches associated with the saint that had been destroyed, after which significant pilgrimages began toward the Holy Land. King Szent László (Saint Ladislaus), in Article 38 of his First Book of Laws, established the obligatory feasts of the ecclesiastical year, including the day of Saint George. The timing of national assemblies traditionally fell on Saint George’s Day or Saint Michael’s Day. The renewal of various offices, the election of city judges and military officials, and even the hiring of shepherds, coachmen, and laborers among the common people were often conducted on Saint George’s Day.

His popularity reached its peak under the reigns of Károly Róbert (Charles Robert), I. Nagy Lajos (Louis I. the Great), and Luxemburgi Zsigmond (Sigismund of Luxembourg). In 1326, King Károly Róbert (Charles Robert) founded the first secular chivalric order in Central Europe, the Order of Saint George (in Latin: Societas fraternitas milite titulo Sancti Georgii insignata), whose members were called to defend the Church, remain loyal to the king, practice chivalric virtues, and protect the homeland. The spiritual continuation of this order can be seen in the Order of the Dragon, founded in 1408 by Sigismund of Luxembourg, whose members were referred to in documents as the Society of Saint George. In this context, the dragon symbolized pretenders to the throne and heretical movements (Hussites, Bogomils), differing from the original meaning of the saint’s struggle. Under the Hunyadi and Jagiellonian kings, it became a symbol of the struggle against the pagan Ottoman Turks. The dragon-toothed coat of arms of the Báthory family from the 15th century is well known, and Stephen Báthory, voivode of Transylvania, achieved his victory over the Turks at Kenyérmező trusting in Saint George’s help, later building a church in his honor in Nyírbátor. Interestingly, despite Islamic prohibitions, even the Ottomans held this saint in a form of respectful fear and left some of his depictions intact. He had previously been the patron saint of Constantinople, and Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent also acknowledged his immense popularity. Adapting traditions, he launched his campaigns against the Kingdom of Hungary on Saint George’s Day in the years 1526, 1532, and 1552.

Among the common people, numerous rites preserve the complex cult of the saint. In spring, the cleansing of wells—interpreted as analogies to the underworld and the dwelling of the dragon—or the blessing of herds with fire and iron chains are forms of purification rituals. These recall that the forces once wielded by the defeated dragon are now under Saint George’s dominion. Similarly, according to folk belief, bathing in fresh dew at dawn on Saint George’s Day brings fertility, health, and protection from harmful forces. The blessing of wheat, the ritual walking of boundaries, and the consecration of newly sprouted branches—especially birch—are all most appropriate on this day. According to legend, during his captivity, when Saint George prayed to God, the pillar he embraced blossomed and bore fruit. These rites are rooted in the allegorical story of the rescue of the virgin: the maiden symbolizes the awakening of the earth and the forces of spring, while the dragon represents darkness and winter. Although the ideas of the Enlightenment and modern rational thought attempted to banish Saint George and the dragon from public consciousness, his memory remains strong to this day. The image of the armored mounted saint, together with King Saint Ladislaus, is deeply embedded in our collective consciousness as a symbol of spiritual strength, helping us recognize our human frailty and weaknesses. Just as the dragon once symbolized evil, today it can guide us in overcoming the weaknesses within ourselves. For the tasks of a knight of Saint George included comradeship, the protection of the vulnerable, the support of the poor, and the strengthening of faith. Let us imagine donning the black hooded cloak worn by these knights, which in all times symbolized the overcoming of instincts—that is, the dragon.

Author: Tamás Sashalmi-Fekete, Knight