[Saint George Feast Day is April 23rd]
(Spring 2011 by request for Anniversary Souvenir of St. George Church – UAE)

After the saints and holy people of the New Testament, Saint George (Giwargis Sahado) is perhaps the most popular holy figure in Christianity. There are churches, cities, counties, regions, islands and even whole countries that have Saint George as patron. His patronage crosses denominational lines as well as cultural and language barriers. How could someone have such a profound impact in this world?

The story of Saint George has transcendent and mythical qualities that speak to Orthodox Christians in the modern world. He is not the only one. Most of the saints of our Holy Church are heroes who instruct us in the fullness of hope, faith and love. Someone once said, “Without heroes, we are just plain people who do not know how far we can go.”

There is an old song called Pugal Periyor – the Song of Saint George. It is mostly sung during processions for Saint George. The song is in Malayalam and narrates the story of Saint George and the dragon. The following verses were translated by Mathew Rosha Varghese in 2010.

In these verses are important attributes of Saint George: ruler, man of prayer, dragon slayer, martyr, and precious gem. In the variations of his story, he is always from a wealthy Christian family who had rank in the military. It is from this training that he is able to slay the dragon. The story of the dragon and the circumstances of the bravery and integrity of Saint George vary in details, but the epic heroic defeat of the dragon is always the highlight. Almost all of the depictions are Saint George on his horse, which is usually white, slaying the dragon with a spear. In some, the white horse with Saint George in the saddle and the dark green or black dragon seem to be caught in a cosmic dance resembling the Taoist symbol of yin and yang. How many of us have the fortitude, skill and courage to face a dragon, enter into the struggle with it and defeat it?

The martyrdom of Saint George, on the other hand, is rarely depicted and the stories also vary. Most of them tell of a brave Christian hero who is asked and coerced to worship falsely. When nothing can be done to move him from his Christian faith, the local king (or Roman governor) orders him beheaded, like St. John the Baptist. Martyrdom is also a profoundly heroic act that demonstrates faith in the kingdom and life to come.

How many of us would die rather than dilute or abandon our faith in Jesus Christ and the Church?

While imprisoned, knowing his fate will be death, he gave instruction to sell everything he owned in Lydda (in Palestine) to assist the needy through the Christian community of Lydda. His body is eventually buried in Lydda in the original Church of St. George. How many of us would give everything we own for the betterment of others?

There is a shrine of Saint George at Beith Jala where it is believed the Prophet Elijah was buried. People of the three faiths pray at the shrine; Muslims, Jews and Christians. According to tradition, St. George can restore sanity to the insane. People with all kinds of mental disease and disorder are brought the shrine and the Orthodox Christian priests will bring the gospel, sprinkle holy water and say prayers for those that come for relief and healing. Among the Arabs, being “sent to St. George” is like calling the crazy. Despite the proximity of prominent shrines and holy places in the Holy Land, local Muslims, Jews and Christians continue to seek St. George’s intercession for spiritual help and healing. How many of us seek the saints’ intercession to help us, our families and friends?

We can look to St. George as a hero to show how far we can go in our faithful actions in this world. We can ask for his prayers and his intercession as he waits for us among the righteous. His prayers, his name and his story have been like ointment in the wounded-ness of our modern world. Can you imagine what the people of his time would say about our modern materialism and our modern anxieties? They would call most us crazy.

So, get thee to Saint George.

May the saint and the hero pray for us and help us.