- 23
- Apr.
- 2025
Traditionally celebrated on April 23, St. George’s Day holds a special place in the English calendar. In 2025, however, the Church of England decided to postpone its liturgical celebration to Monday, April 28. This postponement follows an ancient liturgical rule: when a saint’s feast day falls during the Easter Octave, it is moved so as not to overshadow the greatest Christian solemnity.
Nevertheless, the civil and cultural celebrations did take place. In London, the customary Downing Street reception was held on April 22, showcasing England’s music, traditions, and heritage.
From Cappadocia to the Throne of England: The Making of a National Myth
St. George’s story begins far from England’s mists. Born in Cappadocia in the third century, he served in the Roman army and was martyred for refusing to renounce his Christian faith. His legend first spread in the East before reaching Europe via the Crusaders, who were captivated by the tale of the knight who slays a dragon to save a young woman and a kingdom.
In England, it was under the reign of Edward III that St. George established himself as a national symbol. In 1348, the king founded the Order of the Garter, placing it under the saint’s protection. The red cross on a white background, associated with St. George, gradually became a military—and later a national—banner. From the 15th century onward, St. George’s Day was observed as a public holiday in England, although it lost significance after the Reformation.
Even today, St. George embodies a form of English identity—not ethnic or political, but cultural and spiritual—a people rooted in a narrative of bravery, loyalty, and justice.
The Middle East: An Ancient Soil of Devotion
It is in the Levant that the cult of St. George takes one of its most vivid and oldest forms. In Palestine, the town of al-Khader, near Bethlehem, is dedicated to him. Every year on May 5 and 6, Christians and Muslims gather there for healing rites, animal sacrifices, and processions. The saint is also known there as al-Khidr, a mystical figure in Islam associated with wisdom and eternal life.
In Lebanon, his name graces several places of worship, including Beirut’s Maronite Cathedral of St. George and its neighboring Greek Orthodox counterpart. These two adjacent buildings testify to the unifying role the saint still plays in a pluralistic society, where he is revered by multiple Christian confessions.
A Figure Celebrated Around the World
Besides England, Lebanon, and Palestine, St. George is also the patron saint of a dozen other countries and regions. In Georgia—whose very name derives from his—two public holidays are dedicated to him. In Ethiopia, he has been honored as protector of the nation since the victory at Adwa over the Italians. In Catalonia, April 23 is also celebrated as the Day of the Book and the Rose, a popular cultural festival in honor of Sant Jordi.
From the Balkans to East Africa, from the Caucasus to Cornwall, the legend of St. George crosses languages, rites, and peoples—proof that a tale of courage, rooted in martyrdom and faith, can still unite in a fragmented world.
Comments