St George's Day

St George’s Day

To God, to our Monarch and to St George! Is what we used to chant at Sunday School.

St George was a Roman soldier. He was probably quite a high ranking soldier, or just extremely brave. St George objected to the killing and persecution of thousands of Christians by the Romans, and as a result, he himself was killed for his belief in God. He was a martyr and that’s why there is a red cross on the English flag, representing blood.

No one really knows where the story of the dragon comes from. Some say the dragon is the symbol of death or of Satan, and St George stood up for his faith by fighting evil. Or maybe the dragon is just a story, to tell people just how brave and bold St George really was. In fact, no one is really certain whether or not St George himself came to England. It was the Normans during the time of the crusades who saw St George in a vision and were victorious in their battle. From then on, St George became the patron saint of those facing persecution because of their faith in Jesus. It was Richard The Lion Heart who really made St George England’s patron saint.

So if St George actually never killed a dragon, and if he never stepped foot on English soil, then why is he the patron saint of England? Only one in five people know that St George’s day falls on the 23^rd April, next week. More than a quarter of the people living in England, don’t know who their patron saint is!

The story and life of St George still has a message for us today. Our country needs to hear the story of St George again. If you go to a local pub next week, the chances are you’ll be able to have a drink to St George, it’s a good way of pubs to make their money and to make you buy more drinks! If you go to a football match, you’ll see the English flag, with St George’s cross marked on it. Well, this is all good, but it doesn’t mean much. None of this pub drinking or football team supporting actually makes a huge difference to our lives. A few years after Beckham dies, he’ll probably be forgotten. There won’t be a pub next door forever. However, here we are, in the middle of England, gathered together, 2,000 years after the life of Jesus, giving thanks to God for St George who laid down his life so that Christians might be free. We are taking part in something that unlike football or the pubs, will never fade away.

St George is not only the patron saint of England, he is the patron of all Christians who suffer for what they believe. He is also the patron saint of Aragon, Canada, Catalonia, China, Ethiopia, Georgia, Greece, Montenegro, Palestine, Portugal, Russia, and Serbia. You may be thinking, well the Christians in this country are free, not persecuted or suffering for their faith. But try being a Christian in China – where it’s illegal and Christians are tortured if caught worshipping God. It wasn’t long ago that Russia relaxed the laws on Christianity, but still its difficult worshipping God there. In Zimbabwe, Anglicans are arrested for their faith or if they are found in their churches. Think of the Christians in Iraq, Afghanistan or in Jerusalem, in the middle of wars. In fact, I think, we couldn’t need St George’s story more in our world today, especially in our country, where people no longer want to believe in God. Despite the attacks and persecutions on Christianity and its believers, Christianity is still here today and is growing throughout the world. St George’s life teaches us that we should be bold in believing and trusting in Christ, who was killed for simply telling people to love each other.

The general elections are coming up soon. What things in our country need to change? What has gone wrong? What things are really important? St George knew the answer and was willing to die for it. And I think deep down, we all know the truth too.

To God, to the Queen and to St George – may we never be ashamed to say that. Amen.