Jerusalem, Europe Brief News – The Feast of St. George, also known as St. George’s Day, has come. Let’s find out the celebrations in honor of, and why is it celebrated?
It is expected that today, many people would join in the chorus of Jerusalem while proudly displaying the St. George’s cross, with some even indulging in a morris dance.
The importance of St. George’s Day has diminished through time, but it is still a significant day in the calendar for some, so here is everything you need to know about the holiday.
What is the Saint George’s Day Celebration?
Saint George’s Day (also known as the Feast of St. George) is celebrated on the 23rd of April. His patronage extends beyond England; he’s also the patron saint of other nations in Europe, including Bulgaria and Georgia. In Brazil, the city of Rio de Janeiro observes St. George’s Day as a public holiday.
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What is the significance of St. George’s Day?
St. George is the patron saint of England, and the date of his death is widely regarded to be April 23, according to legend.
He was reared as a Christian before entering the Roman army, having been born around 280 years ago in what is now Turkey.
According to legend, Emperor Diocletian tortured and executed him for refusing to denounce his Christian religion. Pope Gelasius canonized him as a saint in 494.
Hundreds of years later, in 1098, the Christian knights of the First Crusade were led to Jerusalem by a vision of St. George.
It wasn’t until 1350 that King Edward III made St. George the official patron saint of England after King Richard III fashioned his army’s uniform after his cross. Since the early 15th century, England has celebrated St. George’s Day.
All you Need to Know About sir St. George!
Saint George was a member of Emperor Diocletian’s Praetorian Guard (the Emperor’s bodyguards and spy operatives). When Diocletian found he was a Christian, he condemned him to death by beheading.
This act of religious martyrdom made him a saint, while other accounts say George is someone else. A 16th-century historian, Edward Gibbon stated George was a dishonest bishop who imposed heavy levies on the Greeks to enrich himself. According to Gibbon, the oppressed people kidnapped and murdered George. T
However, this tale originated in Georgia in the 11th century, about a millennium after the genuine St. George died.
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St. George’s Day 2022
St. George’s Day will be observed on April 23 this year, although there are always exceptions to the rule.
The Church of England prohibits celebrating saints’ days between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday, therefore the 23 April. So, if St George’s Day happens within that time, the celebrations are postponed.
