Saint George

Saint George (Greek: Γεώργιος (Geórgios), Latin: Georgius, Arabic: القديس جرجس; died 23 April 303), also George of Lydda, was a Christian who is venerated as a saint in Christianity. According to tradition he was a soldier in the Roman army. Saint George was a soldier of Cappadocian Greek origin and member of the Praetorian Guard for Roman emperor Diocletian, who was sentenced to death for refusing to recant his Christian faith. He became one of the most venerated saints and megalomartyrs in Christianity, and he has been especially venerated as a military saint since the Crusades. He is respected by Christians, Druze, as well as some Muslims as a martyr of monotheistic faith.

Saint George
Portrait by Hans von Kulmbach (c. 1510)
Martyr, Patron of England
Born	Cappadocia (modern-day Turkey)
Died	23 April 303 Lydda, Palestine (nowadays Lod, Israel)[1][2]
Venerated in	Roman Catholic Church Eastern Orthodox Church Oriental Orthodoxy Church of the East Anglican Communion Lutheranism Umbanda Druze faith[3] Islam
Major shrine	Church of Saint George, Lod St. George's Monastery, Al-Khader St. George Syro-Malabar Catholic Forane Church, Edappally St. George Orthodox Church Puthuppally Pally St. George's Syro-Malabar Catholic Forane Church, Aruvithura St. George Forane Church, Edathua St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle
Feast	23 April (Saint George's Day) 6 May (Gregorian when Julian date is observed) 23 Parmouti (Coptic calendar, 1 May)[4] Saturday before third Sunday of Exaltation of the Cross (Armenian Church calendar).[5]
Attributes	Clothed as a crusader in plate armour or mail, often bearing a lance tipped by a cross, riding a white horse, often slaying a dragon. In the Greek East and Latin West he is shown with St George's Cross emblazoned on his armour, or shield or banner.
Patronage	Many Patronages of Saint George exist around the world

In hagiography, as one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers and one of the most prominent military saints, he is immortalized in the legend of Saint George and the Dragon. His memorial, Saint George's Day, is traditionally celebrated on 23 April. Historically, the countries of England, Ukraine and Ukrainian Cossacks,^{[citation needed]} Ethiopia, Georgia, Catalonia and Aragon in Spain, and Moscow in Russia have claimed George as their patron saint, as have several other regions, cities, universities, professions and organizations. The Church-Mosque of Saint George in Lod, Israel contains a sarcophagus believed by many Christians to contain St. George's remains.[6]