Saint George

The end of April brings us the colorful feast day of Saint George, or Sant Jordi, on April 23rd. This saint is the patron saint of Aragon and Catalonia, as well as England. Would you like to learn his story? Stay with us…

The story and legend of Saint George

The saint is known as a warrior who fought for the expansion of Christianity and whose legend spread during the time of the Crusades.

This saint, according to the Catholic Encyclopedia, would have suffered in Lydda, also known as Diospolis or Lod, a town in Palestine where there is currently a church dedicated to him.

The same text states that Most of the information known about the character comes from legends., As Father Delehaye, a scholar of the saint, also explains in his work 'Saints Militaires'. However, this does not eliminate the possibility that the stories arose around a historical figure, George of Cappadocia, who is identified as a soldier who lived in the 3rd century.

In the year 303, when Emperor Diocletian ordered the persecution of Christians, George would have officially declared his religious devotion. Martyred for seven days, The future saint is said to have achieved the conversion of Empress Alexandra, who joined him in his martyrdom.

Some legends tell of how he managed to bring a dead man back to life, how he withstood a wizard's potions without dying, and how he was torn to pieces up to three times. Although his remains were burned and buried, on each occasion he supposedly managed to resurrect by the grace of God. However, The most well-known story is that of his fight against the dragon, which represents him as the victor of Good over Evil.

Saint George and the Dragon

This legend was popularized by the 'Golden Legend' or 'Legenda aurea', written by the Archbishop of Genoa, Jacobus de Voragine, around the 13th century. According to this story, the saint saved the king's daughter in Beirut, Lebanon, from the clutches of a dragon to which human sacrifices were offered daily. After killing the creature, the locals embraced Christianity..

History has common elements with the legend of Perseus and Andromeda. The mythical Greek hero also prevented a princess from being devoured by a monster, and in this case, his reward was to take her as his wife.

The legend of Saint George and the dragon It became popular in Europe during the Middle Ages, During the time of the Crusades, its popularity has become so great that it has merged with legends from other parts of Africa or Asia, and often the action takes place not in Beirut, but in other parts of the world.

Authors such as Father Delehaye have seen in this legend a metaphor of the victory of Christianity over paganism, identifying the dragon with Satan and the saint with another Christian mythological figure: the archangel Michael.

Spanish celebrations of their day

Saint George and Aragon

The community of Aragon The city celebrates its patron saint through its own legend. The veneration of the saint dates back to the 11th century. In 1096, the Battle of Alcoraz was fought, in which King Peter I of Aragon was trying to wrest Huesca from the Muslims. When the king of Saraquasta (present-day Zaragoza) came to the aid of the king of Huesca, Peter I prayed to heaven for help.

According to legend, Saint George descended from heaven accompanied by a German crusader knight he had rescued in Antioch after his horse was thrown. Together, they inflicted heavy casualties on the Moorish ranks. This event is said to have sparked the devotion of the Kingdom of Aragon to the warrior saint.

Saint George and Catalonia

April 23rd is also celebrated Saint George's Day in Catalonia, And in the community there is a version of the legend of the dragon that terrorized the town of Montblanc, in Tarragona. From the dragon's blood, a rosebush is said to have sprung forth, whose flowers are an essential element of the Catalan festival.

The anniversary has been celebrated with great enthusiasm since the 19th century, framed within the political and cultural movement of the Renaixença. Since then, it has been a tradition. give a rose to the loved one on Sant Jordi's Day. This Catalan 'Valentine's Day' It joins forces with the Book Fair, resulting in the delivery of a book along with the aforementioned flower.

Saint George in Seville

We found mention of the figure of Saint George in the following heritage sites of the Andalusian capital:

• St. George's Castle, to this day, a Thematic Center for Tolerance. This place served as the headquarters of the Inquisition Tribunal for three centuries (1481-1785) and during the reign of the Catholic Monarchs.

• On the facade and in the main altarpiece of the Church of the Hospital of Charity. The tiles on the façade depict Saint George alongside Saint James and the three theological virtues. Once inside, it reappears as a sculpture by the great sculptor. Pedro Roldán, on one of the sides of the magnificent High Altarpiece. It is the Patron Saint of the Brotherhood of Holy Charity. This foundation was and is dedicated to charity towards the poor and most disadvantaged people, founded in the 15th century. It took in the sick without resources and gave burial to the executed and unclaimed corpses.

If you want to know more about these places, we encourage you to discover the Arenal and Triana neighborhood route, where we will talk about everything related to these splendid architectural and artistic gems of our city. As well as visit with us the Church of the Holy Charity. You can also do both visits in one afternoon or morning; it will be a very good experience. We're waiting for you!