England / George, d. 304, Feast Day: April 23
A soldier from Palestine fighting for the Roman army in Libya, George killed a dragon that was eating two townspeople a day. He then rescued the king’s daughter and was given a white banner with a red cross on it, which he used to convert the town. George’s cult was brought back to England during the Crusades, when soldiers reported seeing him on horseback. His banner was adapted for soldier’s uniforms and official seals in England.
Other patronages: Aragon (Spain), Catalonia (Spain), Genoa, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Istanbul, Lithuania, Moscow, the Netherlands, Palestine, Portugal, Venice; horses; the Crusades; equestrians, farmers, scouts
Invoked: against herpes, leprosy, snakebite, syphilis