Saint George Buttons

The cult of Saint George goes back to the 4th century. From that time he was honored and churches dedicated to him in Syria, Italy, Greece and Gaul. In Venice, he is the second patron after Saint Mark; in 1222 the Council of Oxford appointed 23rd April as his Feast Day. He became the English Patron Saint in 14th Century. He is also the patron saint of Moscow, of Georgia which bears his name, of Aragon.

The legends surrounding Saint George are very varied. One of them concerns the famous dragon, with which he is invariably portrayed. According to legend, a pagan town in Libya was being terrorized by a dragon. The locals kept throwing sheep to it to placate it, and when it still remained unsatisfied, they started sacrificing some of the citizenry. Finally the local princess was to be thrown also to the beast, but Good Saint George came along, slaughtered the dragon and rescued the fair princess. At this the townsfolk converted to Christianity.