Saintly Days

It never ceases to surprise me that most English people can remember when my saint’s special day (St Patrick) is – March 17 - but cannot remember when their own special saint’s special day (St George) is. To save you from having to look it up, it is on April 23.

Saint Patrick was actually born in Roman Britain but at the age of sixteen, was captured by Irish raiders and taken to Ireland. Did you know that Ireland has a total of three Patron Saints? In addition to Saint Patrick who died on March 17, AD 461, we have Saint Columba who died on June 9, AS 597 and Saint Brigid of Kildare who died in AD 525.

By contrast, Saint George, patron Saint of England was a soldier of the Roman Empire from the then Greek speaking Anatolia, now modern day Turkey. He is in fact the patron saint of 12 countries including England, Canada, Russia and Greece. He was born to a Christian family during the late third century. His father was from Cappadocia and served as an officer of the Roman Empire. His mother was from Lydda (now Lod in Israel) and she returned to her native country with her young son as a widow. The youth followed in his father’s footsteps and joined the Roman army as soon as he was old enough. He proved to be a fine soldier and by his twenties had gained the rank of Tribune. However George was eventually tortured and killed for his Christian beliefs before Nicomedia's city wall, on April 23, 303.

The episode of St George and the Dragon was a legend, brought back with the Crusaders and retold in England until it became steeped in English folklore.

As I travel in various countries worldwide in the course of discussing the installation of our Acoustic Cleaners within the wide diversity of industrial applications, I always try and learn about local saints and heroes and at least I have a little knowledge of both Saint Patrick and George to offer in exchange.