One Page. Saint George and the Dragon

Souvenir Sheet Belgium. (Source: Delcampe.net)

Introduction

The tale of Saint George and the Dragon is a legendary story that has been retold in various cultures throughout history. It's a classic example of a heroic narrative, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil. Here's a brief overview of the story: Saint George, a Christian knight, is said to have lived during the late 3rd century AD. According to legend, he was born in Cappadocia (modern-day Turkey) and served as a soldier in the Roman army. The most famous version of the story comes from the Golden Legend, a medieval collection of hagiographies.

Legend

The legend tells of a town called Silene in Libya, where a fearsome dragon terrorized the inhabitants. To appease the dragon, the people of Silene would offer it a human sacrifice, chosen by drawing lots. One day, the lot fell on the king's daughter, who was prepared to be offered to the dragon. As the princess was being led to her doom, Saint George happened to pass by on his horse. Seeing the distress of the princess and the people, he vowed to help them. Saint George bravely confronted the dragon, making the sign of the cross and invoking the name of God. With his lance, he wounded the dragon, eventually slaying it and freeing the town from its terror. In gratitude for his bravery, the king offered Saint George great riches, but he declined and instead asked the king and his people to convert to Christianity. The king and many of the people of Silene converted, and Saint George became revered as a hero and a saint.

Aftereffect

Over time, Saint George became one of the most venerated saints in Christianity, especially in the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church. He is often depicted as a knight on horseback, spearing a dragon, symbolizing his victory over evil. Saint George's Day is celebrated on April 23rd in many countries, particularly in England, where he is the patron saint.

Great Britain 1929.

Great Britain 1951.

Great Britain 2010.

The story of Saint George and the Dragon has been interpreted in various ways, symbolizing different themes such as the struggle between good and evil, the triumph of faith, and the courage to confront and overcome challenges. It has inspired countless works of art, literature, and cultural traditions throughout the centuries.

Meter stamp from Reuver (the Netherlands) with announcement of Historic games ("Draaksteken") in Beesel (1988).

Feast Days

"Saint George's Day", is traditionally celebrated on 23 April. Historically, the countries of England, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Ukraine, Malta, Ethiopia, as well as 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. George (Georgius) of Cappadocia (died April 23, 303) better known as Saint George is also the patron saint of Scouting.

The earliest numismatic depiction of St. George. Coin of Kvirike III, Kingdom of Georgia, ca. 1015.

British 1-crown coin with King George V in 1935.

Image of St. George and dragon on Russion 10-kopekecoin (2006).

Notes

1. The majority of above text was generated by Chat-GPT4 (Artificial Intelligence) with some additions from Wikipedia. 2. The illustrations were taken from my own collection and from Websites on the Internet, mainly Wikipedia and Stampsoftheworld. 3. Suggested Further Reading https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_George

Souvenir cover from Philatelic event in Teruel (Spain), 2023. (Source: Todocoleccion)

Military illustrated postcard (no stamp necessary) from Albania. (Source: ebay)

Thank you for Visiting.

Toon Oomens, Terneuzen, the Netherlands. April 2024.