Martyr · Remembered on April 23
St. George
St. George is remembered on April 23 in Bless’s calendar of saints. Traditionally invoked as patron of England, soldiers, and scouts.
Life
A soldier of Cappadocia martyred at Lydda in Diocletian’s great persecution — one of the earliest and most universally venerated of all martyrs, honored from Ethiopia to England within two centuries of his death. Of the historical George little more is certain, and the Church honors him among the martyrs whose deeds are known to God alone.
The famous legend of the dragon, added a thousand years later, made him chivalry’s patron: the knight who slays the beast to save the innocent became an image of Christ’s victory, and of what every Christian soldier is for.
Patron of
Tradition invokes St. George as patron of England, soldiers, and scouts.
Saints with the same patronage
- St. Augustine of CanterburyEngland · May 27
- St. Sebastiansoldiers · January 20
- St. Joan of Arcsoldiers · May 30
- St. Ignatius of Loyolasoldiers · July 31
- St. Martin of Tourssoldiers · November 11
Patronages are traditional, not an official list. All patron saints in Bless, A to Z.
In the calendar
The upcoming dates, through December 31, 2028, when Bless’s Today screen shows St. George. Where the US calendar keeps another celebration that day, it is named instead and no rank is given.
Readings
No dates are left in Bless’s published calendar, which runs through December 31, 2028. St. George keeps April 23 in Bless’s calendar of saints: see the saints of April.
All the saints of April Born on April 23? A saint for every day
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