Well, I have certainly offered my opinion previously that the better candidate for patron saint of England would be St Alban. However, on the edge of St.George's day, Garth Hewitt in the Church Times has defended St.George on the basis that it is St.George of Lydda who is meant and that this St.George is really rather a good thing. And he has a point.
Now, if you are not a CT subscriber you won't be able to see what is written. So I will outline briefly Garth's findings and assertions.
In this version St.G is convinced by a vision accompanying the martyrdom of Christians to throw in his lot with their faith and is himself martyred. The story of the dragon is symbolic; the princess is the church he protects the dragon is (as per Rev.13) the persecuting Roman Empire. The saint is shared with Eastern churches including Indian and so is an ecumenical figure. And his identification with a Muslim figure and Elijah makes him a bridge figure between Palestinian faiths. And if that wasn't enough, he has ecological credentials too as a guardian of trees.
Church Times - Why St George is patron of unity and ecology
See also here.And his interesting credentials as a black man are indicated here.
Technorati Tags: England, saint, patron, black, dragon, Roman, persecution
Now, if you are not a CT subscriber you won't be able to see what is written. So I will outline briefly Garth's findings and assertions.
In this version St.G is convinced by a vision accompanying the martyrdom of Christians to throw in his lot with their faith and is himself martyred. The story of the dragon is symbolic; the princess is the church he protects the dragon is (as per Rev.13) the persecuting Roman Empire. The saint is shared with Eastern churches including Indian and so is an ecumenical figure. And his identification with a Muslim figure and Elijah makes him a bridge figure between Palestinian faiths. And if that wasn't enough, he has ecological credentials too as a guardian of trees.
periodically debates about the patron saint of England, and his suitability for the position.
Church Times - Why St George is patron of unity and ecology
See also here.And his interesting credentials as a black man are indicated here.
Technorati Tags: England, saint, patron, black, dragon, Roman, persecution
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