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[[Image:Saint_George_raphael.jpg|thumb|200px|George & the Dragon, painted by ''[[Raphael]]'']]'''Saint George'''  was a [[Rome|Roman]] soldier from [[Anatolia]] (now modern-day [[Turkey]]), circa 300 AD, who was venerated as a [[Christian]] [[martyr]].  

[[Image:Saint_George_raphael.jpg|thumb|200px|George & the Dragon, painted by ''[[Raphael]]'']]'''Saint George'''  was a [[Rome|Roman]] soldier from [[Anatolia]] (now modern-day [[Turkey]]), circa 300 AD, who is venerated as a [[Christian]] [[martyr]].  

Little is known of his early life, but it is generally held that George was born to a Christian family during the late 3rd century. His father was an officer in the Roman army from Cappadocia while his mother was from Lydia.  After his father's death, George and his mother returned to her home in [[Judea]] (Palestine)<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/saints/george_1.shtml BBC - Religion and Ethics - St. George]</ref> where she provided him with an education.  George followed in his father's footsteps and joined the Roman army, rising through the ranks to become a Tribune by his late twenties and later Comes (count) as part of the Emperor [[Diocletian]]'s personal guard in Nicomedia. Diocletian began a systematic persecution of Christians throughout the Empire. Although George was ordered to participate in the persecution, he confessed to being a Christian himself whereupon Diocletian ordered his torture and execution. George suffered various tortures, including laceration on a wheel of swords, but was eventually executed by decapitation on April 23, 303. He was later honored as a martyr and he is death is commemorated on the date of his death<ref>[http://www.britannia.com/history/stgeorge.html Britannia.com - St. George]</ref>.

Little is known of his early life, but it is generally held that George was born to a Christian family during the late 3rd century. His father was an officer in the Roman army from Cappadocia while his mother was from Lydia.  After his father's death, George and his mother returned to her home in [[Judea]] (Palestine)<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/saints/george_1.shtml BBC - Religion and Ethics - St. George]</ref> where she provided him with an education.  George followed in his father's footsteps and joined the Roman army, rising through the ranks to become a Tribune by his late twenties and later Comes (count) as part of the Emperor [[Diocletian]]'s personal guard in Nicomedia. Diocletian began a systematic persecution of Christians throughout the Empire. Although George was ordered to participate in the persecution, he confessed to being a Christian himself whereupon Diocletian ordered his torture and execution. George suffered various tortures, including laceration on a wheel of swords, but was eventually executed by decapitation on April 23, 303. He was later honored as a martyr and he is commemorated on the date of his death<ref>[http://www.britannia.com/history/stgeorge.html Britannia.com - St. George]</ref>.

The story for which he is most renowned however is legend of George and the [[Dragon]] which was brought back from the [[Holy Land]] by the [[Crusaders]]. George has since become the patron saint of Aragón, Canada, Catalonia, England, Ethiopia, Georgia, Greece, Montenegro, Palestine, Portugal, Russia and Serbia as well as many cities.

The story for which he is most renowned, however, is the legend of George and the [[Dragon]] which was brought back from the [[Holy Land]] by the [[Crusaders]]. George has since become the patron saint of Aragón, Canada, Catalonia, England, Ethiopia, Georgia, Greece, Montenegro, Palestine, Portugal, Russia and Serbia as well as many cities.

In the [[Russian Orthodox Church|Russian]] and [[Greek Orthodox]] Churches George is one of the most venerated saints.

In the [[Russian Orthodox Church|Russian]] and [[Greek Orthodox]] Churches George is one of the most venerated saints.

The banner of St George which is the red cross of a martyr on a white background, and became the flag of England and the White Ensign of the Royal Navy<ref>[http://www.royalsocietyofstgeorge.com Royal Society of St. George]</ref>. The country of [[Georgia]], has a similar national flag.

The banner of St George which is the red cross of a martyr on a white background, and became the flag of England and the White Ensign of the Royal Navy<ref>[http://www.royalsocietyofstgeorge.com Royal Society of St. George]</ref>. The country of [[Georgia]] has a similar national flag.

==George and the Dragon==

==George and the Dragon==