General Discussion

W Bro Petros N. Zenieris

PM of The Lodge of St George No 1152 EC

As the Lodge of St George No 1152 EC will be performing the Master's installation ceremony on Friday, 25 April 2025 (and as the tradition dictates that the installation ceremony should be taking place closer to the celebratory day of Saint George), I am pleased to share some information of the Saint our dear Lodge has been named from.

St George is depicted dressed as a crusader in armour, carrying a long spear with a cross-pointed tip, on a white horse, often killing a dragon.

According to the Hellenic Orthodox Christian Church tradition, which is associated more to the name celebration (in the Hellenic Republic a person’s name celebration is more important than his birthday); soon will be celebrating and honouring the name of St. George.

During that special day people named George (Yiorgos - Γιώργος or Georgios – Γεώργιος in the Hellenic language) usually open up the houses to receive and welcome guests (relatives and friends), who as tradition dictates, they will be treated generously and graciously to food and drinks by the host and his family.

Although there are more than 50 related references of the same name-George- in the Hellenic Orthodox Christian Church, the name of St George being a Great Martyr and Trophy Bearer as he is officially called in the Hellenic Republic, is the most celebrated one.

His life

The exact details of his birth have not been confirmed by historians. He seems to have been born in Cappadocia between 275-285 AD, to the Greek senator Gerontius, a military officer during the time of the emperor Diocletian.

An old manuscript states that he was born in Georgia, initially being a pagan and later converted to a Christian. His mother's name was Polychronia, a Christian and originally from Lydda in Palestine.

At a young age, George joined the Roman army and as an officer he magnificently excelled in his military schools and he became known for his daring heroism as he was distinguished for his courage and bravery.

He initially received the title of tribune. Shortly afterwards, the emperor Diocletian made him a duke (commander) with the title of count (colonel) in the Anikioran regiment of the imperial guard.

He killed the dragon

As a trophy-bearing (military) saint and liberator, he gathered many wonderful stories and traditions, of which the most important is the one that tells of the killing of the dragon and the salvation of the princess.

According to the Hellenic tradition, a beast – a dragon – guarded the water of a spring near a location called Silina in Libya by impeding villagers from fetching water for their daily needs unless a villager who was picked by drawing lots was to be offered as a sacrifice first. When eventually the drawing lot pointed to the Princess, she was saved by a young army officer on his horse by killing the dragon with his spear.

The martyr's end

In 303 AD, when the persecutions of Diocletian against Christians began, George did not hesitate to confess his Christian faith, provoking the wrath of Diocletian, because he held a high military rank and he was his favourite officer. The emperor offered him wealth, land and slaves to convert, but George refused.

He suffered terrible torture but God kept him alive. George was finally martyred by beheading, on Friday, April 23, 303 AD.

The Christians took his remains and buried them with those of his mother, who was martyred the same day or the next.

According to Christian tradition, George's faithful servant Pasikrates, fulfilling his wish, took George's remains, along with those of his mother, and transported them to Lydda in Palestine.

Constantine the Great built a church over his tomb. From there, the Crusaders transported them to the West.

A Saint – patron of many

St George is regarded as the protector of the Hellenic Infantry Army Division and in the image of the dragon, the Greeks saw the Turkish conqueror, which was killed by Saint George.

He is celebrated in other parts of Europe since he was regarded as the Saint of the Crusaders. He is till today, the patron Saint of England. 

Likewise, he is the patron saint of Moscow, Aragon, Georgia and Catalonia, and until the 18th century he was also of Portugal.

Furthermore, St George is associated with all farming activities in all rural areas in the Hellenic Republic, since his name (Georgios - Γεώργιος) is closely associated with land cultivating activities; hence Georgia - Γεωργία means Land Farming and Georgos - Γεωργός means Farmer.

Finally, his name day celebration indicates the arrival of the spring season.