April 23 Saint George (Jiří, Jordi, Victory Bringer, Zorzo) Martyr, Patron of Soldiers.
April 23 Saint George (Jiří, Jordi, Victory Bringer, Zorzo) Martyr, Patron of Soldiers.
(† 303)
Patronage:
against herpes
against leprosy
against plague
against skin diseases
against skin rashes
against syphilis
lepers
agricultural workers
archers
armourers
butchers
cavalry
chivalry
equestrians
farmers
field hands
field workers
halberdiers
horsemen
horses
husbandmen
knights
riders
saddle makers
saddlers
sheep
shepherds
soldiers
Boy Scouts
Crusaders
Order of the Garter
Palestinian Christians
Romanian Army
Teutonic Knights
Canada
England (by Pope Benedict XIV)
Ethiopia
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Lithuania
Malta
Montenegro
Portugal
Serbia
Cappadocia
Catalonia
Palestine
Limburg, Germany, diocese of
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, eparchy of
Ðurdevac, Croatia
Senj, Croatia
Sušak, Croatia
Sveti Ðurd, Croatia
Molsheim, France
Buttenheim, Germany
Freiburg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
Haldern, Germany
Heide, Germany
Airola, Italy
Andezeno, Italy
Appignano del Tronto, Italy
Arcinazzo Romano, Italy
Arcole, Italy
Arena Po, Italy
Bagolino, Italy
Bairo, Italy
Balsorano, Italy
Barbianello, Italy
Baressa, Italy
Battifollo, Italy
Bergantino, Italy
Beura-Cardezza, Italy
Bitti, Italy
Boltiere, Italy
Bonnanaro, Italy
Brozolo, Italy
Campobasso, Italy
Carpeneto, Italy
Casalbuttano ed Uniti, Italy
Casale Corte Cerro, Italy
Casale di Scodosia, Italy
Caselette, Italy
Casorezzo, Italy
Castegnero, Italy
Castello-Molina di Fiemme, Italy
Cavallermaggiore, Italy
Cellatica, Italy
Cerreto Grue, Alessandria, Italy
Chiauci, Italy
Chieuti, Italy
Chieve, Italy
Chirignago, Italy
Cicerale, Italy
Cino, Italy
Claut, Italy
Coggiola, Italy
Corte Palasio, Italy
Costa di Mezzate, Italy
Credaro, Italy
Croviana, Italy
Cumignano sul Naviglio, Italy
Dello, Italy
Donori, Italy
Dorsino, Italy
Endine Gaiano, Italy
Eupilio, Italy
Faggeto Lario, Italy
Ferrara, Italy
Fontanafredda, Italy
Frabosa Sottana, Italy
Genoa, Italy
Gropello Cairoli, Italy
Hône, Italy
Lessolo, Italy
Liscate, Italy
Liveri, Italy
Locorotondo, Italy
Lodine, Italy
Lozzolo, Italy
Lurago Marinone, Italy
Lusevera, Italy
Maccastorna, Italy
Maropati, Italy
Martone, Italy
Maserada sul Piave, Italy
Menconico, Italy
Mezzano, Italy
Mirabello Sannitico, Italy
Modica, Sicily, Italy
Molteno, Italy
Moncenisio, Italy
Monforte San Giorgio, Italy
Montagna in Valtellina, Italy
Montanaso Lombardo, Italy
Montappone, Italy
Montechiaro d’Acqui, Italy
Montecilfone, Italy
Montegiorgio, Italy
Nerola, Italy
Neviglie, Italy
Niella Belbo, Italy
Orio al Serio, Italy
Oriolo Romano, Italy
Ovodda, Italy
Paderna, Italy
Pagnacco, Italy
Pau, Italy
Pecorara, Italy
Pereto, Italy
Perfugas, Italy
Petrella Tifernina, Italy
Piana degli Albanesi, Italy
Piedimulera, Italy
Piovà Massaia, Italy
Pollein, Italy
Porto San Giorgio, Italy
Preone, Italy
Prizzi, Italy
Quartucciu, Italy
Ragusa, Italy
Reano, Italy
Reggio Calabria, Italy
Rhêmes-Saint-Georges, Italy
Riano, Italy
Riofreddo, Italy
Ripi, Italy
Roccabascerana, Italy
Roccaforte Ligure, Italy
Rovagnate, Italy
Ruinas, Italy
San Giorgio Canavese, Italy
San Giorgio Ionico, Italy
San Giorgio La Molara, Italy
San Giorgio Monferrato, Italy
San Giorgio Morgeto, Italy
San Giorgio Piacentino, Italy
San Giorgio a Liri, Italy
San Giorgio del Sannio, Italy
San Giorgio della Richinvelda, Italy
San Giorgio delle Pertiche, Italy
San Giorgio di Lomellina, Italy
San Giorgio di Mantova, Italy
San Giorgio di Piano, Italy
San Giorgio in Bosco, Italy
San Giorio di Susa, Italy
San Roberto, Italy
Sanguinetto, Italy
Sassuolo, Italy
Scapoli, Italy
Segariu, Italy
Sessame, Italy
Sestu, Italy
Siliqua, Italy
Solza, Italy
Stazzano, Italy
Suelli, Italy
Tarano, Italy
Tavenna, Italy
Terdobbiate, Italy
Tires, Italy
Torresina, Italy
Trecenta, Italy
Treglio, Italy
Tresnuraghes, Italy
Tricerro, Italy
Trinità, Italy
Valduggia, Italy
Valgreghentino, Italy
Varenna, Italy
Varzo, Italy
Venegono Superiore, Italy
Venice, Italy
Vicari, Italy
Vico nel Lazio, Italy
Vigolo Vattaro, Italy
Villanterio, Italy
Villaputzu, Italy
Viola, Italy
Zandobbio, Italy
Zimone, Italy
Zumpano, Italy
Beirut, Lebanon
Gozo, Malta
Qormi, Malta
Victoria, Gozo, Malta
Amersfoort, Netherlands
Terborg, Netherlands
Moscow, Russia
Piran, Slovenia
Ptuj, Slovenia
Aragon, Spain
Constantinople
Istanbul, Turkey
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Saint George was born in Palestine of Christian parents, towards the close of the third century. In early youth he chose a soldier's life, and soon obtained the favor of Diocletian, who advanced him to the grade of tribune. But when the emperor began to persecute the Christians, George rebuked him at once for his cruelty, sternly and openly, and announced his resignation. Having foreseen that the words he would say might bring about his death, he had first distributed his wealth and clothing to the poor.
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Young man, Diocletian said to him, think of your future! I am a Christian, George replied, and nothing in this world is the object either of my ambition or my regret. Nothing can shake my faith. He was subjected to a long series of torments, and finally beheaded.
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There was something so heartening in the defiant cheerfulness of the young soldier, that every Christian felt a personal share in this triumph of Christian fortitude. Devotion to Saint George is very ancient and widespread in the Church. A fourth-century church dedicated to him at Constantinople is believed to have been built by Constantine, and his name is invoked in the most ancient liturgies. In Europe, Malta, Barcelona, Valencia, Aragon, Genoa, and England have chosen him as their patron. Even beyond the circle of Christendom he was held in honor, and invading Saracens learned to exempt from desecration the image of the one they hailed as the White-horsed Knight.
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Eternal Father, I wish to honor St. George, and I give Thee thanks for all the graces Thou hast bestowed upon him. I ask Thee to please increase grace in my soul through the merits of this saint, and I commit the end of my life to him by this special prayer, so that by virtue of Thy goodness and promise, St. George might be my advocate and provide whatever is needed at that hour. Amen.