St. George's Day

Today is St. George's Day. The patron saint of England, Lybia, and Lebanon, George was a soldier who rose through the ranks of the Roman imperial army. At the height of his rank and influence, he confronted the Emperor Dioclesian concerning his harshness and bloody commands. For his candor and courage, George was immediately imprisoned and was soon after beheaded. The legend of George is centered around his slaying of the dragon that had demanded the children of the town of Sylene in Libya. George wounded the dragon and led him back into the town where he proclaimed that he would kill the dragon if the people of the city would covert to Christianity and be baptized. 15,000 citizens were baptized, including the local king.