Next to St. Patrick, St. Nicholas, and St. Valentine stands St. George, a saint who has a remarkably universal appeal and has been celebrated for centuries by both East and West.
While his feast on April 23 has not broken into American culture in the same way as other saints, St. George's Day is widely celebrated around the world.
Part of the reason has to do with St. George's close connection to England and how various kings chose him as a primary patron.
One of the highest feasts
The Catholic Encyclopedia explains how, "In 1415, the Constitution of Archbishop Chichele raised St. George's day to the rank of one of the greatest feasts and ordered it to be observed like Christmas day. During the 17th and 18th centuries St. George's day remained a holiday of obligation for English Catholics."
The crusades are often credited as the primary reason why England has such a close tie to St. George, because the knights who traveled to the Holy Land were exposed to the existing devotions to St. George in the area.
What the crusaders found in the Holy Land remains an important part of modern-day Eastern Catholic (and Eastern Orthodox) piety. April 23 is celebrated with great solemnity in many Eastern churches, and St. George is hailed as, "Great-Martyr, Victory-bearer, and Wonderworker." If his feast falls during Holy Week (also known as "Great Week"), Eastern Christians will transfer his celebration to Easter Monday.
In addition to being England's patron, St. George is also the patron saint of Moscow, Georgia, Ethiopia, Portugal, and many regions in Spain.
He is also the patron saint of all scouts, and April 23 is known as, "Scouts Day."
There are a wide variety of customs and traditions that are celebrated in honor of St. George throughout the world. While St. George may not be on the current Universal Roman Calendar, his name remains on the Roman Martyrology and Catholics are free to take part in the festivities that honor the 3rd-century saint.
