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Saint George

According to the Encyclopaedia Britannica, Saint George probably lived during the 3rd century and died in Lydda, Palestine [now Lod, Israel]. His feast day is April 23. "He was an early Christian martyr who during the Middle Ages became an ideal of martial valour and selflessness. He is the patron saint of England."

"…. Legends about him as a warrior-saint, dating from the 6th century, became popular and increasingly extravagant. Jacob de Voragine’s Legenda aurea (1265-66; Golden Legend) repeats the story of his rescuing a Libyan king’s daughter from a dragon and then slaying the monster in return for a promise by the king’s subjects to be baptized. George’s slaying of the dragon may be a Christian version of the legend of Perseus, who was said to have rescued Andromeda from a sea monster near Lydda. It is a theme much represented in art, the saint frequently being depicted as a youth wearing knight’s armour with a scarlet cross…."

From Britannica Online, Copyright © 1996 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. All Rights Reserved

The Orthodox Church celebrates the feast of Saint George on April 23. The life of "GreatMartyr George the TrophyBearer," according to church tradition, is related in Lives of the Saints (Russian Orthodox Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Washington, D.C.).

Icons bearing the image of Christ or saints are venerated as sacred in the Orthodox Church. They are painted on a wooden panel or done in mosaics. Icons of Saint George have been important in the Russian Orthodox Church since early times. The following collection of icons comes from the Novgorad Icon Gallery of the Novgorod State University in Russia. They date from the 12th to the 16th century.


Icon of Saint George 1130-1150		Icon of Saint George Near 1170


Saint George and the Dragon with scenes from his life Beginning or first half of 14th Century		Saint George and the Dragon Late 14th Century


Saint George and the Dragon First Quarter of the 15th Century		Saint George and the Dragon First half or Middle of the 16th Century

Saint George has an important place in the Scouting and religious traditions of many lands. B-P wrote about the Patron Saint of Scouting in Scouting for Boys (1908). This page brings together a variety of interesting links relating to Saint George and Scouting.

Links to the History of the National Organization of Russian Scouts

	NORS History and Traditions. The journey of NORS as related by the Chief Scout of NORS, Australia. Emblems of NORS. St. George and Russian Scouting.
	NORS in Russia, 1909-1922. Some rare pictures of Scouting in Russia before the Revolution, including pictures of the First Chief Russian Scout, Colonel Oleg Pantuhoff. Several photos of Russian Scouts celebrating Saint George’s Day are featured.
	NORS in China, 1922-1949. Many Russians moved east to Siberia and Northern China during the Civil War between the Reds and the Whites from 1917 to 1922. A large number settled in China where they maintained the traditions of Russian Scouting. NORS was recognized by the World Organization from 1928 to 1945 as a Scouting organization "in exile."
	NORS in the Philippines and France, 1949-1950. With the Communist takeover in China, most Westerners left the country. Many Russians were evacuated to the Philippines and brought Scouting with them. Also, Russian Scouting continued in France, America and other countries with large Russian emigré populations.
	NORS in Australia, 1949-1996. A large number of Russians moved to Australia from the Philippines and China. NORS continues active in the Russian community in Australia to the present day.

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