The Collect
O GOD, who makest us glad by the merits of blessed George thy Martyr: Mercifully grant; that we who ask for thy benefits, may by the gift of thy grace obtain the same. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Readings: (2 Timothy ii. 8, iii 10; Saint John xv. 1)
Saint George is the patron saint of England. He was born in 280 at Cappadocia, an area that is now part of Turkey. Emperor Diocletian executed St. George on April 23, 303, in Lydda, Palestine for protesting Diocletian’s persecution of Christians. In 322, George was written about by Eusebius of Caesarea. He was made known to England by Arculphus and Adamnan in the early 700s. He was made patron saint of England in 1098, after appearing to soldiers at the Battle of Antioch.
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