The image of St George killing the dragon, appears more like a fairy-story; indeed, it is a popular image in children’s story books. George the man was a Roman soldier born in the late 3rd century A.D. in Cappadocia, and brought up as a Christian by his widowed mother in her hometown of Lydda, in Palestine.

Under the emperor Diocletian a persecution of the Christians arose, and being a Roman commander by this time, George was ordered to take part. He refused and confessed his faith. Terrible tortures failed to weaken the young George (he was still in his twenties), but instead converted some of those who witnessed his confession, including Diocletian’s wife Empress Alexandria. Finally, George was beheaded. The year of his martyrdom was 303 A.D.