George, martyr (+ 303)

Biography

The defender of the Church, the standard bearer of the faith, the defender of the persecuted and the innocent, the Patron of the Crusaders and of several Spanish cities... All this is the glorious martyr that we celebrate today. It is believed that he was born in Palestine, in the city of Lidda or in Mytilene, around the year 280. His parents were fervent Christians and related to the country's high aristocracy. He was a well-built young man: tall, elegant, strong, friendly... He embraced the most noble career of those times, the military, and everything smiled on him until one day... back at the beginning of the 4th century, the terribly harsh Emperor Diocletian arrived in Nicodemia, with the satanic idea of ​​making the Christians disappear. He issued terribly harsh laws against the followers of Jesus of Nazareth. His last edict ordered the dismissal of all military personnel, dignities and administrative positions, if it could be proven that they were Christians. George, in the middle of the city square, angrily tore off the edict and confronted Diocletian, saying: "Sir, I have neither complied nor do I expect to comply from now on with what you have ordered, as you consider it highly unjust. Why do you abuse the poor and the virgins? Why, if there is freedom to worship false gods, should there not be freedom to worship the only true God?..." The emperor dictated that they torment him with all kinds of the most refined instruments to make him give up his faith. But no matter how much they made him suffer, the faith grew and the courage increased in the tribune Jorge. Finally seeing that none of those torments ended him, he was beheaded. Saint George will be the patron saint of brave soldiers and of all those who fight to defend their faith. It was in the year 303 when he received the palm of martyrdom. He is the patron saint of boy scouts.