Facts of saint george

St George is best known as the patron saint of England – his feast day is celebrated across the nation on 23 April each year – and for slaying a mythical dragon. Yet the real St George was probably a soldier of Greek origin, whose life was far from fairytale-esque.

Here are 10 facts about St George – the man and the myth.

1. St George was probably of Greek descent

George’s early life is shrouded in mystery.

Facts of saint george

It’s thought, however, that his parents were Greek Christians and that George was born in Cappadocia – a historical region which is now broadly the same as Central Anatolia. Some versions of the story say that George’s father died for his faith when George was around 14, and so he and his mother travelled back to her home province of Syria Palaestina.

2.

Although he ended up as a soldier in the Roman army

Following his mother’s death, the young George travelled to Nicomedia, where he became a soldier in the Roman army – possibly