Why St. George?
Why "St. George"?
St. George was inspired by a man who lived at the height of Christian persecution by the Roman Empire, and was executed in the year 303 for refusing to deny his Christian faith.
The story of St. George killing the dragon was written and made popular by Jacobus de Voragine in the 13th century in his seven volume book The Golden Legend, which tells the stories of many Christians and martyrs, including St. Patrick and St. Valentine. Whether there is a kernel of truth to the story of the dragon, or it was completely made up by Voragine, we do not know. But the imagery of the story has stuck around. We even find the same imagery in the Bible!
The story of St. George killing the dragon was most recently popularized by Edmund Spenser (d. 1599) in his masterpiece epic poem The Faerie Queene, which he dedicated to Queen Elizabeth I. The novel is a staple to the upper levels of Classical Christian Education, as it is written specifically to teach Christian virtue. The opening part of the story (Book 1), which teaches Holiness, depicts St. George as The Knight of the Redcrosse, who goes on an adventure rescuing Princess Una from many snares, including a terrifying dragon.
Job 41:12-34; Revelation 12:9, 19:11-21; Isaiah 27:1, 51:9; Psalm 91.
We here at St. George Christian Academy use the term 'dragon' to represent Satan and anything closely related: sin, death, and evil.
There are dragons in all our lives that need to be destroyed - but we believe it is just as important to know the Biblical way to destroy them. We want to focus on the weapons - what are our weapons? Do we use the weapons of the enemy to kill the dragons in our lives? No. Our weapons are the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control). These fruit are produced by the Holy Spirit, but the family and education help to water, prune, and cultivate them. That is why we believe the focus of education is to produce in the child virtue, wisdom and worship.
No, we are distinctly Protestant. While this story was originally written in the 13th century and involves a degree of saint veneration that we would not agree with, the story and its striking imagery creates a great picture for our mission and vision.
We agree with the apostle Paul, that all those who are in Christ can be rightly called "saints." Even so, one of the distinctive features of the upper levels of Classical Christian Education is respectful debate. There may be families that do not quite agree with some secondary points of doctrine, and that is okay! Any family that can give assent to the major points of doctrine in our Statement of Faith is welcome to apply.
Read the Story of St. George!
from The Golden Legend by Jacobus de Voragine (1230-1298)
St. George was a knight and born in Cappadocia. On a time he came in to the province of Libya, to a city which is said Silene. And by this city was a stagne or a pond like a sea, wherein was a dragon which envenomed all the country. And on a time the people were assembled for to slay him, and when they saw him they fled. And when he came nigh the city he venomed the people with his breath, and therefore the people of the city gave to him every day two sheep for to feed him, because he should do no harm to the people, and when the sheep failed there was taken a man and a sheep. Then was an ordinance made in the town that there should be taken the children and young people of them of the town by lot, and every each one as it fell, were he gentle or poor, should be delivered when the lot fell on him or her. So it happed that many of them of the town were then delivered, insomuch that the lot fell upon the king's daughter, whereof the king was sorry, and said unto the people: For the love of the gods take gold and silver and all that I have, and let me have my daughter. They said: How sir! ye have made and ordained the law, and our children be now dead, and ye would do the contrary. Your daughter shall be given, or else we shall burn you and your house.
When the king saw he might no more do, he began to weep, and said to his daughter: Now shall I never see thine espousals. Then returned he to the people and demanded eight days' respite, and they granted it to him. And when the eight days were passed they came to him and said: Thou seest that the city perisheth: Then did the king do array his daughter like as she should be wedded, and embraced her, kissed her and gave her hls benediction, and after, led her to the place where the dragon was.
When she was there S. George passed by, and when he saw the lady he demanded the lady what she made there and she said: Go ye your way fair young man, that ye perish not also. Then said he: Tell to me what have ye and why weep ye, and doubt ye of nothing. When she saw that he would know, she said to him how she was delivered to the dragon. Then said S. George: Fair daughter, doubt ye no thing hereof for I shall help thee in the name of Jesu Christ. She said: For God's sake, good knight, go your way, and abide not with me, for ye may not deliver me. Thus as they spake together the dragon appeared and came running to them, and S. George was upon his horse, and drew out his sword and garnished him with the sign of the cross, and rode hardily against the dragon which came towards him, and smote him with his spear and hurt him sore and threw him to the ground. And after said to the maid: Deliver to me your girdle, and bind it about the neck of the dragon and be not afeard. When she had done so the dragon followed her as it had been a meek beast and de- bonair. Then she led him into the city, and the people fled by mountains and valleys, and said: Alas! alas! we shall be all dead. Then S. George said to them: Ne doubt ye no thing, without more, believe ye in God, Jesu Christ, and do ye to be baptized and I shall slay the dragon. Then the king was baptized and all his people, and S. George slew the dragon and smote off his head, and commanded that he should be thrown in the fields, and they took four carts with oxen that drew him out of the city.
Then were there well fifteen thousand men baptized, without women and children, and the king did do make a church there of our Lady and of S. George, in the which yet sourdeth a fountain of living water, which healeth sick people that drink thereof. After this the king offered to S. George as much money as there might be numbered, but he refused all and commanded that it should be given to poor people for God's sake; and enjoined the king four things, that is, that he should have charge of the churches, and that he should honour the priests and hear their service diligently, and that he should have pity on the poor people, and after, kissed the king and departed.
The School shall admit students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship programs, financial assistance and loan programs, athletic programs, and other school administered programs and activities. The School shall not discriminate in hiring, promotion, discharge, pay, fringe benefits, job training, classification, referral, and other aspects of employment on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, age, or sex.
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