Thursday 23 April 2009

St George's Day

St George is the patron saint of England (and also Catalonia, Ethiopia, Georgie, Greece, Lithuania, Palestine, Portugal and Russia), and was a soldier of the Imperial Guard for Emperor Diocletian. In the year AD 302, Diocletian issued an edict that every Christian soldier in the army should be arrested and every other soldier should offer a sacrifice to the Pagan gods. But George objected and with the courage of his faith approached the Emperor. Diocletian was upset, not wanting to lose one of his best soldiers. George loudly renounced the Emperor's edict, and in front of his fellow soldiers he claimed himself to be a Christian and declared his worship of Jesus Christ. Diocletian attempted to convert George, even offering gifts of land, money and slaves if he made a sacrifice to the Pagan gods, but George never accepted. Recognizing the futility of his efforts, Diocletian was left with no choice but to have him executed for his refusal. Before the execution George gave his wealth to the poor and prepared himself. After various torture sessions, including laceration on a wheel of swords in which he was resuscitated three times, George was executed by decapitation before Nicomedia's city wall, on April 23, 303. A witness of his suffering convinced Empress Alexandra and Athanasius, a pagan priest, to become Christians as well, and so they joined George in martyrdom. His body was returned to Lydda for burial, where Christians soon came to honor him as a martyr. For more info on St George click here. Wow. Would I have the strength to defend my faith like that when push comes to shove? Olly
Our Canadian chef cooked us a traditional English roast for dinner, and then 40 Englishmen and women gathered in the evening for scones, jam & cream, and to drink Yorkshire Tea. We had a good time, and even sang God Save the Queen to the amusement of crew in the neighbourhood from other nationalities. Olly

Above, 40 Englishmen and women. Another 20 were missing - in bed or working shifts.

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