St. George is the patron saint of the Palestinian Christians. He is thought to have been a native of "Lydda" (Lod) where Ben Gurion airport is now located. I don't think we have a "St George thread" but should have. pl
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_George
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"Dear Col. Lang: Last spring I researched St. George in the Mills College library, which dates back to the mid 19th century and keeps very old books in circulation. I found two sources re: St. George. The second, 19th century source, seems particularly germane to our St. George thread, and is very important to me and the novel I'm working on, set in South Lebanon and infused with visions of St. George. Herewith my notes: St. George From Dictionary of Mythology Folklore and Symbols Gertrude Jobes Vol. 2 p. 1370 publ. 1962
"George. Martyred 303. One of the seven chammpions of Christendom. In Georgia, Russia, revered as a deity of good fortune. His worship is related to moon worship, and he occupies a position similar to that of Christ as mediator and intercessor. Adopted by Edward III, he became patron saint of England. In legend, he killed a dragon to save Cleodolinda, daughter of the King of Lydia, or Sabra, daughter of Ptolemy, in much the same manner that Perseus killed dragons to save maidens. The legend is an allegory expressing the triumph of Christianity over evil. He is called the everlasting green one, inasmuch as his conflict with evil is eternal. Again and again he was slain, but he kept returning to life until he was mutilated, cut into small parts and burned, his ashes scattered in the wind, attributes of a fertility lord...By Arabs called Djirdjis. S. Baring-Gould: Curious Myths of the Middle Ages, Boston, Roberts Brothers 1882. comparative mythology
"he was a native of Lydda, but brought up in Cappadocia, he entered the Roman army and suffered a cruel death for Christ." "The turks pay great veneration to St. George." Dean Stanley moreover noticed a Mussulman chapel on the sea-shore near Sarafend, the ancient Sarepta, dedicated to El Khouder, in which "there is no tomb inside, only hangings before a recess. This variation from the usual type of Mussulman sepulchres was, as we were told by peasants on the spot, because El Khouder is not yet dead, but flies round and round the world, and these chapels were built wherever he has appeared" (p. 231). Ibn Wahshiya al Kasdani, 900s, Chaldaean, Muslim, "hated the Arabs", translated Nabathaean writings rescued from "Moslem fanaticism." "Book of Nabathean Agriculture by Kuthami the Babylonian". Ibn Wahshiya links Tammuz to festival of St. George end of Nisan (April) says "what is related of the blessed George is the same as that told of Tammuz" i.e. Restored to life.... "Phoenician Adonis was identical with Tammuz. St. Jerome in the Vulgate rendered the passage in Ezekiel (viii. 14)< "He brought me to the door of the gate of the Lord's house, which was towards the north; an behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz," by ecce mulieres sedentes plangetnes Adonidem; and in his commentary on the passage says, "Whom we have interpreted Adonis, both the Hebrew and Syriac languages call Thamuz, and they call the month june by that name." He informs us also of a very immportant fact, that the solstice was the time of wailing for Tammuz. George/Tammuz identified with sun/fire (torture by fire, dumped in vat of molten lead etc.) Baring Gould says fight between St George and dragon took place at Berytus (Beirut). Compares to story of Perseus. Scene of conflict near Joppa, where in the days of St. Jerome the bones of the huge reptile were exhibited (p. 255) "According to another version, the dragon guards the spring of water, and the country is languishing for want of water; St. George restores to the land the use of the spring by slaying the dragon." (264) (end notes. All of the above is quote or paraphrase from referenced sources, not my original material). If this is of interest, feel free to republish. Copyright must have passed into public domain ages ago. Regards, Leila Abu-Saba Regards, Leila Abu-Saba
Dove's Eye View - An Arab-American woman sees signs of hope"
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