Saint George grew up in Asia Minor (today's Turkey). He was beheaded under unspeakable torture during the persecution of the Christians under the Roman Emperors.

One version of the legend connects St. George to the fate of the princess Margarete. She was destined to be the victim of a vicious dragon which was threatening the kingdom. Our hero entered the scene and upon his steed, with lance in hand and much faith in God, he fought the monster. He severed the head of the dragon with his sword and then, quite inexplicably, rode away.

A second version of the saint's legend in the Middle Ages has him promoted to a noble knight, the perfect embodiment of the knight of the Crusades. At the same time he is seen as the Saint George who leads the soldiers of the Middle Ages in battle. Thus the picture goes from the young man in Byzantine costume to the young knight, and finally to the well-known depiction as dragon slayer.

Whatever the case may be, he has always been the patron saint of soldiers, the sick, and lepers.