Did St. George Exist?

And why did he hurt that poor dragon?

Painting on wood, Paolo Uccello (1397-1474)

Historians have an unfortunate habit of killing the best stories in their search for the truth. Truth is divine. Historical truth is important. But a good story is a treasure, and a brave soldier venturing forth the slay the dragon and save the princess is just about the best and oldest story there is. It has deep roots in the rich, primal soil of our psyches. It tells us something vital that we need to know.

The apocryphal Chesterton quote¹ has it exactly right: “Fairy tales do not tell children the dragons exist. Children already know that dragons exist. Fairy tales tell children the dragons can be killed.”

And let’s not even talk about the biologists who might tells us dragons don’t exist. Obviously, they exist, or where did all the stories come from? Check and mate, Richard Dawkins.

The great, long-revered Saint George, therefore, has a bit of a modern publicity problem. Many English are embarrassed he’s their patron. St. George’s Day is supp…