St George's Day

Today is St George's Day. St George is the patron saint of England and it's fair to expect that we would know a reasonable amount of information about him, so here is a short quiz for you to find out just how much you really do know about this dragon fighter! (Shucks. You were hoping that would be the first question, weren't you?)

Fair enough! One for starters...

1. Which mythological creature does legend claim St George defeated in single combat? [Now you won't score zero :) ]

As the rest are probably a little more tricky, I'll give you some options to choose from.

2. To which period of English history did St George belong?
Medieval, Saxon, Roman

3. In which country was he born?
England, Germany, Turkey

4. How did he die?
In battle, Beheaded, Pneumonia

5. Where did he die?
Israel, England, Germany

6.  Which king adopted the cross of St George as the English flag?
Æthelred (865–871),  Saint Edward the Confessor (1042–1066) or Richard the Lion Heart (1189–1199)

7. Of which of these countries is St George the patron saint? 
Russia, Greece, Ethiopia, Georgia, Lithuania, England, Portugal, Palestine

8. St George did not become patron saint of England until the 14th century. Who did he replace?
St Edward the Confessor, St Wystan, St Augustine

OK. Here come the answers

1. Do you really need me to answer this one?

2. He was a Roman soldier and priest in the Guard of Emporor Diocletian born around A.D. 270, but he probably never visited Roman Britain.

3. He is believed to have been born in Cappadocia (now Eastern Turkey).

4. He was beheaded, after refusing to renounce Christianity in the Diocletian persecutions, probably at Nicomedia near Lyddia in Palestine on the 23rd of April in the year 303 AD. (Hence the choice of date as his 'day'.)

5. In those days, it was known as Palestine, but now Lydda is in modern day Israel.

6. Richard the Lion Heart, because some of his crusaders saw St George in a vision and were victorious. The red cross was worn as an emblem on his soldiers tunics.

7. This was a bit of a cheat, because the answer is 'all of the above!'

8. He replaced St Edward the Confessor.

So, how did you do?

Happy St George's Day