St Peter's Parish News
Thursday 1 January 1970
St George
Yesterday was the Feast of George, Saint, Martyr, and Patron of England (d.c.304). Happy St George’s Day! From early times the Christian Church has set aside Holy Days throughout the year to remember individuals whose lives most clearly demonstrate God’s power to transform human lives. In the church calendar on 23 April, we remember George, a 2nd-century Cappadocian or Palestinian who served in the Roman army in Lydda, Palestine who was among many people martyred during the brutal suppression of Christianity by the Roman Emperor Diocletian. On our tower at St Peter’s, we fly the flag of the Diocese of St Abans, with the heraldic arms of the Diocese over the red Cross of St George.
God of hosts,
who so kindled the flame of love
in the heart of your servant George
that he bore witness to the risen Lord
by his life and by his death:
give us the same faith and power of love
that we who rejoice in his triumphs
may come to share with him the fullness of the resurrection;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
A group of Church of England bishops from across the country said in a joint statement issued earlier this year, that the cross of St George, the flag of England, should be celebrated as a symbol of unity in our nation, rooted in our Christian heritage. They urge people to embrace or rediscover our Christian heritage but also call for a fresh recognition of the meaning of the cross as the symbol of God’s love for everyone.
Read more: www.churchofengland.org
Learn more about the life of St George:
en.wikipedia.org 
