I have been intrigued by the history in Bury St Edmunds on my recent visit and even more so to find out Englands original patron saint was St Edmund. For this comes at a time when the 23rd April which is St Georges' Day has recently been noted and celebrated more and more each year.
There have also been problems with Muslims who live in this country because they think St George represents war to much. Fair point. St George was born in Turkey and was beheaded in Israel, it's along way from our home.
The arguments can escalate from anything to do with religion to national pride especially these days. To talk about such a subject will take days if not weeks, that's why its so interesting to me. I had to wonder why St George is our patron saint especially when I never see st
atues of him in England or see him truly celebrated here. We don't celebrate a national day like many other countries either, how symbolic is that?The last time I saw a statue was in the Gamla Stan, Stockholm. I looked on the internet and Moscow has more statues of him than any where else but I did find one in Liverpool at their St Georges Hall. St George is the patron saint of many countries and cities from Gerogia to Amersfoort. He fought for Christianity until his dying day when he lost his life for his beliefs as he was in the army which protected the Emperor at that time.
St George may never had stepped foot in England but he is our patron saint, maybe we would of been Muslim if it wasn't for him, who knows, it's history not religion.
St Edmund on the other hand was the original patron saint of England. He was the King of East Anglia (Anglia is now Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire) and was shot dead with arrows in 869. He became one of the principal English saints. This is when The Danelaw and Vikings take over England. (I'm doing my best with all of this, I'm drowning myself in a lot of fascinating English history).
Some will argue especially in the Suffolk area today
that St Edmund should be reinstated and become Englands patron saint once again. After all, he was King, he was English, he died for our country and was our original patron saint. It makes a good argument and there is a statue on the Edmundsbury Cathedral grounds.There is petitions being wrote to this day trying to get it over turned and yes St Edmund has groups on facebook about all of this. I bet he never knew that he would of been a socail networker 1140 years ago did he. But until it is overturned I will be singing 'Keep St George in my heart, keep me English. Keep St George in my heart I pray. Keep St George in my heart, keep me English. Keep me English till my dying day' at every England game I watch and on the 23rd April, St Georges Day which is next Thursday.
Photo 1; Statue of St George slaying the dragon in Stockholm.
Photo 2; Statue of St Edmund in Bury St Edmunds
Photo 3; England fans and flags.
If any of these facts are not correct please leave a comment and get back to me, I will answer them.
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