Saint George and the Dragon.

According to legend, a fierce dragon was terrorising the city of Silene in Libya by poisoning the countryside and dwelling in its pond. In order to placate the dragon, the people had to pay tribute of two sheep a day and he would leave them alone. And then when that was no longer enough, the dragon demanded human sacrifices as well. The humans to be sacrificed were chosen by lottery between the citizens themselves until one day the king’s own daughter was chosen. Though he begged and offered all the gold he had, no one was willing to take her place.

George arrived and witnessed what was going on; he made the sign of the cross and charged the dragon with his lance, slew it, and saved the princess.

The king was so grateful that he offered George immeasurable riches but he refused these and gave them to the people instead. The citizens were so moved by what they had witnessed that that they were all baptised and became Christians.

There are many versions of this old world story about Light conquering Darkness, not just in Christianity but even previously, from pre Christian and pagan sources. It’s an old favorite, and a recurring one, in so many different versions. The dragon or the serpent represents evil, and the pure-hearted knight, representing the forces of good slays him.

In modern day society, the Dragon is alive and kicking. We’re still waiting for our Hero, Faithful and True, to avenge us of the evil being wreaked upon the earth.

“I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.”
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭19:11-15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I wonder sometimes at the stupidity of those who abuse their power. With their vast education and experience have they not read or learned that there always, always comes a reckoning?