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More from ~Mgsblade

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August 24, 2008
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Canon
Canon EOS 400D DIGITAL
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F/3.5
10 mm
400
Apr 2, 2008, 10:46:56 AM
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:iconmgsblade:
I was browsing through some of my pictures and I came upon one that I Missed (at this rate I'm never going to finish :( )

Located below Krak De Chevaliers is the 6th-century Greek Orthodox Monastery of St George. The spacious so-called "New" Church dates to 1857 and the beautiful ebony iconostasis is 300 years old and was carved in Aleppo. Among the many icons are some depicting the classical image of George slaying the dragon.

St.George the patron saint of such countries like England and Russia, is buried In southern Syria, in a church at Ezraa near Bosra. but has hundreds if not thousands of shrines dotted all over the middle east.

He never really fought a dragon. He was martyred at Diospolis in 30 AD for refusing to make a sacrifice to a pagan god, later many stories and rumors grew.

The dragon myth came from England for the first time in the 15th century when it was translated and published by William Laxton, the English printer, in a book called The Golden Legend. In the story the citizens of a country were terrified of a fire-breathing dragon, and tried to appease it by offering the king's daughter as a sacrifice. George appeared and fought the dragon, telling the citizens he would kill it if they accepted Christianity. The king agreed and George baptized 15,000 men. He took no reward, but asked the king to maintain the churches in his country and to show mercy to the poor.

Somewhere along the way, Arabic speaking Christians dubbed him Al khader (The Green One) due to his green cape that he was usually depicted wearing in church icons, and this coincided with a prophet in Islam with the same name. And now both Moslems and Christians mix the stories of both, and even in some cases share shrines.

In Islam Al-Khader is one of three or four figures that have never died (the others being mentioned in the bible: Jesus, Mary, and Elijah.) There is disagreement on whether he was a prophet or just a righteous servant. What we do know is that he was Moses’ guide at one point, and that he usually appears in people’s dreams to help and guide them.
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:iconpatual:
~Patual Jan 24, 2009
very nice tones!
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:iconmgsblade:
~Mgsblade Jan 25, 2009   Photographer
Thank you :)
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:iconwodewose:
!Wodewose Dec 13, 2008
Very nice angle on an interesting interior. Your description is very interesting too - thank you.
The story of St George and the dragon is older than The Golden Legend - it was a popular subject for wall paintings in English churches in the 15th century, but there are 14th century examples too. The origin of the story is mysterious (at least, to me) but there are clear parallels with other Christian dragon-slaying saints, St Michael and St Margaret, and the story of St Martha, who is said to have ended a dragon's reign of terror over a town not by killing it, but by taming it :)
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:iconmgsblade:
~Mgsblade Dec 15, 2008   Photographer
Wow that’s very interesting, I completely forgot that there where other dragon slayers, I'll have to look them up.

I actually have a very strange relationship with the Muslim Version of St.George (Al khader); I have encountered his shrines in the oddest of places and on so many occasions that it has become a “thing” with my friends and I.

Infect I recently decided to compile (in the future) a sort photography book about his shrines around the world(from Morocco to India) and his different representation within the religions of the world.
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:iconwodewose:
!Wodewose Dec 16, 2008
That sounds an extremely interesting project - I'd be fascinated to see the result.
The idea that there is a "Muslim version" of St George is interesting and extraordinary in itself. Are you saying that their legends derive from the same person, or that there are similarities in the tales?
There are 15th-century depictions of saints George and Michael on a page of my site here: [link]
I have a 14th-century St George here [link] and a reference to the St Martha legend here [link] and here [link] :)
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:iconmgsblade:
~Mgsblade Dec 20, 2008   Photographer
Well from what I can tell, they are two completely different people based on thier origin stories, but they share some denominating factors. Factors which are also shared by the Jewish version(believe it or not :) ).

I think because he is such an open book, ie: a wondering servant of God whom appears to be all knowing and goes about helping people, that he starts to crossover into the different religions and believes.

Even in modern days, I have met a few Muslims who believe that the Yoda character in star wars is based on him!


Btw thanks for the links
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:iconwodewose:
!Wodewose Dec 20, 2008
Fascinating. Yoda - Yuri... I can see something in it :D
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:iconyoshimetal:
~YOSHIMETAL Aug 29, 2008   Photographer
Gorgeous! I think I've visited this chruch.
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:iconmgsblade:
~Mgsblade Aug 29, 2008   Photographer
It really nice especially in the underground section!
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:iconvouloir:
~vouloir Aug 27, 2008   General Artist
i absolutely love the perspective of this shot, well done. :)
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