Saints vs. the Chaos Dragons: 10 Stories
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| The Virgin of the Apocalypse by Miguel Cabrera (1760) |
Christian tradition, East and West, is replete with stories of saints slaying dragons (most famous of these tales is, of course, St. George). The choice of the dragon (or sometimes the serpent) as the adversary of the saints is hardly random. In the ancient world, the dragon was a symbol of chaos, the forces that threaten to return creation to its uncreated state. This symbol is picked up in Scripture. In the Old Testament, God is pictured as the warrior who forces the dragons to submit to his will (Genesis 1:21, Job 41, Psalm 74, et al.). In the New Testament, the symbol of the dragon is picked back up. In Revelation, the dragon symbolizes Satan, the adversary of the saints. He was defeated by the archangel Michael in heaven and opposes the church (Revelation 12). His reign is viscous but coming to an end. He will be defeated by God at the end of time (Revelation 20).
Stories of the saints fighting dragons, then, I don’t think are supposed to be interpreted literally. We all fight the forces of chaos. By uniting ourselves to Christ’s life, death, and resurrection, we all share in his victory over the ancient serpent. In these times when the dragon thrashes and we see chaos seemingly winning the day, these stories are important. Be not deceived. The dragon has sustained a mortal wound. He will fall.
This article is long, containing ten stories. I considered breaking it into two articles but feared interrupting the flow. Please feel free to come back and read a few at a time. If a particular story interests you, I included the source I adapted the narrative from in a link below for follow-up research. I have also includes the date(s) of the feast day for each of the saints listed below should you like a day to celebrate how God worked through them.
Here are some of the tales of the dragon-slaying saints. Most of the come from late Christian tradition so, rather than facts of history, they serve best as mythic and allegorical stories. They are rich with meaning, each revealing something about our fight with chaos. Read on at your own risk. Here be dragons.
1. Saint Philip the Apostle
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| St Philip Banishing the Dragon, by Filippino Lippi, in the Strozzi Chapel of Santa Maria Novella, Florence, 1487-1502 |
This story is using a ton of apocalyptic imagery (I especially love the dragon, a chaos monster, being driven into the desert, the traditional place of chaos and danger). The point is this: even when chaos threatens disease, death, and apostasy, God is capable of using those chaotic forces to bring the salvation of many.
Feast Day: November 14th (West), November 14 (East), May 1 (Anglican/Lutheran)
Source: https://www.christianiconography.info/goldenLegend/philip.htm
Margret was born in the city of Antioch. Her father was a pagan priest named Theodosius. She converted to Christianity at a young age. She was betrothed to a pagan provost named Olybrius. When she revealed her faith to him and rebuked him for his mockery of Christ, he was enraged. He pleaded with her that she worship the pagan gods. She replied, “I worship him that maketh the earth to tremble, whom the sea dreadeth and the winds and creatures obey.” His pleadings turned to threats. She refused to convert. Bravely, she retorted, “Christ gave himself over to the death for me, and I desire gladly to die for Christ.”
Olybrius tortured his young fiancé publicly. Blood poured from the young girl so that all present averted their eyes and begged her to worship the gods so that her torment could end. She endured the torment patiently and rebuked Olybrius, “thou shameless hound and insatiable lion, thou hast power over my flesh, but Christ reserveth my soul.” Finally, Olybrius could endure it no more and threw her in prison.
While in her cell, Margaret cried out to God that he would show her who she was really fighting. Instantly, a dragon appeared before her and attacked her with all his might. He nearly devoured her. She made the sign of the cross and the dragon disappeared.
Later that night, the devil himself appeared to try to tempt her. She punched him in the head, and he fell to the ground. She pinned him to the ground with her right foot. After interrogating the fiend for some time about why he tempted her and demanding his name, she released him and sent him back to hell.
The next day, Margaret was beheaded for her faith, welcomed into heaven by the Lord she loved. Several were converted that day when they heard her testimony and saw her great faith.
Margaret’s defeat of the dragon is a footnote in her story, but an important moment nevertheless. Like Paul, her story reminds us that, “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” In times of chaos, it’s easy to start blaming others for the brokenness of the world. Our enemy is never another person. It is that ancient dragon. May we have the faith of Margret, to have the strength love our enemies and to put our boot on the devil’s neck. Source:
Feast day: July 20th (West), July 17th (East)
Source: https://catholicsaints.info/golden-legend-life-of-saint-margaret/
Theodore was a member of the Roman army, converted during his service. He kept his faith a secret, called by God to die a martyrs death. While stationed in the village of Euchdita in Pontus, Theodore caught word of a dragon in the forest terrorizing the natives. Theodore assumed that this dragon must be the way he was to be martyred and plunged headlong into the woods.
He soon came on an abandoned village inhabited only by noble Christian princess named Eusebia. She told him the location of the dragon’s lair. Making the sign of the cross, Theodore charged the monster. After a brief fight, Theodore stabbed the creature through its head, killing it instantly.
Believing that this monster was a demon in disguise, Theodore interpreted this battle as a test of his young faith. He returned to camp and shared his faith with his company. Filled with zeal, he and the other Christians in his troop determined to make a show of their faith. They charged into the nearby village and destroyed the temple of the pagan goddess, Rhea. Enraged, the governor Puplius arrested Theodore and his companions. Thrown in prison without food, Theodore lived for many days, seeing visions of Christ and singing hymns with the angels. He would die a martyr, burned at the steak for his faith.
The end of the Christian life is union with Christ’s death. Even as chaos makes its worst assaults, when life itself comes to a close, Christ’s resurrection undercuts its victory. Theodore’s fight with the dragon reminds us that the greatest chaos monster of all, death, has no teeth. May we, with Theodore, confess, “I am a Christian. It is Christ alone that I love. He is the King whom I serve, and to Him alone that I want to offer a sacrifice!”
Feast Day: November 9th (West), February 17th (East)
2. Saint Martha
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| Sainte Marthe et la Tarasque from Heures de Louis de Laval by Jean Colombe (c. 1480-1485) |
St Martha (yes, that St. Martha) has a dragon defeat to her credit. According to Christian tradition, Martha traveled to Gaul (modern day France) to spread the gospel. In those days, the land was ravaged by a terrible beast “a great dragon, half beast and half fish, greater than an ox, longer than an horse, having teeth sharp as a sword, and horned on either side, head like a lion, tail like a serpent, and defended him with two wings on either side, and could not be beaten with cast of stones nor with other armour, and was as strong as twelve lions or bear….” This beast would wait in the harbor and destroy incoming ships. It was known to the people as the Tarrasque (yep, the Tarrasque of Dungeons and Dragons fame). If pursued on land, the dragon would light a conflagration, lighting the land for acres aflame.
One day, Martha was walking in the woods and spotted the Tarrasque devouring a man. Quickly, she threw holy water at the beast and showed him the cross. The beast became as tame as a sheep. Martha wrapped her girdle around it and led it into town. Subdued as it was, the townspeople slew it with spears and glaives. On that place, Martha founded a convent and served the people for many years.
Chaos is sometimes as small as a serpent, tormenting one person. Sometimes, it is as terrifying as the Tarrasque, bringing fire and chaos to a whole community. No matter the size, the power of Christ reigns supreme. The story of St. Martha commends action to Christians. It is often our mission to care for systemic chaos, recognizing the way it devours our neighbors whole. In our world, chaos rarely looks like a huge monster. It often resembles injustice, prejudice, and neglect. Let us not be afraid to take up our cross and charge into combat.
One day, Martha was walking in the woods and spotted the Tarrasque devouring a man. Quickly, she threw holy water at the beast and showed him the cross. The beast became as tame as a sheep. Martha wrapped her girdle around it and led it into town. Subdued as it was, the townspeople slew it with spears and glaives. On that place, Martha founded a convent and served the people for many years.
Chaos is sometimes as small as a serpent, tormenting one person. Sometimes, it is as terrifying as the Tarrasque, bringing fire and chaos to a whole community. No matter the size, the power of Christ reigns supreme. The story of St. Martha commends action to Christians. It is often our mission to care for systemic chaos, recognizing the way it devours our neighbors whole. In our world, chaos rarely looks like a huge monster. It often resembles injustice, prejudice, and neglect. Let us not be afraid to take up our cross and charge into combat.
Feast Day: July 29th (West), June 4 (East)
3. Saint Margaret the Virgin
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| Saint Margaret as a shepherdess by Francisco de Zurbarán (1631) |
Olybrius tortured his young fiancé publicly. Blood poured from the young girl so that all present averted their eyes and begged her to worship the gods so that her torment could end. She endured the torment patiently and rebuked Olybrius, “thou shameless hound and insatiable lion, thou hast power over my flesh, but Christ reserveth my soul.” Finally, Olybrius could endure it no more and threw her in prison.
While in her cell, Margaret cried out to God that he would show her who she was really fighting. Instantly, a dragon appeared before her and attacked her with all his might. He nearly devoured her. She made the sign of the cross and the dragon disappeared.
Later that night, the devil himself appeared to try to tempt her. She punched him in the head, and he fell to the ground. She pinned him to the ground with her right foot. After interrogating the fiend for some time about why he tempted her and demanding his name, she released him and sent him back to hell.
The next day, Margaret was beheaded for her faith, welcomed into heaven by the Lord she loved. Several were converted that day when they heard her testimony and saw her great faith.
Margaret’s defeat of the dragon is a footnote in her story, but an important moment nevertheless. Like Paul, her story reminds us that, “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” In times of chaos, it’s easy to start blaming others for the brokenness of the world. Our enemy is never another person. It is that ancient dragon. May we have the faith of Margret, to have the strength love our enemies and to put our boot on the devil’s neck. Source:
Feast day: July 20th (West), July 17th (East)
Source: https://catholicsaints.info/golden-legend-life-of-saint-margaret/
4. Saint Theodore of Amasea
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| Icon of St. Theodore - http://full-of-grace-and-truth.blogspot.com/2012/02/selected-hymns-to-st-theodore-great.html |
Theodore was a member of the Roman army, converted during his service. He kept his faith a secret, called by God to die a martyrs death. While stationed in the village of Euchdita in Pontus, Theodore caught word of a dragon in the forest terrorizing the natives. Theodore assumed that this dragon must be the way he was to be martyred and plunged headlong into the woods.
He soon came on an abandoned village inhabited only by noble Christian princess named Eusebia. She told him the location of the dragon’s lair. Making the sign of the cross, Theodore charged the monster. After a brief fight, Theodore stabbed the creature through its head, killing it instantly.
Believing that this monster was a demon in disguise, Theodore interpreted this battle as a test of his young faith. He returned to camp and shared his faith with his company. Filled with zeal, he and the other Christians in his troop determined to make a show of their faith. They charged into the nearby village and destroyed the temple of the pagan goddess, Rhea. Enraged, the governor Puplius arrested Theodore and his companions. Thrown in prison without food, Theodore lived for many days, seeing visions of Christ and singing hymns with the angels. He would die a martyr, burned at the steak for his faith.
The end of the Christian life is union with Christ’s death. Even as chaos makes its worst assaults, when life itself comes to a close, Christ’s resurrection undercuts its victory. Theodore’s fight with the dragon reminds us that the greatest chaos monster of all, death, has no teeth. May we, with Theodore, confess, “I am a Christian. It is Christ alone that I love. He is the King whom I serve, and to Him alone that I want to offer a sacrifice!”
Feast Day: November 9th (West), February 17th (East)
Source: https://orthodoxwiki.org/Theodore_the_Tyro
In Rome there was a pit. In that pit, there was a dragon. Though contained, the dragon still managed to kill more than three hundred men a day with his fiery breaths. The pagan priests blamed this violence on the fact that the emperor had recently converted to Christianity. The emperor was disturbed at this news and sent to Sylvester, bishop of Rome, for council. St. Sylvester promised that God would rid the land of the beast.
Fervently, Sylvester prayed for an answer. Saint Peter appeared to him in a vision, telling what he must do to subdue the beast. The next day, Sylvester and two of the pagan priests and ventured to the edge of the pit. He called down to the beast, “Our Lord Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin Mary, crucified, buried, rose, and now sits at the right hand of the father. This is he who will come to judge the living and the dead. In His name, I command you Satan, to remain in this place until he comes again.” Upon saying, he descended the 150 steps into the pit. He wrapped a thread around the dragon’s mouth and sealed it with his seal, bearing the sign of the cross.
To the astonishment of the pagan priests, he returned uncharred. After they recovered from the stench of the dragon, the two enchanters were baptized with a great multitude. Thus, God delivered Rome from the danger of the dragon and the darkness of pagan worship.
This story has a wonderful Daniel in the lion’s den vibe. Sylvester battles the dragon, not with weapons, but with the confession of his faith. When chaos seems to consume all in fiery terror, we can still dare to hope. Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. Therefore, the forces of chaos will not have the last word.
Sources: https://catholicsaints.info/the-golden-legend-the-life-of-saint-silvester/ https://mythopath.blogspot.com/2012/01/saint-sylvester-and-dragon.html
8. Saint George
In the city of Silene in the region of Libya there dwelt a fearsome dragon in a nearby pond. The beast ravaged the city with his breath. To satiate the beast’s appetite, the citizens of the region would give him two sheep. When the sheep ran out, a decree went forth from the king that the townspeople must donate their children to keep the beast fed. Chosen by lot, many died at the hands of the dragon.
One day, the lot fell on the king’s only beloved daughter. Weeping, the sovereign saw no recourse but to surrender his child. dressing her as a bride, he kissed and blessed her for the last time and led her to the dragon’s abode.
As fate would have it, St. George was riding through the land at that time and spotting the somber procession, inquired as to what was going on. The girl explained her plight and the brave saint promised his aid in Jesus’ name. “Fair daughter, doubt nothing, for I shall help you in the name of Jesus Christ.”
The girl pleased with him to go his way, fearing that he would die like all the rest.
At that moment, the dragon charged. George drew his sword, made the sign of the cross, and met the beast in battle. With a single stroke, George pinned the dragon to the earth. The saint directed the maiden to bind the dragon with her girdle and lead him into the town. The dragon was completely tame.
Seeing the dragon approach, the people began to panic. St. George calmed the throng and cried out, “Doubt nothing. Believe in God, Jesus Christ and be baptized and I shall slay the dragon.” That day, 15,000 men and women were baptized and St. George, true to his word, smote off the dragon’s head.
On that spot, the king founded a church. The king offered George all the riches he could carry but the saint refused, asking simply that the money be given to the poor and the king would honor the priests that served at this church. With that, he rode off into the sunset.
St. George is the archetypical dragon-slaying saint and with good reason, his tale is very exciting! It has all the archetypes that would become staples of medieval dragon-slaying tales. Track the metaphor, though. The king is asked to give up his only child to the forces of chaos. St. George sees her plight and take her place before the beast. George is practicing a cruciform life, giving up his life for the salvation of many.
When we fight chaos, this should be our response, not to cling to our safety and property, but to die to self and live to Christ. Self-sacrificial love of other is how we slay the chaos dragons. That is why the fight with the dragon is so short in this version. St. George’s victory came in the moment he gave up his own life in the name of Christ, not at the moment the dragon fell.
Feast Day: April 23rd
10. The Blessed Virgin Mary
5. Saint Sylvester
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| Saint Sylvester and the Dragon by Agnolo Gaddi (c. 1380-1385) |
In Rome there was a pit. In that pit, there was a dragon. Though contained, the dragon still managed to kill more than three hundred men a day with his fiery breaths. The pagan priests blamed this violence on the fact that the emperor had recently converted to Christianity. The emperor was disturbed at this news and sent to Sylvester, bishop of Rome, for council. St. Sylvester promised that God would rid the land of the beast.
Fervently, Sylvester prayed for an answer. Saint Peter appeared to him in a vision, telling what he must do to subdue the beast. The next day, Sylvester and two of the pagan priests and ventured to the edge of the pit. He called down to the beast, “Our Lord Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin Mary, crucified, buried, rose, and now sits at the right hand of the father. This is he who will come to judge the living and the dead. In His name, I command you Satan, to remain in this place until he comes again.” Upon saying, he descended the 150 steps into the pit. He wrapped a thread around the dragon’s mouth and sealed it with his seal, bearing the sign of the cross.
To the astonishment of the pagan priests, he returned uncharred. After they recovered from the stench of the dragon, the two enchanters were baptized with a great multitude. Thus, God delivered Rome from the danger of the dragon and the darkness of pagan worship.
This story has a wonderful Daniel in the lion’s den vibe. Sylvester battles the dragon, not with weapons, but with the confession of his faith. When chaos seems to consume all in fiery terror, we can still dare to hope. Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. Therefore, the forces of chaos will not have the last word.
Feast Day: 31 December (West), 2 January (East)
Sources: https://catholicsaints.info/the-golden-legend-the-life-of-saint-silvester/ https://mythopath.blogspot.com/2012/01/saint-sylvester-and-dragon.html
6. Saint Elizabeth the Wonderworker
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| Icon of St. Elizabeth and the Dragon - http://makinghomenaturally.blogspot.com/2015/10/st-elizabeth-wonderworker-and-dragon.html |
St. Elizabeth was a pious child who fell in love with the Scriptures and the stories of the saints. When she was old enough, she traveled to the city of Constantinople and joined the convent of St. George (yes, that Saint George). She became renown for her strict asceticism and intense life of contemplative prayer. She grew in virtue and faith and was famous for performing miraculous healings and exorcisms. She was soon promoted to Abbess.
Out of appreciation for Elizabeth, emperor Leo I generously donated a piece of property to Elizabeth. What was not so generous was the fact that the property was home to a fearsome dragon. Unafraid, having spent her life to serving in a convent dedicated to the most famous dragon-slaying saint, Elizabeth approached the dragon, barefoot and carrying only a wooden cross. Praying to God, she commanded the beast to come forth. When it obeyed she, “made the sign of the cross over him [and] she spat on him. Next she grabbed his head and with her bare feet stamped on the dragon. Thus she slew the dragon and liberated the city from terror.”
Elizabeth conquered the chaos monster not with steel or stone but in the strength of God and through the power of prayer. We would be wise to imitate her in our own battle against chaos: spend earnest time in prayer and discipline so that when chaos rears its head, we are ready to rely on God. Like her, prayer is our best weapon against chaos.
Out of appreciation for Elizabeth, emperor Leo I generously donated a piece of property to Elizabeth. What was not so generous was the fact that the property was home to a fearsome dragon. Unafraid, having spent her life to serving in a convent dedicated to the most famous dragon-slaying saint, Elizabeth approached the dragon, barefoot and carrying only a wooden cross. Praying to God, she commanded the beast to come forth. When it obeyed she, “made the sign of the cross over him [and] she spat on him. Next she grabbed his head and with her bare feet stamped on the dragon. Thus she slew the dragon and liberated the city from terror.”
Elizabeth conquered the chaos monster not with steel or stone but in the strength of God and through the power of prayer. We would be wise to imitate her in our own battle against chaos: spend earnest time in prayer and discipline so that when chaos rears its head, we are ready to rely on God. Like her, prayer is our best weapon against chaos.
Feast Day: April 24th
7. Saint Symeon and Saint Theodore
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| Icon of Sts. Symeon and Theodore and St. Euphrosyne with the Icon of the Theotokos, defeating the dragon - http://www.art.solidarity.gr/index.php?option=com_photo_v&type=pictures&lang=el |
Symeon and Theodore were brothers, devout Christians from the village of Thessaloniki in the 4th century. Like many brothers, they were inseparable. Together they traveled to mount Olympus and Athos, learning asceticism under the wisest Christian monks of their day. They traveled to the Holy Land, too, venerating the great places where their Lord walked. In Jerusalem, they were ordained priests together.
Shortly after their ordination, they both independently received the same vision directing them to find and icon of the Blessed Virgin in Achaia which, according to legend, was painted by St. Luke himself (yes, that St. Luke). After wandering for some time, led only by dreams, the found their way to a shepherdess named Euphrosyne. Euphrosyne immediately recognized them, called them by name, and knelt in respect. She led them deep into a cave where an altar had been hewn into the side of the rock. On the altar, St. Luke had performed the Divine Liturgy. Sitting on the altar was the icon they had so long sought.
The pair brought the icon out of the cave and began to carefully remove layers of dirt and dust. Their rejoicing was cut short as a dragon slithered from the cave and threatened their lives. The brothers held the icon in front of them and prepared for the worst. Suddenly, a lightning bolt struck the dragon and he fell to the ground dead.
The brothers, grateful to God for their miraculous rescue, built a church in the cave. Many came from around the world to see the icon and hear Symeon and Theodore’s preaching. The cave would become the Monastery of the Mega Spileon or the Great Cave. It is a place of prayer and monasticism to this day.
First of all, I really enjoy the fact that this story is an epic journey by two brothers. It reminds me of an Indiana Jones movie. Chaos often enters our stories at the most inopportune moments. As soon as we have a victory, the Enemy comes in to undermine it. In these moments, it’s important to have hope that God will deal with the Dragon. Indeed, the object of our quest may well be our salvation. God likes a good plot twist. Be patient in the chaos, even the inconvenient chaos, and wait on God. One way or another, whether now or in the world to come, chaos will come to an end.
Shortly after their ordination, they both independently received the same vision directing them to find and icon of the Blessed Virgin in Achaia which, according to legend, was painted by St. Luke himself (yes, that St. Luke). After wandering for some time, led only by dreams, the found their way to a shepherdess named Euphrosyne. Euphrosyne immediately recognized them, called them by name, and knelt in respect. She led them deep into a cave where an altar had been hewn into the side of the rock. On the altar, St. Luke had performed the Divine Liturgy. Sitting on the altar was the icon they had so long sought.
The pair brought the icon out of the cave and began to carefully remove layers of dirt and dust. Their rejoicing was cut short as a dragon slithered from the cave and threatened their lives. The brothers held the icon in front of them and prepared for the worst. Suddenly, a lightning bolt struck the dragon and he fell to the ground dead.
The brothers, grateful to God for their miraculous rescue, built a church in the cave. Many came from around the world to see the icon and hear Symeon and Theodore’s preaching. The cave would become the Monastery of the Mega Spileon or the Great Cave. It is a place of prayer and monasticism to this day.
First of all, I really enjoy the fact that this story is an epic journey by two brothers. It reminds me of an Indiana Jones movie. Chaos often enters our stories at the most inopportune moments. As soon as we have a victory, the Enemy comes in to undermine it. In these moments, it’s important to have hope that God will deal with the Dragon. Indeed, the object of our quest may well be our salvation. God likes a good plot twist. Be patient in the chaos, even the inconvenient chaos, and wait on God. One way or another, whether now or in the world to come, chaos will come to an end.
Feast Day: October 18th
Source: http://full-of-grace-and-truth.blogspot.com/2008/10/icon-of-panagia-megalospilaiotissa-of.html
8. Saint George
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| Icon of St. George Slaying the Dragon - https://www.blessedmart.com/shop/hand-painted-icons/st-george-slaying-the-dragon-large/ |
In the city of Silene in the region of Libya there dwelt a fearsome dragon in a nearby pond. The beast ravaged the city with his breath. To satiate the beast’s appetite, the citizens of the region would give him two sheep. When the sheep ran out, a decree went forth from the king that the townspeople must donate their children to keep the beast fed. Chosen by lot, many died at the hands of the dragon.
One day, the lot fell on the king’s only beloved daughter. Weeping, the sovereign saw no recourse but to surrender his child. dressing her as a bride, he kissed and blessed her for the last time and led her to the dragon’s abode.
As fate would have it, St. George was riding through the land at that time and spotting the somber procession, inquired as to what was going on. The girl explained her plight and the brave saint promised his aid in Jesus’ name. “Fair daughter, doubt nothing, for I shall help you in the name of Jesus Christ.”
The girl pleased with him to go his way, fearing that he would die like all the rest.
At that moment, the dragon charged. George drew his sword, made the sign of the cross, and met the beast in battle. With a single stroke, George pinned the dragon to the earth. The saint directed the maiden to bind the dragon with her girdle and lead him into the town. The dragon was completely tame.
Seeing the dragon approach, the people began to panic. St. George calmed the throng and cried out, “Doubt nothing. Believe in God, Jesus Christ and be baptized and I shall slay the dragon.” That day, 15,000 men and women were baptized and St. George, true to his word, smote off the dragon’s head.
On that spot, the king founded a church. The king offered George all the riches he could carry but the saint refused, asking simply that the money be given to the poor and the king would honor the priests that served at this church. With that, he rode off into the sunset.
St. George is the archetypical dragon-slaying saint and with good reason, his tale is very exciting! It has all the archetypes that would become staples of medieval dragon-slaying tales. Track the metaphor, though. The king is asked to give up his only child to the forces of chaos. St. George sees her plight and take her place before the beast. George is practicing a cruciform life, giving up his life for the salvation of many.
When we fight chaos, this should be our response, not to cling to our safety and property, but to die to self and live to Christ. Self-sacrificial love of other is how we slay the chaos dragons. That is why the fight with the dragon is so short in this version. St. George’s victory came in the moment he gave up his own life in the name of Christ, not at the moment the dragon fell.
Feast Day: April 23rd
Source: https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/basis/goldenlegend/GL-vol3-george.asp
9. Saint Joseph Terror of Demons
9. Saint Joseph Terror of Demons
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| Saint Joseph, Terror of Demons by Cecilia Lawrence (2019) - https://www.shopmercy.org/st-joseph-terror-of-demons-10-x-18-canvas-print-3311.html |
Joseph and Mary are interesting additions to this list since neither has a story about defeating dragons in Christian tradition. Rather, they have been assigned the role of dragon-slayers in Christian iconography.
Saint Joseph Terror of Demons might be the most epic epithet of all time. In his role as Mary’s husband, Joseph had the sacred responsibility of defending the Christ child until he was old enough to wage war on death, hell, and the grave. Joseph trained the hands to work wood that would one day carry to the cross. Joseph’s vigilant eye protected the savior of the world. His fatherly prayers interceded for the intercessor of the world. Humble Joseph was handpicked by God to guard his son. Joseph’s obedience and wisdom paved the way for Jesus. His humility and quiet strength made hell tremble.
Kenny Hall’s article dramatically puts it: “’There is something different about him,’ the demons thought. His perfected countenance and temperate demeanor confused the devils. How could a man so humble, also demonstrate the fortitude of a dragon slayer? From the shadows they observed Joseph axe down trees and prepare them for transport. Like a painful instance of sanctified deja vu, these demons saw a flash of the Christ as Saint Joseph knelt to the ground, only to stand with a tree on his shoulders. Watching the Terror of Demons carry oak and olive trees was torturous. The evil spirits were paralyzed and incompetent while Joseph taunted them with an image of the coming Via Dolorosa, forced to seethe with impotent rage at the Eternal Advent. As Joseph lifted his hammer to pound iron, each metallic clang smashed the Gates of Hell like the cheerful piercing of the bells of Consecration.”
Joseph is rightly pictured as a dragon-slayer, keeping demons at bay as Christ matured to manhood. Joseph reminds us that slaying dragons takes place in the small obediences of everyday life. Working as to the lord, bearing our burdens without grumbling, relying on God, and confessing our sins are the stuff of exorcisms. How much harder would we work at our vocations if we see the demons tremble?
Kenny Hall’s article dramatically puts it: “’There is something different about him,’ the demons thought. His perfected countenance and temperate demeanor confused the devils. How could a man so humble, also demonstrate the fortitude of a dragon slayer? From the shadows they observed Joseph axe down trees and prepare them for transport. Like a painful instance of sanctified deja vu, these demons saw a flash of the Christ as Saint Joseph knelt to the ground, only to stand with a tree on his shoulders. Watching the Terror of Demons carry oak and olive trees was torturous. The evil spirits were paralyzed and incompetent while Joseph taunted them with an image of the coming Via Dolorosa, forced to seethe with impotent rage at the Eternal Advent. As Joseph lifted his hammer to pound iron, each metallic clang smashed the Gates of Hell like the cheerful piercing of the bells of Consecration.”
Joseph is rightly pictured as a dragon-slayer, keeping demons at bay as Christ matured to manhood. Joseph reminds us that slaying dragons takes place in the small obediences of everyday life. Working as to the lord, bearing our burdens without grumbling, relying on God, and confessing our sins are the stuff of exorcisms. How much harder would we work at our vocations if we see the demons tremble?
Feast Day: March 19th
10. The Blessed Virgin Mary
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| The Immaculate Conception by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (1767-1768) |
The Blessed Virgin Mary, mother of our Lord, slew demons with her obedience. She is often painted with her foot of the head of the old serpent that has so long brought chaos into the world. Through her son, the great prophecy of Genesis 3 was fulfilled, “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”
Mary’s victory over the dragon, like Joseph, came in the form of obedience. To give birth to Christ, as a single Jewish girl in first century Palestine was to put her life on the line. To give her “yes” to God was to accept a life of challenges and sorrows. To say “yes” was to give her consent to seeing her beloved son die on a cross. Even so, she said “yes” and it was her “yes” that rang the death knell of the dragon. (Should you like to commemorate this, Mary has many feast days.)
Mary’s victory over the serpent reminds us that slaying dragons often looks a lot like suffering. Like all the stories of the dragon-slaying saints, it means recognizing the chaos in the world and facing it head-on, knowing that we might die a martyr’s death. To defeat the dragon is to love God and love others, even when it means saying “no” to our comfort and safety. It’s not always glamorous or fun. It is, however, the stuff of legends.
May we slay dragons in the name of Christ in this season of chaos. May we always remember that the chaos will not, cannot have the last word. Christ has triumphed over the chaos, trampling down death by death.
Mary’s victory over the dragon, like Joseph, came in the form of obedience. To give birth to Christ, as a single Jewish girl in first century Palestine was to put her life on the line. To give her “yes” to God was to accept a life of challenges and sorrows. To say “yes” was to give her consent to seeing her beloved son die on a cross. Even so, she said “yes” and it was her “yes” that rang the death knell of the dragon. (Should you like to commemorate this, Mary has many feast days.)
Mary’s victory over the serpent reminds us that slaying dragons often looks a lot like suffering. Like all the stories of the dragon-slaying saints, it means recognizing the chaos in the world and facing it head-on, knowing that we might die a martyr’s death. To defeat the dragon is to love God and love others, even when it means saying “no” to our comfort and safety. It’s not always glamorous or fun. It is, however, the stuff of legends.
May we slay dragons in the name of Christ in this season of chaos. May we always remember that the chaos will not, cannot have the last word. Christ has triumphed over the chaos, trampling down death by death.
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