The legend is that there was a dragon terrorizing a kingdom somewhere in Libya. The dragon ate two sheep per day, or when sheep were not available, young maidens. (How do these legends get started, anyway?) So good ol' George rode into town and killed the dragon with his lance, saving the king's daughter from being sacrificed. The king gave him a big reward, which he gave to the poor, and rode off into the sunset. He is the patron saint of cavalry (which is where the word chivalry comes from) and is a symbol to boy scouts in many countries, including England and Ukraine. For some reason, he is also the patron saint of herpes, syphilis, leprosy, and plague. Perhaps, in some parts of the world, this is considered a great honor?