The Family of St. George

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the of The Family of Saint George is to preserve, promote, and celebrate the traditions of the annual Festa dei Ceri, brought to Jessup by our ancestors from Gubbio, Italy, with integrity, honor and respect. The Family of Saint George is an inclusive, democratic organization dedicated to the benefit of Jessup and its surrounding communities through philanthropy, charity and service.

Who was St. George?

There are many legends in many cultures about St. George, but they all have a common theme; he must have been an outstanding character in his lifetime, for his reputation to have survived for over 1700 years!

Most authorities on the subject seem to agree that he was born in Cappadocia in what is now Turkey, in about the year 280 AD.

It is said that St. George bravely denounced the Emperor Diocletian for his unnecessary cruelty and injustice against Christians that he made an eloquent and courageous speech. He stirred the populace with his powerful and convincing rhetoric against the Imperial Decree to prosecute Christians. Diocletian refused to acknowledge or accede to St. George’s reasoned, reproachful condemnation of his actions. The Emperor consigned St. George to prison with instructions that he be tortured until he denied his faith in Christ.

St. George, having defended his faith was beheaded at Nicomedia near Lyddia in Palestine on the 23^rd of April in the year 303AD.

St. George was selected by the citizens of Gubbio to represent the Merchants and Artisans in the Festa dei Ceri celebration.

ST. UBALDO & ‘LA FESTA DEI CERI’