Feast of Saint George

A shared festival

The holiday centers on the Monastery of Saint George in the settlement of al-Khader. While rooted in Christian heritage, local followers of Islam also venerate the figure of al-Khader. Members of both faiths gather at the sanctuary across two days in early May. Muslim stewards customarily welcome visitors at the church doors. Courtyards fill with families sharing food under the olive groves. The occasion blends religious devotion with communal life, providing space for neighbors of different beliefs to participate in shared customs side by side.

Christian observances

On the morning of 6 May, Christian processions set out toward the monastery from nearby localities such as Beit Jala, Beit Sahour, and Bethlehem. Many parents bring their young children to be baptized here, drawn by traditional accounts of the saint's healing grace. Monks receive meat presented by worshippers as gifts, though the clergy does not conduct animal slaughter on site. Pilgrims also exchange loaves of bread, fulfill personal vows, and join in outdoor meals under the surrounding trees.

Muslim customs and offerings

Muslim participants carry out animal offerings during the celebration. One common practice is the dhabihah sacrifice, where a family reserves one portion of meat for domestic meals and distributes the remaining two parts to charity and in service to God. Other visitors present living livestock directly to al-Khader. Donated animals stay in a pen within the abbey garden. Freshly prepared hides are laid over courtyard railings to dry in the sun, and Islamic banners and markings decorate the open grounds.

Origins in folklore

Local lore dates the festival back to Byzantine governance over the region. A well-known folk story recounts how a widow's son named Jirjis wanted to make an offering alongside other youths who pledged sheep and goats. Possessing only a single cow, the young man slaughtered it for Saint George. When his grieving mother scolded him for putting their survival at risk, an elder with white hair visited Jirjis in a dream. The figure revealed himself as al-Khader, assuring him of safe passage to the royal palace in Constantinople.

How Feast of Saint George is kept

The festival unfolds over two days in May. Visitors arrive at the monastery grounds, where Muslim caretakers greet incoming pilgrims at the church entrance. Families set up picnics beneath olive groves and swap bread. On 6 May, Christian groups march from surrounding towns, and parents present infants for baptism. Worshippers fulfill vows through animal offerings, storing live livestock in garden pens or sharing sacrificial meat with neighbors and charitable causes before drying the fleece across railings.

When and where

The festival takes place every year across 5 May and 6 May. Morning processions and baptismal rites culminate on the second day of the celebration.

Festivities take place at the Monastery of Saint George, situated in the locality of al-Khader. Pilgrims travel to the sanctuary from communities across the Bethlehem area, including Beit Sahour and Beit Jala.

What Feast of Saint George means

Saint George, known in Arabic as al-Khader or Mar Jeries, represents protection, healing, and divine aid in times of trouble. For Palestinian Christians and Muslims, fulfilling pledges through charity or animal sacrifice expresses gratitude and faith. Sharing meat and breaking bread together also reaffirms community solidarity across religious lines.

Questions people ask about Feast of Saint George

See also

Stations of the CrossA Christian prayer journey following fourteen moments of the Passion of JesusHoly FireA fire ceremony in Jerusalem each year, kept by Orthodox Christians before EasterNabi MusaAn annual Palestinian Muslim pilgrimage and festival honoring the prophet MosesTorah readingThe public reading of the Torah scroll in synagogue, chanted to a special tune

Good reading and sources

• Why St George is a Palestinian heroBBC, Article
• Why St George is a Palestinian heroBBC, Article

• Feast of Saint George (Palestine) on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos and video
• Wikidata recordOpen data

It may contain mistakes. Traditions differ from one family, village and community to the next, and the people who keep them know them best. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-05.