I'm pretty sure that when I was at school in the bad old days when we were all racists without knowing it, I was taught that St George slew the dragon to save the virgin, thereby protecting the weak and innocent against abusive power.

I know we should all be recycling as much as possible these days, but seems to be a case of putting out a press release just for the sake of putting out a press release....

Ian Kemmish, Biggleswade, UK

The point they seem to be making, but which this report omits, is that St George got killed by protesting to the Emperor Diocletian against his pogrom. That does seem more worth remembering than the dragon story, I admit. But I don't think we need another holiday.

Steven Barnwell, London,

a patron saint without association with patriotism?! Well, we'll be needing a new saint then! Might i suggest we begin studying a list of those who have died for England?

Marco, bhm, uk

This is utter nonsense from a bunch of religious zealots. I'd rather they kept their daft ideas to themselves.

Would the Irish consider rebranding St Patrick's Day? Of course they wouldn’t. So why should the English consider such a daft idea? Why are the English always made to feel guilty for their heritage, history and nationality?

James Smith, London, England

St George's image in icons always shows him holding a lance (not a sword), aimed at the dragon which is the symbol of evil. The lance is always very slight, a most inadequate weapon with which to dispatch any enemy. Always, in the corner of the icon, is seen the hand of God, reaching down to assist the Saint in his endeavours. The real message is that our human strength is not sufficient to confront evil: there must also be faith, integrity, trust and the love which offers itself as sacrifice. St George needs no rebranding: his icon and his role as a man prepared to lay down his life for others is message enough. It is entirely fitting that Saint George is the Patron Saint of soldiers, of those in captivity and of right believers.

Orthodox reader, london,

When will Ekklesia the left-wing grouping of soi-disant social workers pretending to be theological, finally fold up and go away.

St George is fine - he just needs to be celebrated with more gusto as the icon he was and is to Englishmen and to the denizens of Moscow

TomTom, Leeds, England