St. Margaret of Antioch Coloring Page
This St. Margaret of Antioch coloring page shows the young saint holding up a small cross and a palm, with a tamed little dragon lying at her feet and her sheep grazing behind her. The PDF is free to print. Margaret's old legend shows how the cross of Jesus is stronger than evil.
The story of St. Margaret
This is a very old story. Christians have told it for more than a thousand years, and many details are legend, but its lesson is true: Jesus is stronger than anything.
Long ago, in a land called Antioch, lived a girl named Margaret. Her father was a pagan priest who did not know Jesus, but Margaret's nurse taught her about him, and Margaret came to love Jesus with all her heart. Her father was angry and sent her away, so she went to live in the country with her nurse and took care of the sheep in the meadows.
One day a Roman governor named Olybrius rode by and saw Margaret watching her sheep. He wanted to marry her. But when he learned she was a Christian, he told her to give up Jesus. Margaret said no, so he had her put into prison.
The legend says that in the dark prison a huge dragon appeared and swallowed her up! But Margaret was holding a small cross, and the cross split the dragon open, and she walked out without a scratch. The dragon was the devil, and he could not beat her.
Margaret stayed faithful to the end and gave her life for Jesus, around the year 304. For hundreds of years, mothers waiting for their babies to be born have asked her to pray for them.
St. Margaret of Antioch is the patron saint of mothers expecting babies and of nurses. Her feast is kept on July 20. Eastern Christians call her St. Marina.
What to color
- Her dress and cloak: red and green, the colors many painters gave her.
- Her crown and halo: gold, for the crown of heaven.
- The cross: brown wood or gold. It is the hero of the story!
- The palm branch: green, the sign of a martyr.
- The dragon: green, or any color you like. It is tamed and sleepy now.
- The sheep: fluffy white, in a green meadow full of flowers.
A prayer to pray together
Margaret held up the cross and trusted Jesus. Children can make the Sign of the Cross slowly together, and then pray:
St. Margaret, pray for us, and help us be brave.
Ask her especially to pray for mothers who are waiting for a new baby.
Ideas for families and classrooms
- Color this page on July 20, St. Margaret's day.
- Make a simple cross out of two sticks and some yarn, and keep it by your bed.
- Say a prayer for a mom you know who is expecting a baby, and draw a card for her.
- Draw your own picture of the story: Margaret, her cross and the dragon that couldn't win.
- Talk about it: what makes you afraid? How can Jesus help you be brave?
Read the full story: St. Margaret of Antioch in the encyclopedia.
Frequently asked questions
What colors should I use for St. Margaret?
Painters often give Margaret a red dress and a green cloak, with golden hair and a gold crown. The dragon is usually green, so make it a friendly green with yellow spots if you like.
Why does St. Margaret have a dragon?
Her legend says that in prison a dragon swallowed her, but the cross she held split it open and she walked out unhurt. The dragon stands for the devil, and the story teaches that the cross of Jesus wins over evil.
Was St. Margaret a real person?
The Church has honored her as an early martyr for many centuries, but her story is a legend, written long after and full of wonders. In 1969 her feast was taken off the Church's universal calendar for that reason, though she is still in the Roman Martyrology and many people still love her.
Is this coloring page free for schools?
Yes. Print as many copies as you need for your home, classroom or parish.