An event to honour St George will see top poets, musicians and artists perform alongside a 12ft puppet.
Canon Andrew Shanks, who helped organise the event, was bombarded with hate mail after the M.E.N. first reported the event was taking place.
But the clergyman has shrugged off the abusive messages, saying the celebration sought to reclaim the saint from extreme nationalists.
He said: "This event is about what it means to be English. It is about reclaiming St George and reclaiming Englishness.
"Extremists don’t like what we are doing because they want to be proud in a racist and exclusive way and use the day as propaganda.
"We are using poetry because it is the opposite of propaganda. We are encouraging people to reflect about what these things mean."
The festival of poetry and music will feature performances from poets Michael Symmonds Roberts and Jo Shapcott, winner of last year’s Costa book prize.
Giant Catalan-influenced street puppets of St George and the Dragon are based on a contemporary altarpiece within the cathedral by artist Mark Cazalet
The puppets were built by men and women who use the Booth Centre and Mustard Tree homeless charities.
The 12ft models got their first outing during a parade through Manchester on St George’s Day April 23.
But many churches have planned later events this year as the patron saint’s festival clashed with Easter. The cathedral event tomorrow evening will showcase new work inspired by an epic poem featuring St George written by Edmund Spencer, a contemporary of William Shakespeare.
It will also feature new work written especially for the occasion by former Poet Laureate Andrew Motion.
The project, which also features a jazz group and a choir, has been funded by a grant from national arts bodies.
Many historians believe the real St George was a Turkish soldier of African origin, executed as a Christian martyr in the fourth century.
The legend of his slaying a dragon, dates back to medieval times.
Canon Shanks, who has written a number of books on the church and nationalism, said the setting within the cathedral was especially appropriate.
The medieval church is officially known as the Cathedral of St Mary, St Denys and St George.
Manchester Evening News
