Saint Christopher

Saint

Christopher
Saint; Christopher
	St. Christopher Carrying the Christ Child, by Hieronymus Bosch (AD 1485)
Martyr
Born	Unknown; Canaan (Western accounts) or Marmarica (Eastern account)
Died	251; Anatolia
Venerated in	Orthodoxy; Roman Catholicism; Lutheranism; Oriental Orthodoxy; Anglicanism;
Canonized	Pre-Congregation
Feast	24 July (German-speaking dioceses); 25 July (General Roman Calendar); 9 May (Eastern Churches); 2 Parmouti (Coptic Church);
Attributes	tree, branch, as a giant or ogre, carrying the Christ child, spear, shield, as a dog-headed man
Patronage	athletics, bachelors, transportation (drivers, sailors, etc.), traveling (especially for long journeys), surfing, storms, Brunswick, Saint Christopher's Island (Saint Kitts), Island of Rab, Vilnius, Havana, epilepsy, gardeners, toothache

Saint Christopher (Greek: Ἅγιος Χριστόφορος, Hágios Christóphoros, lit. 'Christ-bearer';^[3] Latin: Sanctus Christophorus) is venerated by several Christian denominations as a martyr killed in the reign of the 3rd-century Roman emperor Decius (r. 249–251), or alternatively under the emperor Maximinus Daia (r. 308–313). There appears to be confusion due to the similarity in names "Decius" and "Daia".^[4] Churches and monasteries were named after him by the 7th century.

His most famous legend tells that he carried a child, who was unknown to him, across a river before the child revealed himself as Christ. Therefore, he is the patron saint of travelers, and small images of him are often worn around the neck, on a bracelet, carried in a pocket, or placed in vehicles by Christians.

^ (in Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Χριστοφόρος ὁ Μεγαλομάρτυρας. 9 Μαΐου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
^ "الشهيد خريستوفوروس حامل المسيح". St-Takla.org. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
^ Godden, Richard H.; Mittman, Asa Simon (21 November 2019). Monstrosity, Disability, and the Posthuman in the Medieval and Early Modern World. Springer Nature. p. 183. ISBN 978-3-030-25458-2.
^ T.D. Barnes, The New Empire of Diocletian and Constantine (Cambridge, MA, 1982). pp. 65–66.

[1] (in Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Χριστοφόρος ὁ Μεγαλομάρτυρας. 9 Μαΐου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.

[2] "الشهيد خريستوفوروس حامل المسيح". St-Takla.org. Retrieved 5 August 2022.

[3] Godden, Richard H.; Mittman, Asa Simon (21 November 2019). Monstrosity, Disability, and the Posthuman in the Medieval and Early Modern World. Springer Nature. p. 183. ISBN 978-3-030-25458-2.

[4] T.D. Barnes, The New Empire of Diocletian and Constantine (Cambridge, MA, 1982). pp. 65–66.

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Saint Christopher
St. Christopher Carrying the Christ Child, by Hieronymus Bosch (AD 1485)
Martyr
Born	Unknown Canaan (Western accounts) or Marmarica (Eastern account)
Died	251 Anatolia
Venerated in	Orthodoxy Roman Catholicism Lutheranism Oriental Orthodoxy Anglicanism
Canonized	Pre-Congregation
Feast	24 July (German-speaking dioceses) 25 July (General Roman Calendar) 9 May (Eastern Churches)^[1] 2 Parmouti (Coptic Church)^[2]
Attributes	tree, branch, as a giant or ogre, carrying the Christ child, spear, shield, as a dog-headed man
Patronage	athletics, bachelors, transportation (drivers, sailors, etc.), traveling (especially for long journeys), surfing, storms, Brunswick, Saint Christopher's Island (Saint Kitts), Island of Rab, Vilnius, Havana, epilepsy, gardeners, toothache