Saint Christopher

Saint

Christopher
Saint; Christopher
	St. Christopher Carrying the Christ Child, by Peter Paul Rubens (AD 1612)
Martyr
Born	Unknown; Canaan (Western accounts) or Marmarica (Eastern accounts)
Died	251; Anatolia
Venerated in	Roman Catholicism; Eastern Orthodoxy; Lutheranism; Oriental Orthodoxy; Anglicanism;
Canonized	Pre-Congregation
Feast	24 July (German-speaking dioceses); 25 July (Latin Church); 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 Rab, Vilnius, Havana, epilepsy, gardeners, toothache

Saint Christopher is a legendary figure. He is honored as a Christian martyr and saint in some Christian churches.^[3]^[4]

These churches also regard him as the patron saint of travelers. According to the legends regarding Saint Christopher he was a big person who once carried the Christ child across a river. There are many artworks depicting Saint Christopher carrying Christ on his back.^[3]

References

↑ (in Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Χριστοφόρος ὁ Μεγαλομάρτυρας. 9 Μαΐου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
↑ "الشهيد خريستوفوروس حامل المسيح". St-Takla.org. Retrieved 2022-08-05.
1 2 Ameisenowa, Zofia (1949). "Animal-Headed Gods, Evangelists, Saints and Righteous Men". Journal of the Warburg and Courtauld Institutes. 12 (1): 42. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
↑ Britannica, ed. (January 10, 2026). "Saint Christopher". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved January 18, 2026.

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

[2] "الشهيد خريستوفوروس حامل المسيح". St-Takla.org. Retrieved 2022-08-05.

[amai-3] 1 2 Ameisenowa, Zofia (1949). "Animal-Headed Gods, Evangelists, Saints and Righteous Men". Journal of the Warburg and Courtauld Institutes. 12 (1): 42. Retrieved 30 June 2025.

[brit-4] Britannica, ed. (January 10, 2026). "Saint Christopher". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved January 18, 2026.

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