Saint christopher feast day
- What is saint christopher known for
- Where was saint christopher born
- When was saint christopher born and died
- •
St. Christopher
Please help support the mission of New Advent and get the full contents of this website as an instant download. Includes the Catholic Encyclopedia, Church Fathers, Summa, Bible and more all for only $19.99...
(Greek christos, Christ, pherein, to bear. Latin Christophorus, i.e. Christbearer).
A martyr, probably of the third century. Although St. Christopher is one of the most popular saints in the East and in the West, almost nothing certain is known about his life or death.
The legend says: A heathen king (in Canaan or Arabia), through the prayers of his wife to the Blessed Virgin, had a son, whom he called Offerus (Offro, Adokimus, or Reprebus) and dedicated to the gods Machmet and Apollo. Acquiring in time extraordinary size and strength, Offerus resolved to serve only the strongest and the bravest. He bound himself successively to a mighty king and to Satan, but he found both lacking in courage, the former dreading even the name of the devil, and the latter frightened by the sight of a cross at the roadside.
For a time his search for a new
- •
Use the links below to jump to different sections of our page dedicated to St. Christopher.
Overview
- Birth: 220 AD
- Location: Canaan (modern-day Palestine)
- Death: 250 AD
- Beatification: N/A (Before the Congregation for the Causes of Saints)
- Canonized: N/A (Before the Congregation for the Causes of Saints)
- Feast Day: July 25
- Patron Saint of: travelers and motorists
Story of St. Christopher
According to tradition, St. Christopher is venerated as a martyr from the third century. He is mentioned in the Golden Legend, a collection of hagiographies compiled in the 13th century.
His legend goes that he went in search of the most powerful king. He began serving his local king, and then became a servant of Satan, but then finally looked for the One whom even Satan feared, Jesus Christ.
One day, Christopher was working at a river, and he carried a child across until the child became so heavy that he could barely carry him. The child revealed himself to be Jesus Christ, and he baptized him and gave him the name Christopher, meaning “Christ-bearer.” T
- •
St. Christopher, Martyr
Protector of travelers
The most popular image of St. Christopher depicts him as a huge, bearded man, carrying the Christ-Child on his shoulders as he wades across a river. The Child Jesus is holding the world in His hands like a ball. This image dates back to one of the most famous biographies of those who were martyred on July 25th in Samos, in Lycia. According to this tradition, Christopher’s real name was Reprobus and he was a giant of a man who wanted to be at the service of the world's strongest king. When he visited the court of a king who was apparently invincible, he entered his service. One day, while the king was listening to a song that mentioned the Devil, Reprobus saw him make the sign of the cross and asked him why he performed this gesture. The king replied that he was afraid of the Devil and that every time he heard him mentioned he made the sign of the cross for protection. Reprobus then decided to look for the Devil who was evidently more powerful than his king. The Devil prove
Copyright ©giglard.pages.dev 2025