St. Christopher
Patron of travellers, drivers, and safe journeys
- Feast day
- July 25
- Origin
- Asia Minor
- Era
- 3rd century
About the saint
Christopher — the name means "Christ-bearer" — is remembered as a giant of a man who wanted to serve the greatest king there was. Told that the greatest king was Christ, and unable to fast or pray well, he was given the work of carrying travellers across a dangerous river.
One night he carried a small child who grew impossibly heavy midstream. On the far bank the child told him he had borne the weight of the whole world and its maker. He is believed to have been martyred under Decius in the third century.
Medals bearing his image are among the most widely carried Christian objects in the world, kept in cars and packed in luggage.
Documented miracles
The child at the river
The child he carried across the flood became unbearably heavy and revealed himself as Christ, giving Christopher his name.
Traditional account
The flowering staff
His wooden staff is said to have taken root and blossomed, converting many who saw it.
Lycia, 3rd century