Saint Christopher

Saint Christopher
St. Christopher Carrying the Christ Child, by Hieronymus Bosch (c. 1485)
Martyr
Born	unknown, Canaan (Western accounts) or Marmarica (Eastern accounts)
Died	c. 251, Asia Minor
Venerated in	Anglicanism Eastern Orthodoxy Lutheranism Oriental Orthodoxy Roman Catholicism
Feast	25 July (West), 9 May (East)
Attributes	tree, branch, as a giant or ogre, carrying Jesus, spear, shield, as a dog-headed man
Patronage	bachelors, transportation (drivers, sailors, etc.), travelling (especially for long journeys), storms, Brunswick, Saint Christopher's Island (Saint Kitts), Island Rab, epilepsy, gardeners, holy death, toothache

Saint Christopher (Greek: Άγιος Χριστόφορος) is a saint venerated by Roman Catholics and Orthodox Christians, listed as a martyr killed in the reign of the 3rd century Roman emperor Decius (reigned 249–251).

The Eastern Orthodox Church venerates Saint Christopher on 9 May. The Tridentine Calendar allowed a commemoration of Saint Christopher on 25 July only in private Masses. This restriction was lifted later (see General Roman Calendar as in 1954). While the Roman Catholic Church still approves devotion to him, listing him in the Roman Martyrology among the saints venerated on 25 July,^[1] it removed his feast day from the Roman Catholic calendar of saints in 1969. At that time the church declared that this commemoration was not of Roman tradition, in view of the relatively late date (about 1550) and limited manner in which it was accepted into the Roman calendar.^[2]

Legends of St. Christopher

Saint Christopher is sometimes represented with the head of a dog.

Although the Catholic Church suggests that almost nothing certain is known about the life and death of St. Christopher,^[3] there are several legends attributed to him. These include the story in which Christopher carries a small, yet almost unbearably heavy, child across a river. The child is later revealed to be Jesus Christ. It is this popular story from which Christopher became the patron saint of travellers, and it is the source for the derivation of his name. The Greek word Christophoros translates into "Christ-bearer." ^[4] though Offerus may simply be a back-formation of (Christ)ophorus.

Martyrdom

According to legend, during the reign of the Emperor Decius, a man named Reprebus or Reprobus (root of English "reprobate") was captured in combat against tribes to the west of Egypt and was assigned to the numerus Marmaritarum or "Unit of the Marmaritae", which suggests an otherwise-unidentified "Marmaritae" Berber tribe of Cyrenaica. He was of enormous size and terrifying demeanor, being a cannibal with cynocephaly (the head of a dog instead of a man), like all the Marmaritae.^[5] Reprebus accepted baptism and began to preach the faith. Eventually, the governor of Antioch (or in some versions, the Emperor himself) decreed that Reprebus was to be executed for his faith. He miraculously survived many attempts at execution, eventually permitting himself to be martyred after converting multitudes. His body was then taken back to Alexandria by Peter of Attalia.

The Golden Legend

According to the account in the Golden Legend by Jacobus de Voragine,^[6] Christopher was a Canaanite 12 cubits (18 ft) tall and with a fearsome face. While serving the king of Canaan, he took it into his head to go and serve the greatest king there was. He went to the king who was reputed to be the greatest, but one day he saw the king cross himself at the mention of the devil. On thus learning that the king feared the devil, he departed to look for the devil. He came across a band of marauders, one of whom declared himself to be the devil, so Christopher decided to serve him. But when he saw his new master avoid a wayside cross and found out that the devil feared Christ, he left him and enquired from people where to find Christ. He met a hermit who instructed him in the Christian faith. Christopher asked him how he could serve Christ. When the hermit suggested fasting and prayer, Christopher replied that he was unable to perform that service. The hermit then suggested that because of his size and strength Christopher could serve Christ by assisting people to cross a dangerous river, where many were perishing in the attempt. The hermit promised that this service would be pleasing to Christ.

After Christopher had performed this service for some time, a little child asked him to take him across the river. During the crossing, the river became swollen and the child seemed as heavy as lead, so much that Christopher could scarcely carry him and found himself in great difficulty. When he finally reached the other side, he said to the child: "You have put me in the greatest danger. I do not think the whole world could have been as heavy on my shoulders as you were." The child replied: "You had on your shoulders not only the whole world but him who made it. I am Christ your king, whom you are serving by this work." The child then vanished.

Christopher later visited the city of Lycia and there comforted the Christians who were being martyred. Brought before the local king, he refused to sacrifice to the pagan gods. The king tried to win him by riches and by sending two beautiful women to tempt him. Christopher converted the women to Christianity, as he had already converted thousands in the city. The king ordered him to be killed. Various attempts failed, but finally Christopher was decapitated.

Historical verifiability

The first hurdle is the idea that he was a dog-headed cannibal. This can be understood in the light of the practice of the time, which was to describe all people outside the "civilized" (Greco-Roman-Persian) world as cannibals, or dog-headed albeit metaphorically. A later generation could then mistake a metaphor or hyperbole for a literal statement.

The man in question is also said to have been assigned to a military unit made up of Marmaritae. The Marmaritae were the independent tribes of Marmarica (now in modern Libya), who would have been pushed to the frontier region after Roman settlement. Since he was from a frontier tribe, describing him as being from the land of dog-headed people would have been a literary convention of the day.

The various miracles attributed to him could be explained as ordinary embroidering typical of hagiography, especially regarding saints of the early centuries of Christianity.

Finally, we have the statements was killed in Antioch and his body taken elsewhere by a bishop. St. Christopher could not have been killed in the fourth year of the Emperor Decius, as Decius only reigned for two years. However, before ascending to the throne of the Eastern Roman Empire, Maximinus was known as "Daza" before rising to power. Unfortunately, there is no record of a visit to Antioch by Maximinus in the fourth year of his reign (308). It is, of course, possible that St. Christopher was executed in Antioch during this year by the order of a lower authority; a personal trial before one of the Caesars could be a later embellishment.

Unfortunately, none of this information permits identification of the actual man. Christopher is simply Greek for "Christ-bearer", and it can refer, as in the Eastern tradition and in Jacobus de Voragine's explanation of the name, to St. Christopher's willingness to "take up the cross" - a common metaphor for converting to Christianity. Reprobus simply means "wicked person", so saying that Reprobus became Christopher amounts to saying "A wicked person became a Christian." Furthermore, no place claims to be the burial site of St. Christopher, which would be very unusual for a martyr.

It has been speculated that St. Christopher could be the same man known as Saint Menas among the Copts, for whom a 4th century burial site is known but has no verifiable details about his life or martyrdom attached to him. However, there is no conclusive link.

Veneration and patronage

Eastern Orthodox liturgy

The Eastern Orthodox Church's hymn for the 9 May feastday of St Christopher refers to elements of his story found also in the Western Golden Legend:

Christopher, Great Martyr (Kontakion Tone 4): Your physique was overwhelming and your face horrifying. / You willingly suffered trauma from your own people. / Men and women tried to arouse consuming fires of passion in you, / but instead they followed you to your martyrdom. / You are our strong protector, o great martyr Christopher!

An image of Saint Christopher, such as is worn or is placed in a vehicle, for protection on journeys

Relics and medals

After having been held in Constantinople, the relics and the head of the saint were moved to the island of Rab in Croatia. When Normans tried to invade the islands and besieged the city, its inhabitants placed the saint's relics on the city walls. Miraculously, the winds changed and the bows and ships were blown away from the city. One of the city's largest medieval squares is named after the saint.

Christopher is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers, and the patron saint of travelers. Medallions with his name and image are worn to show devotion to a certain saint and ask for that saint's prayers. They are frequently displayed in automobiles. In French a widespread phrase for such medals is "Regarde St Christophe et va-t-en rassuré" ("Look at St Christopher and go on reassured"); Saint Christopher medals and holy cards in Spanish have the phrase "Si en San Cristóbal confías, de accidente no morirás" ("If you trust St. Christopher, you won't die in an accident"). In Austria an annual collection for providing vehicles for the use of missionaries is taken up on a Sunday close to the feast of Saint Christopher, asking people to contribute a very small sum of money for every kilometre that they have traveled safely during the year.

Saint Christopher and the Christ Child, by Tilman van der Burch, ca. 1470 (in situ, 2365Cologne Cathedral)

General patronage

Christopher has always been a widely popular saint, being especially revered by athletes, mariners, ferrymen, and travelers.^[7] He is revered as one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers. He holds patronage of things related to travel and travelers: against lightning; against pestilence; archers; bachelors; boatmen; bookbinders; epilepsy; floods; fruit dealers; fullers; gardeners; for a holy death; mariners; market carriers; motorists and drivers; sailors; storms; surfers^[8]; toothache; and transportation workers.

Patronage of places

Christopher is the patron saint of the following places: Baden, Germany^[7]; Barga, Italy; Brunswick, Germany^[7]; Mecklenburg, Germany^[7]; Rab, Croatia; Roermond, The Netherlands; Saint Christopher's Island (Saint Kitts); Toses in Catalonia, Spain; Agrinion, Greece; Vilnius, Lithuania;Havana, Cuba; and Paete, Laguna, Philippines.

References in popular culture

In Truman Capote's masterpiece novella Breakfast at Tiffany's, the narrator gives Holly Golightly a St. Christopher's medal for Christmas, "[b]ut at least it came from Tiffany's."

During the Beatles’ visit to New York in August 1964, a fan named Angie McGowan grabbed a St. Christopher's medal from the neck of drummer Ringo Starr. McGowan later returned the medal in a much-publicized event.

Actor Christian Bale can often be seen wearing a St. Christopher medal, his character in The Machinist wore it throughout the film.

In the hit BBC drama Life on Mars, the character Sam Tyler wears a St Christopher's medal.

Actress Jessica Alba carries a St. Christopher medal when she travels.

Professional Moto GP racers Anthony Schofer and six time title holder Justin Haghverdian both wear motorcycle jackets that carry the St. Christopher pendant in its upper left breast pocket. Many modern motorcycle jackets, such as those produced by Icon, are fitted with such an amenity.

In the movie The Spirit of St. Louis, (1957), James Stewart stars as Charles Lindbergh, the first man to fly solo non-stop from New York City, across the Atlantic Ocean, to Paris, France. Lindbergh is given a St Christopher medal before his big flight, which he refuses to accept, to save every unnecessary ounce of weight. His friend instead hides the medal in the aircraft, to make sure that the saint would be with him for the long and dangerous trip. Whether this short scene is based in fact, or a product of Hollywood is unknown.

In The Children of Green Knowe, by Lucy M. Boston, there is a large statue of St Christopher in the garden at Green Knowe.

The large African-American healing protagonist John Coffey of the Stephen King novel and movie The Green Mile is given a medal of Saint Christopher on a necklace after healing a woman.

Dennis DeYoung of the rock band Styx wrote the song "Christopher, Mr. Christopher" for Styx's 1974 album Man of Miracles. The song reflects fondly of the story of Saint Christopher and laments the perceived downgrade of Saint Christopher's status in 1969, when DeYoung sings "So when they took that saint away, all that's left were her fears".

Tom Waits wrote the song "Hang on St. Christopher", released on the album Franks Wild Years in 1987, in which he implores Saint Christopher to watch over him as he pushes his hot-roded cars and motorcycles to their limits.

In the movie Seabiscuit, Charles' wife gives Red a St. Christopher's medal for good luck.

Tom Waits also penned "Tom Traubert's Blues" where he sings, "I've lost my St. Christopher, Now that I've kissed her," supposedly implying he is no longer a bachelor or is reluctant to remain one.

In the 2003 movie "Cowboys & Angels", Shane Butler (Michael Legge) is given a Saint Christopher pendant by his mother just before leaving his parent's home for the first time. He later gives the pendant to his friend Vincent (Allen Leech) who is about to depart for New York.

In the 2004 movie Crash, Peter Waters (Larenz Tate) carries around a pocket sized statue of Saint Christopher. Waters hitches a ride from police officer Tom Hansen (played by Ryan Phillippe) who has the same statue figure on his dashboard. When Hansen laughs at the thought that Waters has one too, and Waters reaches to pull his statue from his pocket, the cop suspects a gun and shoots him. When Hansen approaches the dead man's body, he discovers the statue in his hand, not a gun.

In the 2004 movie The Butterfly Effect, the story's main character, Evan Treborn (Ashton Kutcher) is seen wearing a Saint Christopher pendant throughout the entire movie in each stage of his life.

In the 2007 movie "Gone Baby Gone", a child who goes missing is said to have been wearing a Saint Christopher medallion.

In the episode entitled "Would You Want Me to Tell You?" (1.5) of the 2007 show Saving Grace, Grace mentions that her husband (who does not exist) carries around a St. Christopher's medal for good luck while he his driving his trucks. She says that if she wanted to hurt him she would steal the medal just before a "long haul".

Saint Christopher is the patron saint of the Saltee Islands in Airman, a 2008 book by Eoin Colfer.^[9]

In the opening of "My Traveling Star", James Taylor sings: "Watch over all those born St. Christopher's Day".

The band Fosca released a song entitled "Letter to Saint Christopher" on their 2002 album Diary of an Antibody. In it, the protagonist asks Saint Christopher if he will "ever reach point B", using the story of Christopher and the young child's journey across the river as a metaphor for moving on from an unhappy life.

Many Icon brand motorcycle jackets feature a St. Christopher medallion in an inside pocket.

In an episode during the second season of Veronica Mars, a bus driver bought a St. Christopher medal at a gas station. This was an important plot point as this was the last thing the bus driver bought before he drove the bus off of a cliff into the ocean.

In an episode during the seventh season of Smallville, Three Kryptonian symbols (Traveller, Savior and Sanctuary) were translated by Clark and Chloe to mean the (fictional) Saint Christopher Church in Montreal.

Mary Chapin Carpenter wrote the song "The Moon and St. Christopher" released on her third studio album "Shooting Straight in the Dark" (1990).

In "All the Kings Men" by Robert Penn Warren, Sugar-Boy wears a medallion that the narrator hopes is of Saint Christopher.

In the middle verse of "The Call of the Wave", by Malibooz the lyric: "She smiles when she looks at his dresser/Sees his wax and St. Christopher there" refers to St. Christopher's patronage over surfers.

In Stephen King's "The Shining", the Cook of the Overlook Hotel has a St. Christopher's medal hanging from the rear-view mirror of his vintage Cadillac. This was in Part 5 "Matters of Life and Death". This character possessed supernatural abilities (hence "the shining") and could arguably be seen as a sort of saint himself.

In Denis Leary's stand up Lock 'n Load, he mentions that the Catholic church "kicked" St. Christopher out.

In Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales, in the General Prologue, the Knight's Yeoman is described as wearing "A Cristopher on his breast of silver sheen"

In the TV series Bones, FBI Agent Seeley Booth habitually wears a St. Christopher's medal

See also

Notes

External links

• The Military Martyrs A site with information on St. Christopher, St. Menas, and many other "soldier-saints" of the ancient era.
• Historia de Sancto Christophoro by Jacobus de Voragine (Latin) at The Latin Library
• The Legend of St Christopher from Caxton's edition of the Golden Legend (Middle English)
• A selection of icons depicting St. Christopher in the traditional Eastern manner.
• A modern Orthodox icon of the saint.
• Gymflesh.com, "The Legend of Saint Christopher the DogFace." With Orthodox and Western icons.
• WABC-TV coverage of the loss – and return – of Ringo Starr's St. Christopher medal