Fast, concise facts and information about Saint Christopher
The following provides fast and concise facts and information: - The patron of Strength, Travel and Travellers
- Memorial Day / Feast Day: July 25th
- Date of Death: Saint Christopher died in A.D. c250
- Cause of Death: Beheaded
Who or what is Saint Christopher the patron saint of?
Saint Christopher is the patron of Travel and Travellers. Meanings, definition and origins - a patron is considered to be a defender of a specific group of people or of a nation. There is a patron for virtually every cause, profession or special interest. Prayers are considered more likely to be answered by asking a patron for intercession on their behalf. Prayer to Saint Christopher The Story and History of Saint Christopher
The story and history of Saint Christopher. He was originally called Offero, a pagan. Offero was a well-built, strong man and so tall that was sometimes referred to as a giant. On his travels he met a hermit who guided travellers to the safe points where they could cross a dangerous river. Christopher took the place of the hermit but instead of just guiding travellers to safe places, he would often carry them across the river, especially any small children. Legend re-tells the story so that one of these children was the infant Jesus. He converted to Christianity, through the teachings of the hermit, and he changed his name to Christoffero which led to the name Christopher. Early in AD250 the Roman Emperor Decius (reigned 249–251) issued an edict for the suppression of Christianity in the Roman Empire and Christopher is listed as a martyr killed during these persecutions of 3rd century Rome. Death of Saint Christopher
There are two categories of saints: martyrs and confessors. A Christian martyr is regarded as one who is put to death for his Christian faith or convictions. Confessors are people who died natural deaths. Date of Death: Saint Christopher died in A.D. c250. Cause of Death: Beheaded. Why is Saint Christopher the patron of Travel and Travellers?
Why is Saint Christopher is the patron of Travel and Travellers? His close association with helping travellers. How Saint Christopher is represented in Christian Art
It is helpful to be able to recognise Saint Christopher in paintings, stained glass windows, illuminated manuscripts, architecture and other forms of Christian art. The artistic representations reflect the life or death of saints, or an aspect of life with which the person is most closely associated. Saint Christopher is represented in Christian Art as wading across a swollen stream bearing the infant Christ on his shoulders, and a pilgrim's staff in his hand, in allusion to the incident in his legend. As stated Christopher was a man of colossal build and strength, and his image will often be met with in out-of-the-way Continental places hewn out of a rock, or in the side of a church, in gigantic proportions. Persons who look upon such a figure of the saint are believed to be exempt from the perils of earthquake, tempest, and fire for that day; since, at the time of his martyrdom, he said that those who remembered him and trusted in God should not suffer death by earthquake, tempest, or fire.
Feast Day of Saint Christopher
The Feast Day of Saint Christopher is July 25th. The origin of Feast Days: most saints have specially designated feast days and are associated with a specific day of the year and these are referred to as the saint's feast day. The feast days first arose from the very early Christian custom of the annual commemoration of martyrs on the dates of their deaths at the same time celebrating their birth into heaven. | 