Jump to content

Saint Christopher

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected fromSt Christopher)
For other uses, seeSaint Christopher (disambiguation).

For places named for the saint in various languages, seeSaint-Christophe,San Cristóbal,andSão Cristóvão.
Saint

Christopher
St. Christopher Carrying the Christ Child,byHieronymus Bosch(AD 1485)
Martyr
BornUnknown
Canaan(Western accounts) orMarmarica(Eastern account)
Died251
Anatolia
Venerated in
CanonizedPre-Congregation
Feast
Attributestree, branch, as agiantorogre,carrying the Christ child, Spear, shield, as a dog-headed man
Patronageathletics,bachelors,transportation(drivers, sailors, etc.),traveling(especially for long journeys),surfing,storms,Brunswick,Saint Christopher's Island (Saint Kitts),Island of Rab,Vilnius,Havana,epilepsy,gardeners,toothache

Saint Christopher(Greek:Ἅγιος Χριστόφορος,Hágios Christóphoros,lit. 'Christ-bearer';[3]Latin:Sanctus Christophorus) is venerated by severalChristiandenominations. According to these traditions, he was amartyrkilled in the reign of the 3rd-centuryRomanemperorDecius(r. 249–251), or alternatively under the emperorMaximinus Daia(r. 308–313).[4]Churches and monasteries were named after him by the 7th century. There is no evidence for thehistoricityof the saint.[5]

The most famous legend connected to the saint recounts that after converting to Christianity, he devoted his life to carrying travelers across a river. One day he carried an unknown young boy across a river after which the boy revealed himself as Christ. Because of his help to travelers, he became thepatron saintof travelers. In the iconography of theWestern Church,the saint is often depicted as a giant with a staff carrying the infant Jesus across a river on his shoulders. Small images of him are often worn around the neck, on a bracelet, carried in a pocket, or placed in vehicles. He is one of theFourteen Holy Helpers.TheEastern Churchtradition depicts the saint as acynocephalus('dog-headed creature') in a literal interpretation of its legendary tradition.

Legend

[edit]

Legends about the life and death of Saint Christopher first appeared in Greece in the 6th century and had spread to France by the 9th century. The 11th-century bishop and poetWalter of Speyergave one version, but the most popular variations originated from the 13th-centuryGolden Legend.[6] [7] According to the legendary account of his life Christopher was initially calledReprobus.[8]He was aCanaanite,5 cubits (7.5 feet (2.3 m)) tall[9]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 kingcross himselfat the mention of the devil. On thus learning that the king feared thedevil,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 ahermitwho 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 they were perishing in the attempt. The hermit promised that this service would be pleasing to Christ.

Landscape with St ChristopherbyOrazio Gentileschi

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.[10]

Christopher later visitedLyciaand 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 beheaded.[10]

The nameChristopher,as used in theAnglophoneworld, is the English version of theGreeknameΧριστόφορος(ChristóphorosorChristóforos). It is formed from the word elementsΧριστός(Christós,'Christ'), andφέρειν(phérein,'to bear'), together signifying, "Christ bearer". Widely dispersed into other languages and cultures from the Greek, many native forms ofChristopherare used both to refer to the saint and as a personal name.[11][12]

The martyrdom of Saint Christopherby the Master of St Christopher with the devil, c. 1515

Veneration and patronage

[edit]

Eastern Orthodox liturgy

[edit]

TheEastern Orthodox Churchvenerates Christopher of Lycea (orLycia) with aFeast Dayon 9 May. The liturgical reading and hymns refer to his imprisonment byDeciuswho tempts Christopher withharlotsbefore ordering his beheading.[13]TheKontakion in the Fourth Tone(hymn) reads:[13]

Thou who wast terrifying both in strength and in countenance, for thy Creator's sake thou didst surrender thyself willingly to them that sought thee; for thou didst persuade both them and the women that sought to arouse in thee the fire of lust, and they followed thee in the path of martyrdom. And in torments thou didst prove to be courageous. Wherefore, we have gained thee as our great protector, O great Christopher.

Roman Catholic liturgy

[edit]

TheRoman Martyrologyremembers him on 25 July.[14]TheTridentine calendarcommemorates him on the same day only in privateMasses.By1954his commemoration had been extended to all Masses, but it was dropped in1970as part of the general reorganization of the calendar of theRoman riteas mandated by themotu proprio,Mysterii Paschalis.His commemoration is of Roman tradition, in view of the relatively late date (about 1550) and limited manner in which it was accepted into the Roman calendar,[15]but his feast continues to be observed locally.[16]

Churches and monasteries dedicated to the Saint

[edit]

A stone inscription of 2 m × 1 m (6 ft 7 in × 3 ft 3 in) was found in the ruins of a church in the ruins of the ancient cityChalcedonnear present dayIstanbul.The inscription bears witness to the laying of the foundation stone, the construction and the consecration of a church in the name of "Saint Christopher's Martyrdom". The inscription states that this Church of St Christopher dates back to the time of the Fourth Ecumenical Council, theCouncil of Chalcedon.[17]The inscription also mentions the names of the state ministers of theByzantine Empireand those church ministers who were involved in the laying of the foundation stone, the construction or the consecration of the church.[18]The inscription attests to the veneration of Saint Christopher in Chalcedon in the 5th century.

AnunneryinGalatiawas consecrated to Saint Christopher around the year 600.[19]

Relics

[edit]

The Museum of Sacred Art at Saint Justine's Church (Sveta Justina) inRab,Croatiaclaims a gold-platedreliquaryholds the skull of St. Christopher. According to church tradition, a bishop showed the relics from the city wall in 1075 in order to end a siege of the city by anItalo-Normanarmy.[20][21]

The Cathedral of St. James inŠibenikholds a relic claimed to be the incorrupt leg of the saint is kept at the. It was brought over in 1484 fromConstantinoplethroughCorfuand originally intended to be transferred toKorčula.The feast day of Saint Christopher is celebrated on 27 July in Šibenik.[22]

Greek Orthodox churches inGrevena,Filothei,andSiatistahold other relics claimed to be those of the saint.

A bronze St. Christopher medallion

Saint Christopher's "gigantic tooth"

[edit]

In the Late Middle Ages, a claimed large tooth of St. Christopher was delivered to the church inVercelli.Pilgrims came from all over Europe to look at this relic until the end of 18th century when a naturalist determined it was a tooth of ahippopotamus.The tooth was then removed from the altar and its veneration prohibited.[9]

Medals

[edit]

Devotional medalswith St. Christopher's name and image are commonly worn aspendants,especially by travelers, to show devotion and as a request for his blessing. Miniature statues are frequently displayed inautomobiles.In French a widespread phrase for such medals isRegarde St Christophe et va-t-en rassuré( "Look at St Christopher and go on reassured", sometimes translated as "Behold St Christopher and go your way in safety" ); Saint Christopher medals andholy cardsin Spanish have the phraseSi en San Cristóbal confías, de accidente no morirás( "If you trust St. Christopher, you won't die in an accident" ).[23]

General patronage

[edit]

St. Christopher was a widely popular saint, especially revered by athletes,mariners,ferrymen,and travelers.[6]He is revered as one of theFourteen Holy Helpers.He holds patronage of things related to travel and travelers—againstlightningandpestilence—and patronage forarchers;bachelors;boatmen; soldiers;bookbinders;epilepsy;floods; fruit dealers;fullers;gardeners;a holy death; mariners; market carriers; motorists and drivers; sailors; storms; surfers;[24]toothache;mountaineering; and transportation workers.

In Eastern icons, Saint Christopher is sometimes represented with thehead of a dog.

Patronage of places

[edit]

Christopher is the patron saint of many places, including:Baden, Germany;[6]Barga, Italy;Brunswick, Germany;[6]Mecklenburg, Germany;[6]Rab, Croatia;Roermond, the Netherlands;Saint Christopher's Island (Saint Kitts);Toses, Catalonia, Spain;Mondim de Basto, Portugal;Agrinio, Greece;Vilnius, Lithuania;Riga, Latvia;Havana, Cuba;San Cristóbal, Dominican Republic;Paete, Laguna, Philippines;andTivim, Goa, India.

Toponomy

[edit]

Numerous places are named for the saint, includingSaint Christopher Island,the official name of the Caribbean island of Saint Kitts, andSt. Christopher IslandinAntarctica.Many places are named after the saint in other languages, for exampleSaint-Christopheis a common French place name; similarly,San Cristóbalis a place name in many Spanish-speaking or Spanish-influenced countries, and theSão Cristóvãois in use throughout theLusophoneworld.

Iconography

[edit]

Because St. Christopher offered protection to travelers and against sudden death, many churches placed images or statues of him, usually opposite the south door, so he could be easily seen.[16]He is usually depicted as a giant, with a child on his shoulder and a staff in one hand.[25]In England, there are more wall paintings of St. Christopher than of any other saint;[16]in 1904, Mrs. Collier, writing for theBritish Archaeological Association,reported 183 paintings, statues, and other representations of the saint, outnumbering all others except for theVirgin Mary.[26]

In theEastern Orthodox Church,certain icons identify Saint Christopher with the head of a dog. Such images may carry echoes of the Egyptian dog-headed god,Anubis.Because of the association of the representation of dog-headed saint with stories of werewolves or of monstrous races, the Russian Orthodox Church proscribed the depiction of the saint with a dog head in the 18th century by Moscow.[27]


The roots of that iconography lie in ahagiographic narrativeset during the reign of the EmperorDiocletian,which tells of a man namedReprebus,(also,RebrebusorReprobus;'the reprobate' or 'scoundrel'). He was captured by Roman forces fighting against tribes dwelling to the west ofEgyptinCyrenaicaand forced to join the Romannumerus Marmaritarum[a]('Unit of the Marmaritae'). He was reported to be of enormous size, with the head of a dog instead of a man. This was in line with the cultural beliefs of the time, which held that typical Marmaritae were tall, strong, and rascally; being acynocephaluswas also consistent with this image. Roman writerPliny the Elderreported that the "Cynamolgicynocephali,of Ethiopia were men with the heads of dogs. "Pliny's work,The Natural Historywas, during the first century A.D., a well-respected compendium of Roman science. It reports accepted "knowledge" about people fromCyrenaica.Pliny notes that these "dog-headed men" resided in "Ethiopia" —a name used to encapsulate areas of Africa West and South of Alexandrian Egypt by contemporary Romans.[28][29]Reprebus and the unit were later transferred to SyrianAntioch,where bishop Peter of Attalia baptised him and where he was martyred in 308.[30]

Scholars have suggested that the Byzantine depiction of St. Christopher as dog-headed may have resulted from his identification as a member of the tribe of the Marmaritae who were a land of cannibals and dog-headed peoples. The Greek tradition interpreted this literally, which led to Byzantine icons often depicting St. Christopher with a dog's head. The Latin tradition in the opposite direction away from a literal translation of the original Greek term 'dog-headed. (kunokephalos). This tradition may have translated the term as "dog-like" (canineus). This later evolved into a misreading as the Latin termCananeus,'Canaanite', thus turning Christopher into a Canaanite.[31]

According to the medieval Irish Passion of St. Christopher, "This Christopher was one of the Dog-heads, a race that had the heads of dogs and ate human flesh."[32]It was commonly accepted at the time that there were several types of races, the Cynocephalus, or dog-headed people, being one of many believed to populate the world. The German bishop and poetWalter of Speyerportrayed St. Christopher as a giant of a cynocephalic species in the land of the Chananeans who ate human flesh and barked. Eventually, Christopher met the Christ child, regretted his former behavior, and received baptism. He, too, was rewarded with a human appearance, whereupon he devoted his life to Christian service and became anathlete of God,one of thesoldier saints.[33]

Depictions in art

[edit]
See also:Saint Christopher in popular culture

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^Such a "Unit of the Marmaritae" suggests an otherwise-unidentified "Marmaritae", perhaps the same as the MarmaricaeBerbertribe ofCyrenaica.

References

[edit]
  1. ^(in Greek)Ὁ Ἅγιος Χριστοφόρος ὁ Μεγαλομάρτυρας.9 Μαΐου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
  2. ^"الشهيد خريستوفوروس حامل المسيح".St-Takla.org.Retrieved5 August2022.
  3. ^Godden, Richard H.; Mittman, Asa Simon (21 November 2019).Monstrosity, Disability, and the Posthuman in the Medieval and Early Modern World.Springer Nature. p. 183.ISBN978-3-030-25458-2.
  4. ^T.D. Barnes, The New Empire of Diocletian and Constantine (Cambridge, MA, 1982).pp. 65–66.
  5. ^Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Saint Christopher".Encyclopedia Britannica, 25 Jul. 2024,https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Christopher.Accessed 25 October 2024.
  6. ^abcdeMershman, Francis (1908). "St. Christopher".InThe Catholic Encyclopedia.New York: Robert Appleton Company.
  7. ^Molteni, E.; Vergani, M.; Riva, M. A. (February 2019)."The gigantic tooth of St. Christopher".British Dental Journal.226(4): 240.doi:10.1038/s41415-019-0034-z.hdl:10281/220741.PMID30796375.S2CID256578248.
  8. ^"Weniger, Francis X.," St. Christopher, Martyr, (1876) ".
  9. ^abMolteni, E.; Vergani, M.; Riva, M. A. (22 February 2019)."The gigantic tooth of St. Christopher".British Dental Journal.226(240): 240.doi:10.1038/s41415-019-0034-z.hdl:10281/220741.PMID30796375.S2CID71148662.
  10. ^abJohn J. Crawley."Saint Christopher martyr third century".Archived fromthe originalon 10 October 2014.
  11. ^Brown, A.; Grim, G.; Le Get, R.; Shiel, N.; Slíz, M.; Uckelman, J.; Uckelman, S.L. (2021). "Christopher". In Uckelman, S.L. (ed.).The Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources.dmnes.org.
  12. ^Yonge, Charlotte Mary (1884)."Names from Cristos".History of Christian Names.London: Macmillan. pp. 104–106. [Part III, Chapter V, Section 3].
  13. ^ab"Christopher the Martyr of Lycea".Saints.Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. 2013.Retrieved16 April2013.
  14. ^Martyrologium Romanum(Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2001ISBN978-88-209-7210-3)
  15. ^Calendarium Romanum(Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1969), p. 131
  16. ^abcButler, Alban(2000). Peter Doyle, Paul Burns (ed.).Butler's lives of the saints, Volume 7.Liturgical Press. pp. 198–199.ISBN978-0-8146-2383-1.Retrieved25 October2010.
  17. ^Louis Duchesne (1878)."Inscription chrétienne de Bithynie".Bulletin de correspondence hellénique(in French).2:289–299 – via Digitalisat.
  18. ^Carl Maria Kaufmann: Handbook of Early Christian Epigraphy Herder, Freiburg i. 1917, page 391(Digitalisat) The inscription reads:With God was laid the cornerstone of the martyrdom of Saint Christopher in the thirdindictionin the month of May under the Consulate of the illustrious Protogenes and Asturius under the EmperorTheodosius IIand Bishop Eulalios of Chalcedon. But it was built by the venerable chamberlain Euphemidus, and the consecration took place at the end of the fifth indiction in the month of September, on the 22nd., under the consulate of the illustrious Sporacius and Herculanus.
  19. ^Dr. Werner Chrobak: Christophorus, Heiliger Riese, Nothelfer, Verkehrspatron | Sadifa Media Verlags GmbH | Kehl am Rhein 2004, p. 2
  20. ^"The legend of St. Christopher".rab-visit.com.
  21. ^Portal Grada Raba: Povijest 14. ZAŠTITNIK RABA SV. KRISTOFORArchived27 September 2020 at theWayback MachineNaime, Rab su 14. 4. 1075. svojim lađama opkolili italski Normani. Nemoćni da se obrane od brojnog i naoružanog neprijatelja, rabljani pozvaše u pomoć svog zaštitnika, svetog Kristofora <…> Svečeva lubanja dospjela je u Rab i čuva se u muzeju sv. Justine, kao dragocjena relikvija.
  22. ^"Danas slavimo drugog zaštitnika grada Šibenika i Šibenske biskupije sv. Kristofora. U katedrali je otvoren relikvijar sa svečevom neraspadnutom nogom".Šibenska biskupija(in Croatian). 27 July 2022.Retrieved25 July2024.
  23. ^Mount, Toni (2016).A Year in the Life of Medieval England.Amberley Publishing. p. 169.ISBN978-1-4456-5240-5.
  24. ^Diocese of Orange hosts First Annual Blessing of the Waves in Surf CityArchived16 September 2008 at theWayback Machine,Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange, 15 September 2008
  25. ^Magill, Frank Northen; J. Moose; Alison Aves (1998).Dictionary of World Biography: The ancient world.Taylor & Francis. pp. 239–244.ISBN978-0-89356-313-4.Retrieved25 October2010.
  26. ^Mrs. Collier (1904)."Saint Christopher and Some Representations of Him in English Churches".Journal of the British Archaeological Association.10(2): 130–145.doi:10.1080/00681288.1904.11893754.Retrieved25 October2010.
  27. ^Pageau, Jonathan. (8 July 2013)."Understanding The Dog-Headed Icon of St-Christopher",Orthodox Arts Journal
  28. ^Gebhart, Tim (19 May 2021)."Fantastical Humans Roamed Pliny's" Natural History "".Exploring History.Retrieved12 April2022.
  29. ^See Pliny:
  30. ^David Woods, 'St. Christopher, Bishop Peter of Attalia, and the Cohors Marmaritarum: A Fresh Examination',Vigiliae Christianae,Vol. 48, No. 2 (June 1994), pp. 170-186
  31. ^David Woods, The Origin of the Cult of St. Christopher,University College Cork, October 1999
  32. ^"Irish Passion of St. Christopher".Archived fromthe originalon 29 July 2013.
  33. ^Walter of Speyer,Vita et passio sancti Christopher martyris,75.

Further reading

[edit]
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related toSaint Christopher.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Saint_Christopher&oldid=1255024506"