Every July 10, Saint Christopher of Lycia, a prominent figure in the history of Christianity in the first centuries, is remembered. And although the difficulties in knowing him and understanding his historical role are real, it is known with considerable certainty that he lived during the government of Decius, the third Roman emperor, around the year 250.
The history
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A famous legend, well known in the West and which could have been inspired both by real stories of Christian martyrs and by some character from Greek mythology, tells how Reprobus, whom tradition would baptize “Christopher”, carried a child on his shoulders. unknown across a mighty river. The boy had asked him for help to cross the waters since the current was very strong.
Cristóbal was always near the river since he usually helped anyone who wanted to cross it. This was a service he performed at the suggestion of a hermit whom he had asked how he could serve Christ, his Lord.
It was impossible for the vast majority of travelers to overcome the flow, while Cristóbal found it easier to cross than the rest, given his strength and height – it is said that he measured more than two meters -. So Cristóbal kept going, over and over again, from one place to the other.
Once he left the child on the opposite shore, before disappearing, he revealed to him that it was Christ, whom he was trying to help, helping others.
Christ Bearer
By considering this story, one can understand why tradition baptized this saint “Christopher.” The name comes from the Greek word “Christophoros”, which means “Christ-bearer”, or “he who carries Christ”. For this reason, since the 4th century, Saint Christopher has generally been represented as a man of great height and strength, with the baby Jesus on his shoulders, while he crosses the waters of a river leaning on a staff.
In the late Middle Ages the belief became popular that it was enough to look at the image of the saint and entrust oneself to him to be free from all danger during a journey; and this is how Saint Christopher became the patron saint of pilgrims, travelers, sailors, motorcyclists and transporters in general.
It is said that Saint Christopher probably served as a soldier of the Roman Empire in Canaan, and that once he left the military, he began searching for the “most powerful king” to serve him. It is, therefore, plausible to think that in that search he heard about Christ. It is also said that after having had that personal encounter with God as a child, he moved to Lycia to bear witness to him and console the Christians who were persecuted in that region.
Martyr
Tradition also indicates that after meeting God as a child, Saint Christopher was baptized in Antioch and went to console the persecuted Christians of Lycia and Samos. Precisely, in one of his stays in Lycia, he would have been taken prisoner by King Dagon, who, under orders from Emperor Decius, ordered him to be tortured. When he refused to abdicate his faith despite being tortured, his throat was ordered to be beheaded. According to a story attributed to a certain Walter of Speyer, the Syrian nation and Dagon himself converted to Christ thanks to this saint.
Saint Christopher in the memory of the people
Saint Christopher is a very popular character in both the East and the West. And his devotion has transcended the passage of centuries. It is so to such an extent that the art, customs and faith of those who travel invoke it here and there. Even poets considered contemporary such as Federico García Lorca and Antonio Machado have sung it with inspired verses. His image, whether sculpted or painted, almost always colossal and gigantic, decorates many cathedrals around the world, as is the case of the Toledo Cathedral in Spain.
If you want to know more about Saint Christopher, we recommend this article from the Catholic Encyclopedia: https://ec.aciprensa.com/wiki/San_Cristóbal.
More information about this saint in the following link:
Central Editorial
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