| Description: |
Third century martyr in the persecutions of Decius. Little else is known for sure. His fame derives from the pious legend of him being a "Christ-bearer" (= Christopher). He was a powerfully built man who wandered the world in search of novelty and adventure. He came upon a hermit who lived beside a dangerous stream and served others by guiding them to safe places to cross. He gave Offero instruction in the truth of God. Offero took the hermit's place, but instead of guiding travellers, he carried them safely across the stream. One day he carried a small child across the stream; the child's weight nearly crushed him. When they arrived on the other side, the child revealed himself as Christ, and he was so heavy because he bore the weight of the world on himself. He then baptised Offero with water from the stream. Christopher's service at the stream led to his patronage of things related to travel and travellers, people who carry things, etc. One of the Fourteen Holy Helpers. Born at Canaan as Offero Died martyred c.251 Name Meaning Christ-bearer (Greek: christos, Christ, pherein, to bear); (Latin: Christophorus, Christbearer) Patronage against lightning; against pestilence; archers; automobile drivers; automobilists; bachelors; Baden, Germany; Barga, Italy; boatmen; bookbinders; Brunswick, Germany; bus drivers; cab drivers; epilepsy; epileptics; floods; fruit dealers; fullers; gardeners; hailstorms; Havana, Cuba; holy death; lightning; lorry drivers; mariners; market carriers; Mecklenburg, Germany; motorists; pestilence; porters; Rab Croatia; sailors; Saint Christopher's Island; Saint Kitts; storms; sudden death; taxi drivers; toothache; Toses, Girona, Catalonia, Spain; transportation; transportation workers; travellers; truck drivers; truckers; watermen |
| Date: | Sunday, July 25, 2010 |
| Repeat Type: | Wednesday, July 25, 2007 (every Year) |
| Priority: | High |
| Access: | Public |
| Created by: | RiaMusic Ministry |
| Updated: | Sunday, July 29, 2007 8:05pm |