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Saint St. Christopher lived in Lycia , under the reign of the Roman emperor Decius (reigned 249-251), and was at first named ''Reprobus'' before being [[baptism|baptised]]. Almost nothing Not much is known about him, but there are many legends connected to him.
→External links: updated GOARCH link
The holy, glorious and right-victorious great-[[Martyr ]] '''Christopher of Lycia''' (d. 249) the Dog-headed ''Christ bearer'' (Greek: ο Άγιος Χριστόφορος ο Κυνοκέφαλος) , also known as the ''Cynocephalus'' or ''Dog-headed'' among the West, is a [[saint ]] of the third -century. He is believed to be the [[patron saint|protector]] of travelers and is commemorated by the Church on [[May 9]].
==History==
The Orthodox tradition describes the saint as a tall man of tremendous strength who made a living carrying people across a raging river. One day his passenger was a child who grew so heavy as they crossed the river that St. Christopher feared they would both drown. He was amazed that such a small child could overcome someone so mighty as himself. The child then revealed that he was [[Christ]], and the heaviness was caused by the weight of the world which he bore.
Although so little is known about the life of St. Christopher, there is much to be gathered from his experience of carrying Christ across the river. His story represents a message of hope that all Christians are called to bear and to "put on" Christ, by taking up the crosses, given to each of us, in our lives. Christopher bore his "cross" (Christ himself) and eventually suffered [[martyr]]dom martyrdom for the faith, fulfilling the commandment of Christ, "He who does not take his cross and follow Me is not worthy of me" ([[Gospel of Matthew|Matt]]. 10:38).
St. Christopher came to martyrdom under the emperor who wanted to kill him for his faith. Christopher was first asked to renounce Christ. When he refused, he was tied to an iron stool, which was placed over fire. The stool melted, but St. Christopher was unharmed. The emperor then ordered archers to shoot him, but all the arrows missed. One archer shot the emperor in the eye. Outraged, the emperor then ordered that the saint be decapitated. St. Christopher's severed head told the emperor to put some of his blood in his wounded eye, and when the emperor did so, his sight was restored and he [[conversion|converted]] to Christianity.
The Greek word "Christophoros" translates into "Christ-bearer" and he is, therefore, depicted in [[iconography]] as carrying a child, who, in turn, is carrying a globe. Some people hold the superstition that if you see an [[icon ]] of St. Christopher you cannot die on that day; this superstition is not supported by the Orthodox Church.
"Cynocephalus" is a Greek word, literally meaning "dog-head." There are some rare icons that depict this martyr with the head of a dog. Such images may carry echoes of the Egyptian dog-headed god, Anubius; and Christopher pictured with a dog's head, is not generally supported by the Orthodox Church. However, these images have made him especially popular among the [[Roman Catholic]]s who have created many stories to explain his "cynocephalatic" appearance.{{citation}}
==External links==
*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=101334 Martyr Christopher of Lycia] ([[OCA]])
*[http://www.goarch.org/en/chapel/saints.aspsaints_view?contentid=47 Christopher the Martyr of Lycea] ([[GOARCH]])
*[http://www.westsrbdio.org/prolog/my.html?month=May&day=9 The Holy Martyr Christopher] (''[[Prologue of Ohrid]]'')
[[Category:Saints]]
[[Category:Ante-Nicene Saints]]
[[Category:Martyrs]]
[[Category:3rd-century saints]]
[[ro:Hristofor]]
