Icon of St. Christopher 21st c. - 00STCH02

Feast Day/Commemorated: May 9

Saint Christopher lived during the 3rd century and was martyred around the year 250 under the reign of Emperor Decius. He was a man of immense stature and strength, originally named Reprebus. According to tradition, he was once so handsome that he asked God for an unattractive face to avoid temptation for himself and others. Even before his baptism, Reprebus confessed his Christian faith and endured a beating with humility. While some accounts suggest he was from the Canaanites, others believe he was from the "Cynoscephalai" of Thessaly. He is widely venerated, particularly in Italy, where he is prayed to for protection against contagious diseases.

Due to his renowned strength, 200 soldiers were sent to bring him to the emperor. Reprebus went without resistance, and along the way, his prayers led to several miracles. A dry stick he was carrying blossomed, and a small amount of bread was multiplied to feed all the travelers. The soldiers were so astonished by these events that they converted to Christianity. They, along with two profligate women, Callinika and Aquilina, who were sent to tempt him but were also converted, were baptized by Saint Babylus of Antioch, a testament to the power of Christopher's faith.

The most famous story associated with the saint explains how he earned the name Christopher, which means "Christ-bearer." Having made a vow to serve the greatest king in the world, he served a local king and then the devil, only to find that both were subject to a greater power: Christ. Directed to serve Christ by helping others, he became a ferryman who carried people across a dangerous river. One night, he carried a small Child who grew heavier with every step, until Christopher felt he was carrying the weight of the entire world. When they reached the other side, the Child revealed himself as Christ and explained that the weight was that of the sins of the world.

Christopher was eventually brought before the emperor Decius, who tried to use cunning to make him renounce his faith. When the women he sent to tempt Christopher converted instead, they were martyred. The emperor also ordered the execution of the soldiers who had been converted by Christopher. For his refusal to deny Christ, Christopher was subjected to fierce torments, including being thrown into a red-hot metal box, from which he emerged unharmed. He was finally beheaded with a sword in Lycia, and by his miracles, he is said to have converted as many as 50,000 pagans to Christianity. His relics were later moved to Spain and France.

Today, the saint's legacy and veneration continue to be strong. The name "Christopher" is significant, referring to both the physical act of carrying Christ across the river and the spiritual act of carrying Christ within oneself. In Greece, his icon is often placed at church entrances, and it is believed that gazing upon it provides protection from sudden or accidental death that day. The rhyming couplet "When you see Christopher, you can walk in safety" captures this belief. Pieces of his holy relics are preserved in various monasteries throughout Greece and Cyprus.

This beautiful and finely detailed icon is the work of our own Kyriakos Kosova. The icon is available in our own standard sizes. Featuring Christ as the Pantocrator.

Kyriakos Kosova is a master iconographer who spent much of his life in Albania, Greece and Italy. He is now in the US to continue his work in Orthodox Churches to the glory of God. Contact us, if you would like to hire him for your parishes iconographic needs.

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