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Saint Christopher wading through a river with the Christ Child on his shoulders, painted by Konrad Witz about 1440

Saint Christopher

Remembered in legend as the ferryman who carried the Christ Child across a river

Patron of
travellers, pilgrims, boatmen, mariners, porters, gardeners, bookbinders
Western calendar
25 July
Orthodox calendar
9 May (22 May on the old calendar)

Almost nothing certain is known of Christopher except that he was a martyr, most likely of the third century, and the Orthodox remember him beheaded in Lycia around the year 250 under the emperor Decius. Around that martyr grew the story told in East and West of a giant who would serve only the strongest master, became a ferryman for Christ's sake, and one night carried across the river a child who grew heavier with every step, until the child made himself known as the Creator and Redeemer of the world. His name means Christ-bearer, his image long stood at church doors and bridges, and the legend made him the patron of travellers, pilgrims and boatmen.

Sources

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What is a saint’s feast day?

It is the day each year when the Church remembers a saint in its prayers, and for most saints it is the day they died and went home to God. Many saints here have two dates, because the Western and Orthodox Churches keep their own calendars, and some Orthodox churches still count by the old Julian calendar, which runs thirteen days behind ours.

What is a patron saint?

A patron saint is one we ask to pray for us in a particular place, work or need, as many ask Anthony of Padua for help when something is lost, and as Ireland looks to Patrick. A few patronages were declared by a pope, and most grew from long custom. A card says “Patron of” only where a source we checked names one.

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Why did you choose these saints and not others?

We began with the saints people search for most, by name, by need and by date, along with the apostles and the saints Orthodox Christians look for. Then we made sure every day of the year has at least one saint. That gives 378 so far, and we keep adding the saints readers ask for.

Every saint here, by feast day