The Passion of Saint Christopher (BHL 1764 - the Earliest Latin Account)

The passion of the most blessed martyr Saint Christopher and his companions who suffered in the city of Antioch under Decius Caesar on 10 July.

1. At that time there was much madness, and a great multitude of idol worshippers. When therefore this madness was growing stronger in its opposition to the Christian faith, there was sent forth an edict from the emperors of that time that all who worshipped God should taste the unclean food of idolatry, and that those who objected should be delivered up and subjected to different penalties. When they received this edict from the sacrilegious emperor, the governors devastated the church of God. In order that all of us Christians might learn that Our Lord not only helps Christians, but also rewards those from nations who are only recently converted to the Lord, and judges them acceptable in their knowledge of Him, [I tell the following tale]. There was a certain man who, since he was a foreigner from the land of man-eaters, had a terrible appearance, a dog's head as it were. He was captured in war by the counts at that time, and was led to the king. He posted him in the numerus Marmaritarum which stood at the king's hand. But when the most wicked edict was published by the governor this most blessed man was not able to speak our language.

Commemoration of the Consecration of the Church of Saint Christopher in Constantinople

According to the Synaxarion of Constantinople, on December 16th commemoration is made of the consecration of the Church of Saint Christopher in the Promotou area of Constantinople near the Church of Saint Polyeuktos. It appears this church was the site of the house of Promotos, the Magister Militum of Emperor Theodosius I.

The Depiction of Saint Christopher with the Head of a Dog

By John Sanidopoulos

Often when I read about the iconography of Saint Christopher in which his head has the form of a dog, known as cynocephaly, it is stated that this depiction goes back to Byzantine times. However, those who have actually studied the evolution of this icon clearly state that if this was true, we do not have an image of Saint Christopher from Byzantine times, nor is it anywhere mentioned that such images of the Saint existed in Byzantine times. In fact, the image of Saint Christopher as dog-headed is of rather recent origin, Post-Byzantine, during the Ottoman era, no earlier than the late 17th or early 18th century.

Saint Christopher the Great Martyr Resource Page

St. Christopher the Great Martyr (Feast Day - May 9)

 

Verses

I Christopher know you Christopher of like name,
Sacrificed for Christ God by the sword.

 

Synaxarion of the Holy Great Martyr Christopher

 

The Passion of Saint Christopher (BHL 1764 - the Earliest Latin Account)

 

Saint Christopher as a Model for our Lives

 

Holy Great Martyr Christopher in the Hymnography of the Orthodox Church

 

The Martyrdom of the Saints as Life in Christ and the Overcoming of Death (Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos) 

 

The Depiction of Saint Christopher with the Head of a Dog

 

Saint Christopher - A Carrier of God
 

Five Christian Saints Associated with Werewolves

 

Myths About Saint Christopher

 

Commemoration of the Consecration of the Church of Saint Christopher in Constantinople

  

Saint Christopher, Patron Saint Of Agrinio

 

The Blessing of Automobiles and Drivers for the Feast of Saint Christopher

  

Movie Recommendation: "Gravity"

 

Synaxarion of the Holy Great Martyr Christopher

St. Christopher the Great Martyr (Feast Day - May 9)

Verses

To Christopher.

I Christopher know you Christopher of like name,
Sacrificed for Christ God by the sword.*

To Kalliniki and Akylina.

Satan has again a new table,
Two women roasting on a spit by those in error.

This Saint lived during the reign of Decius (249-251). It is said concerning him that he was monstrous and strange, namely that he was dog-faced, and that he came from a land of people that were cannibals.** Captured in battle by a count, he was unable to speak, so he prayed and an Angel of the Lord was sent to him saying: "Be manly, Reprobus" (for this was his previous name). Then the Angel took hold of his lips, and made him speak freely. The Saint then went into the city, and rebuked the Greek pagans who were persecuting the Christians. For this he was beaten by a governor named Bacchus, to whom the Saint replied: "Willingly I humbled myself to the commandments of Christ, and I stood in place and was captured. For if I wanted to be moved by my rage and bravery, I will shrink neither from you, nor from the strength of the emperor, which compared with my strength is weak and nothing."

Saint Christopher, Patron Saint Of Agrinio

Saint Christopher the Martyr is the patron saint of Agrinio, where there are two churches built in his honor. The old church was founded in 1847 and the new one was founded in 1920 and consecrated in 1937.

The old church is found east of the city choked by the grove. This was the first parish of the village of Vrachori near Agrinio, as is evidenced by the location of the first cemetery of Agrinio near the church. The people of Vrachori chose to name their church after St. Christopher for the following reason.

Vrachori was known for producing an excellent quality tobacco. Most families lived off of tobacco. For this reason they greatly feared the hail which would fall in the Spring which would always come from the east and destroy the crops. For this reason they had to "shield" themselves from these eastern storms, hence the position of the old church.

But why St. Christopher?

In an eleventh century Life of St. Christopher, it is written that as the Saint was being led to his martyrdom, he lifted his hands and eyes to heaven and prayed: "Lord, since many sought me from the city or the country or the fields or whatever type of land, I pray Master that no disaster befall them, neither hail, nor anger, nor barren vine...protect their land."

This is how St. Christopher became the patron of Agrinio.

Years later, as people moved towards the center of the city, the old church on the outskirts of the city seemed remote, and it was too small to fit the needs of the growing population. For this reason a location was chosen for a new church in the city, in Triantafyllia, on three acres of land donated by Anastasios Rokas.

Work on the new church began in September of 1920 and the church was consecrated on 20 March 1938. A great feast to Saint Christopher is celebrated on May 9 annually.

The video below is from the feast in 2011. The first two photos below that are of the old church, while the two photos below that are of the new church.