No other saint has as many assumptions as the martyr Christopher. He lived in the third century, before his baptism bore the name Reprev. He served in the Roman legion and had a dog head. For centuries, no assumptions have been made about
Christopher’s head. Some said it was a metaphor and it just looked pretty scary. Others claimed he had a genetic condition that made his skull look like a dog. However, legend says that when Emperor Decius Trajan
I saw him faint.
Reprev believed in Christ with all the fervor of a sinner who realized his sins. He did not hide his faith, for which he was beaten by a man named Bacchus. Reprebus took the beatings with humility, which so struck Bacchus that he too believed. Then for the strong Reprev sent 200 soldiers to
Bring him to the emperor. He agreed to follow them voluntarily. Miracles happened along the way. The staff in the hand of the saint blossomed, the supplies increased. As a result, not one Christian ate to the emperor, but 201 because the soldiers believed. The priest of Antioch baptized them all, giving Reprebus the name Christopher, who follows Christ.
The emperor set a trap for Christopher by sending prostitutes to him to persuade the saint to renounce the Savior. He became angry when he learned that the prostitutes also believed.
Then Decius Trajan ordered to throw the saint into a copper box and put the box on fire. But God protected Christopher. Then he was beaten, pricked with spikes, finally cut off his head.
The relics of the saint, after a short stay in Constantinople, were transported to the island of Rab. Now it’s Croatia. When the Normans attacked the city in the 11th century, the relics were taken to the walls. A strong wind rose and drove the enemy’s ships away from the island.
The head of the saint is still kept in the church of the city of Raba, in which there is a museum of sacred art.
In Russia, Christopher was considered a protector from sea diseases. Every time epidemics broke out in the country, churches were built in honor of the saint and new icons were painted. On the icons of Christopher depicted as a warrior with a dog’s head.
Memorial Day
22 May
The Holy Land Charitable Foundation
Lives of Saints
