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Christopher the Great Martyr

Χριστόφορος

Martyr

Feast day May 9

Great Martyr Christopher of Lycia, the Christ-bearer, beheaded under Decius.

Christopher was a man of great stature from the region of Lycia who came to faith and was baptized with the name Christopher, the Christ-bearer. Tradition relates that his appearance was so fearsome that pagans fled from him, yet he brought many to Christ by his gentleness and the wonders worked through his prayers.

Under the Emperor Decius he was arrested, and the two women sent to seduce him were instead converted. After many tortures he was beheaded around the year 250. He is invoked as a protector of travelers.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, Christopher the Great Martyr is commemorated on May 9. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on May 22 of the civil calendar.

Who celebrates a name day

People with these names keep their name day on this feast:

Christophoros, Christoforos, Christopher, Christoph, Christofer, Kristofer

Also commemorated on May 9

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