Holy Martyr Christopher (May 9)

During the fierce persecutions raised against the Christians in the days of Emperor Decius, shortly after receiving Holy Baptism, Saint Christopher witnessed pagans cruelly abusing the faithful. Filled with righteous zeal and unable to remain silent before such injustice, he intervened boldly and rebuked them with great severity. Because of his towering stature and extraordinary physical strength, he escaped immediate arrest, for even the persecutors feared him.

Yet word of him soon reached the emperor, who ordered that he be seized at once. Two hundred soldiers were dispatched to capture him. After searching many places, they finally found the Saint as he was preparing to eat a small piece of dry bread.

The soldiers themselves were weary, hungry, and exhausted from their journey. Seeing their condition, Saint Christopher showed compassion toward them. They asked him for food and promised that they would not mistreat him. One of the soldiers, noticing that there was nothing before the Saint except a single dry piece of bread, mocked him and said that he too would become a Christian if Christopher could feed them all from such a meager portion.

Then the Holy Martyr knelt down in prayer and lifted up his heart to Christ God, beseeching Him to multiply the bread just as He had multiplied the five loaves in the wilderness, so that these hungry men might not only be fed bodily, but also be enlightened spiritually to know and confess the true God.

The Lord heard the prayer of His servant.

The small piece of bread was miraculously multiplied, and all the soldiers ate and were satisfied. Witnessing this wonder, they fell at the feet of Saint Christopher in fear and amazement, begging him to teach them concerning the God whom he served.

With simplicity, humility, and the grace of the Holy Spirit, Saint Christopher proclaimed to them the saving truth of the Christian Faith. Their hearts were opened, and they all desired to become Christians. The Saint then led them to Babylas, the Bishop of Antioch, who instructed them further and received them into the Church through Holy Baptism.

After this, Saint Christopher himself endured terrible and inhuman tortures for the sake of Christ. Remaining steadfast and unshaken in faith, he confessed the Name of the Lord unto the end and received the crown of martyrdom through beheading in the year 251.

The Church later celebrated his holy Synaxis at his Martyrion near the church of the Holy Great-Martyr George at Kyparission, and also at the church of the Holy Martyr Polyeuctus near Saint Euphemia of Olybrius.

Through the prayers of the Holy Martyr Christopher, may we also be granted courage in confession, compassion toward others, and unwavering faith in Christ our true God.