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There are quite a lot of stories to be told about one of the most popular saints in the world: St. Christopher, who is believed to be the patron saint of travelers. Do you ever wonder how St Christopher became the protector of wanderers? In this article, we will talk about the meaning and history behind St Christopher. And why St Christopher's jewelry is so popular among travelers?
The Story of Saint Christopher
As far as we know, St. Christopher is the only saint not mentioned in the Bible, and there is no solid evidence to prove that he ever existed. His canonization was maintained even though the Catholic Church revoke him from the universal calendar in 1969. St Christopher was still famous for his reputation as the Fourteen Holy Helpers.
Legend has it that St. Christopher was born as Reprobus or Offerus and lived in the Roman Empire during the 3rd century. He was believed to be a giant as he grew to be 7 feet tall. It came to his mind one day that he wanted to know why he was put on the earth and then left his home. On his way, St Christopher met a hermit who told him about Christ and that was the time he changed his name to Christopher (Greek for Christ-Bearer) and got baptized.
Once a child asked St. Christopher how he would cross the dangerous river, and the saint promised to help him cross the river safely. He began walking across the river with the child on his back, and as he walked, the child became heavier and heavier. With a mighty and great effort, St. Christopher take on this crushing weight and delivered the child safely to the other side of the river.
In the legend, St. Christopher said he felt like the whole weight of the world was put on his shoulders. Afterward, the child confessed that he was Christ, carrying the weight of the entire world on his shoulders. To prove that it was true, the child told him to drive his staff into the ground and the coming day the staff had turned into a prosperous fruit tree.
There is an argument about which Emperor was reigning at the time due to the confusion of the similarity in names “Decius” and “Daia” Many believe it was the 3rd century Roman emperor Decius, but others say it was Maximinus Daia. Regardless, whoever was ruling at the time was threatened by St. Christopher who became a martyr by being beheaded around 285 AD in Lycia now known as Turkey.
The Meaning of the Saint Christopher Medal
St. Christopher's medals were originally intended for Catholics as a symbol of their faith and to protect them while traveling, but today they are popular among people with faith.
Throughout the Renaissance, various paintings and sculptures depicted St. Christopher's legend. St. Christopher is usually shown on the medal as a very large man with a child over his shoulder and a staff in his hand crossing a river. The most popular way is to wear it as a pendant on a necklace or as a ring.
Over these years St Christopher medal has not only represented safe travel and protection but also become a symbol of overcoming adversity and the courage to follow your destiny.
As a Gift
Whatever your religious beliefs, gender, or age, a St. Christopher jewelry is a thoughtful gift! We’ve listed a few examples below.
St Christopher Pendant Necklace Saint Christopher Madallion
St. Christopher Ring Patron Saint of Travellers Ring Two Tone
St. Christopher Dog Tag Necklace Medal Jewelry
Stainless Steel St. Christopher Ring
To conclude, St. Christopher medals continue to be meaningful and traditional today. There are many people who wear Saint Christopher medals, including travelers, surfers, sailors, and people of the Catholic faith who believe St. Christopher protects -- but a Saint Christopher necklace is not limited to those who are Catholic. Anyone can take part in the St. Christopher tradition and the great meaning behind it. Let's see discover more Saint Christopher Jewelry now!