The Holy Martyr Christopher: Life & Canon

Concerning the all-glorious martyr Christopher, much that is strange and unusual has been said, ranging from his having the head of a dog to his origins in a country of cannibals. When a guardsman took him captive in battle, he lacked the ability to speak. He prayed to God, and God sent him an angel, who told him: “Be of good cheer, O Reprebius” (that was his first name)—and then touched his lips, and thereby transmitted to him the ability to speak. After this, when he arrived in a certain city, he began to rebuke those who were persecuting the Christians. For this, a certain Bacchus beat him; but in reply the saint told Bacchus that he was accepting the beating with humility for the sake of the commandment of Christ; but that if he were to give himself over to anger, neither Bacchus himself, nor even the power of the emperor, to which he might turn, would be of any avail. Stichera (hymns) to the Martyr from this book: O all-glorious Christopher, thou pillar named after Christ, precious ornament of grace: having cast down the dominion of the mighty, thou didst put the tyrants to shame and didst proclaim Christ, thy Creator, to be thy true King; and by His divine power thou hast received from heaven a divine crown and abiding glory. Illumined with unapproachable divinity, ineffable grace and constant effulgence, destroying the gloom of idolatry, thou didst splendidly cast down the arrogance of the iniquitous; and, assailed by fire and wounds, thou didst cast down at the tribunal the archer who was thy foe, and wast shown forth as victorious. The hosts of the armies on high marvelled at thee, the ranks of the martyrs rejoiced with thee, the assemblies of the righteous cried out together, and from on high God crowned thee with His divine hand. Wherefore, we cry out: Through the supplications of Christopher save all who celebrate his divine festival, in that Thou art compassionate. Paperbound, 12 pages, 5" x 8"