Here is the tale of St. Christopher, adapted by The Avalon Faery, from the Golden Legend penned by Jacobus Voragine. If you would like to read the original, as translated by William Caxton in the 15th Century, you can find that here.

The Man

St. Christopher was a man of Canaanite origin carrying the birth name Reprobus.

He was a man of “right great stature… had a terrible and fearful cheer and countenance, and he was twelve cubits of length.” (1 cubit = an estimated 18 inches for a Biblical cubit / 12 cubits = 18 feet)

The Early Years

The Greatest of the World

Reprobus was living with, and serving under, the King of Canaan when he decided that he wanted to serve the greatest Prince in the world. Knowing this was not his current master he set out on a journey to find such a one.

After searching for a time he came upon a man reputed to be “the greatest of the world”. This King accepted Reprobus into his service and Reprobus took up residence in the King’s court.

Now this King was a Christian man and one day, while listening to a minstrel’s song in which the name of the Devil was mentioned several times, the King made the sign of the cross at each mention.

Reprobus wanted to know why the King would make such a gesture. The King, however, was reluctant to state his reasons. Reprobus threatened to leave the court there and then if he was not given an answer.

Hesitantly the King said to Reprobus, “Alway when I hear the devil named, I fear that he should have power over me, and I garnish me with this sign that he grieve not ne annoy me.”

Reprobus, feeling lied to and betrayed, then replied, “Doubtest thou the devil that he hurt thee not? Then is the devil more mighty and greater than thou art? I am deceived of my hope and purpose, for I had supposed I had found the most mighty and the most greatest Lord of the world, but I commend thee to God, for I will go and seek him for to be my Lord and I his servant.”

The Devil

Reprobus then took his leave of the King and his court and set out to find this devil to be his new master.

Travelling by a desert Reprobus came upon a great company of knights. One of the company approached Reprobus and demanded to know what he was about. This knight was terrible to behold, a cruel and horrid man.

Reprobus answered that he was looking for the devil as he wished to make him his Lord and master, for he wanted to serve the greatest Prince in the world.

The knight told Reprobus that he had found the one he sought for the knight was the devil. Reprobus bound himself in service and the devil took Reprobus as a trusty servant into the company.

The Cross

As the company was travelling along a road they came upon a cross erected at the roadside.

The devil became afraid. He took his men and left the true path, marching a meandering route, around a harsh desert. Only did he return his company to the road once they were a fair distance from that cross.

Reprobus demanded to know why they had done this when it had added a considerable amount to their journey. The devil was, as the previous King had been, reluctant to explain.

Just as he had with the King he had served before, Reprobus told the devil he would leave the company immediately if he did not receive an answer. The devil, even more hesitantly than that King, slowly explained to Reprobus, “There was a man called Christ which was hanged on the cross, and when I see his sign I am sore afraid, and flee from it wheresoever I see it.”

Reprobus, again feeling hurt and deceived, responded, “Then he is greater, and more mightier than thou, when thou art afraid of his sign, and I see well that I have laboured in vain, when I have not founden the greatest Lord of the world. And I will serve thee no longer, go thy way then, for I will go seek Christ.”

The Search for Christ

Reprobus left the company of the devil and began his search to find Christ.

He spent a long time searching, demanding of those he met along the way where he might find the one called Christ, yet he had no success.

Then, at last, he happened upon a hermit living in the depths of a great desert. The hermit knew of Christ and began to preach to Reprobus and instruct him in the faith.

The hermit, looking to teach Reprobus of the service he could lend to Christ, told Reprobus that Christ requires one to fast often. Reprobus asked that he be instructed to some other thing as this he could not do.

The hermit told Reprobus, in that case, he should pray often upon waking. Reprobus stated that he did not know what this was and so asked for a different task.

Finally the hermit asked Reprobus if he knew of the river in which many souls were lost. Reprobus stated that he knew this river well. So the hermit tasked him as follows, “Because thou art noble and high of stature and strong in thy members, thou shalt be resident by that river, and thou shalt bear over all them that shall pass there, which shall be a thing right convenable to our Lord Jesu Christ whom thou desirest to serve, and I hope he shall show himself to thee.”

Reprobus, filled with joy that he had, at last, a way to serve, responded to the hermit, “Certes, this service may I well do, and I promise to him for to do it.”

The River

Reprobus left the hermit, travelled to the river, built himself a hut, and set up residence on the river bank. He cut himself a long pole to help steady himself in the turbulent river waters and began his duty of helping travellers cross in safety.

Reprobus helped any traveller who requested assistance regardless of who the person was. Creed, class, wealth, etc., none of that meant anything to Reprobus. He only wanted to fulfill his duty to assist.

The Child

After having carried out this duty for quite some time, Reprobus was one night sleeping in his hut when it seemed that he heard the voice of a child asking to cross the river.

Reprobus awoke and went outside to see who it was that required his assistance. Yet he found no-one there. He looked all about the area around his home, there was no-one. Considering it must have been a dream he returned indoors.

He heard the voice again. That of a child requesting assistance. Well he could not be dreaming now as he was awake and had not yet returned to his bed. Reprobus hurried outside again and looked all around. But, just as the first time, there was no-one there.

Confused and wanting to return to his slumber Reprobus went back inside once more. A third time he heard the voice. Reprobus spun around and went immediately outside. This time he encountered the origin of the voice. A small boy-child was waiting there wanting Reprobus to help him across the river.

The Crossing

As Reprobus took all travellers across he did not deny this request. Picking the child up Reprobus set the boy on his shoulder and, taking up his pole, Reprobus waded out into the river to make the familiar crossing.

Suddenly the water began to rise and swirl in powerful eddys around Reprobus’ legs. The child began to feel heavier and heavier, as though Reprobus were carrying a great lead weight.

As they moved further out into the river the more the water rose, the heavier the child became, and Reprobus began to feel they might both be lost. Yet Reprobus continued his labours fighting the water and the weight to fulfil his sworn purpose.

Finally, after great pains and torment, Reprobus climbed the opposite bank of the river and set the child safely on dry land once more.

The Birth of Christopher

The Name

Reprobus, tired, worn, and winded, spoke to the child then, “Child, thou hast put me in great peril; thou weighest almost as I had all the world upon me, I might bear no greater burden.”

The child then responded, “Christopher marvel thee nothing, for thou hast not only borne all the world upon thee, but thou hast borne him that created and made all the world, upon thy shoulders. I am Jesu Christ the king, to whom thou servest in this work. And because that thou know that I say to you the truth, set they staff in the earth by thy house, and thou shall see to-morn that it shall bear flowers and fruit.”

With that the boy vanished from sight.

The Miracle

Reprobus, tired and wanting his bed, crossed back to the other side of the river. Before retiring for what was left of the night he did as the boy had instructed and set his pole in the earth beside his hut.

Upon waking the next morn Reprobus found, to his astonishment and delight, that the boy’s prophecy had proven itself true.

The pole bore leaves, flowers, and dates.

The Realisation

Reprobus was now Christopher.

Christopher had received his baptism, and new name, directly from Christ himself. His baptism had been one of both water, literally by the means of the river, and fire, in the pain and torment it had taken to carry the Christ child to the other side.

Transformed and made anew, Christopher found that he wanted to now serve in a different way. Therefore, after a little while, Christopher want travelling again.

The Converter

After travelling for a while Christopher found himself in Lycia (this would be a region in modern-day Turkey).

Another Miracle

Christopher found that he could not understand the language of the people in this region.

He prayed to God and asked for the power to understand this foreign speech and was granted the ability to do so.

Ministering to Martyrs

Now able to understand the language Christopher understood that there were many Christians being martyred here.

Christopher covered his face and went to where these Christians were being held and began to comfort them in their faith.

The judges presiding over the trials of these Christians became angry at Christopher’s ministering and struck him.

Christopher chided them and informed them that were he not now a Christian himself he would take vengeance on them for their insult.

The First Conversion

Rather than striking down the judges, Christopher took a more peaceful route in getting even them.

Christopher drove his travelling staff into the ground in the forum and began praying. While the judges scorned him he continued to pray, asking God to prove the power of the Lord.

After a little while the staff, just as the pole had by the river, began to sprout leaves, blossoms, and finally fruit which all could partake in.

This miracle the people saw and eight thousand of them were converted in Lycia that day by Christopher’s faith.

The Second Conversion

The King of Lycia then sent two knights to bring Christopher before the throne.

The knights came upon Christopher and found him deep in prayer. Not wanting to disturb him. In fact they knelt down beside him and prayed along with him.

The King then sent two more knights to fetch Christopher and bring the rumoured of giant before him.

Just as the first two knights, this second pair found Christopher praying. This new pair did not wish to disturb him either and also knelt to pray beside him and the first two knights.

Christopher finished his prayers and stood to find four knights awaiting him. Not knowing what they desired he asked them what they wanted with him and they answered that their King wished Christopher bound and brought before him.

Christopher answered, “If I would, ye should not lead me to him, bound ne unbound.”

The knights told Christopher to leave quickly, if he would, and they would tell the King that they could not find him.

Christopher though, knowing they would be punished for such action, refused and said he would go with them.

Christopher converted the knights and then allowed them to bind his hands behind his back. Thus bound they took him before the King.

A Refusal

When Christopher was brought before the King, the King fainted from his throne in fear of the sight of this giant. The King had to be helped up from the floor and assisted back to composure by his servants.

Once recovered, the King managed to ask this terrible giant of a man his name. to which Christopher responded that he was Reprobus of Canaanite lineage but now baptised he was Christopher, a Christian man.

The King scoffed at this and said, “Thou hast a foolish name, that is to wit of Christ crucified, which could not help himself, ne may not profit to thee. How therefore, thou cursed Canaanite, why wilt thou not do sacrifice to our Gods?”

To which Christopher responded, “Thou art rightfully called Dagnus, for thou art the death of the world, and fellow of the devil, and thy gods be made with the hands of men.”

The King tried to bribe Christopher, to coerce him into doing sacrifices, by offering him gifts and honours. Failing that the King threatened Christopher with torture and death if he would not accept and do the sacrifices.

Christopher continued to refuse. Eventually the King ordered him sent to a prison cell. Not only that, but he order the converted knights, that had escorted Christopher before him, to be beheaded.

The Third Conversion

The King, now thinking to be sly and cunning, sent two beautiful women, one named Nicæa and the other Aquilina, to the prison to try and encourage Christopher to sin with them. The King promised the women bountiful gifts if they could succeed.

Christopher, knowing the deceitful ways of the King, understood the plot, and remained seated and praying as the women embraced him in his cell. Nicæa and Aquilina pleaded and begged that he move and speak with them.

Eventually Christopher acquiesced and spoke, asking them what they wanted of him.

Nicæa and Aquilina, seeing how happy and content Christopher seemed, even though he were locked away in prison, asked of him, “Holy saint of God, have pity of us so that we may believe in that God that thou preachest.”

When the King heard that the women were, in fact, being converted rather than doing his bidding he sent for them. When they were brought before him he demanded that they either sacrifice to the gods or they would be put to death.

Nicæa and Aquilina, able to be a guileful and deceitful as he, said to him, “If thou wilt that we shall do sacrifice, command that the places may be made clean, and that all the people may assemble at the temple.”

A Defiant Act

The request of the women was carried out and Nicæa and Aquilina entered the temple as if to begin a sacrifice.

Suddenly, Nicæa and Aquilina ripped off their girdles and put them around the necks of the god-statues adorning the temple and pulled them down. They smashed the likenesses of all the gods into pieces on the temple floor.

Nicæa and Aquilina then turned to the crowds of people gathered there and mocked them saying, “Go, and call physicians and leeches for to heal your gods.”

The King was enraged at the women’s actions and immediately commanded that they be put to death.

Aquilina was hanged. Not only that, but a stone was tied to her feet as she was hanging so that her limbs would be pulled from their sockets.

Once Aquilina was dead, having been made to watch her sister die, Nicæa was cast into a large pit of fire. However, she issued forth from that fire entirely whole and utterly unscathed. Unfortunately this did not save her. The King in his anger ordered that she be beheaded shortly after.

The Martyr

After the deaths of Nicæa and Aquilina, Christopher was brought before the King once more.

Torture

As Christopher still refused to worship the gods of the King, and due to the King’s anger at the conversion of Nicæa and Aquilina and their acts in the temple, the King ordered Christopher be torutured.

The King commanded that Christopher was to be beaten with rods of iron while a red-hot iron cross was placed upon Christopher’s head.

The King then ordered that an iron stool be made. Christopher was bound to the stool and a fire was lit underneath. Fuel was then continuously added to the fire until it burned white-hot.

To the King’s utter dismay however, none of this inflicted any hurt on Christopher. Indeed the metal stool even melted like wax and Christopher remained entirely unharmed.

Archers

The King was sorely vexxed that his torturing had not been successful and so decided to just go ahead and kill Christopher. Yet he still wanted Christopher to suffer and so decided upon a novel approach to his death.

The King commanded that Christopher be tied to a stake and that forty archers should shoot arrows at him until he were thoroughly dead.

Unfortunately for the King, however, the arrows would not pierce Christopher. They stopped, suspended in mid-air, around the stake-bound giant.

The King approached the stake and arrows to see what was going on, what trick was being played here. As he did so, one of the arrows suddenly took up flight again, reversing it’s direction, and smote the King in the eye, blinding him.

Christopher, full of faith and even now not wanting to see any other in distress, said to the King, “Tyrant, I shall die to-morn, make a little clay, with my blood tempered, and anoint therewith thine eye, and thou shalt receive health.”

Death

The next day, now just wanting rid of this inconvenience, the King commanded that Christopher be beheaded.

This was done and Christopher became a martyr.

A Last Miracle and a Final Conversion

The King, after the beheading was complete, remembered the words of Christopher from the day before.

He had the clay, tempered with Christopher’s blood, made and dabbed this on his wounded eye as Christopher had instructed. Suddenly he cried out, “In the name of God and of Saint Christopher!”.

Lo and behold! The King’s eye was healed and the King became a believer in St. Christopher’s God. The King proclaimed that any that talked negatively of God, or Saint Christopher, from that moment forth should swiftly face death by the sword.