How tall was saint christopher

Visiting The Met? Browse the Collection. Saint Christopher Carrying Christ — Public Domain. Open Access. Ellsworth Ltd. New York. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Notable Acquisitions Metropolitan Museum of Art no. Raggio, Olga, ed. Wixom, William D. Fisher, Sally. New York: Harry N. Spitz Master French, active about - Saint Christopher was a man of great size and strength who devoted himself to Jesus by helping travelers cross a dangerous river.

One day a child asked to ride on Christopher's shoulders across the river, but the infant seemed to grow heavier and heavier with every step. When they arrived on the opposite shore, the child identified himself as Christ , telling the holy man that he had just carried the weight of the world. Saint Christopher became one of the most popular patron saints for travelers in the Middle Ages.

In the book of hours by the Spitz Master, the miniature of this scene precedes an intercessory prayer to Saint Christopher. The miniature is characterized by an intimate, even playful quality. As the saint gently grasps Jesus' foot, the child tenderly clasps the saint's hair in a gesture that underscores Jesus' humanity. In the miniature's border are scenes from the life of Saint Christopher. He died a martyr in Lycia, in A. During the s, the Catholic Church reviewed and revised the Calendar of Saints, and eliminated the feast days of several saints including the celebration of St.

Christopher which was on July 25th. Although Christopher does remain a saint, his day of celebration, July 25, is no longer listed on the Catholic calendar. Despite this confusion, devotion to St. Christopher continues. Travelers wear St. Christopher medals around their necks, place St. Christopher medallions on their dashboards, carry St. Christopher medal key chains in their pockets, or clip them to sun visors to keep him close and to protect them.

The medal is worn to protect travelers and is also said to offer protection against lightening, pestilence, flood and epilepsy. Christopher also has a following with soldiers. In cases where a soldier is unable to wear or keep a medal on his person, he might carry a St. Christopher prayer card in his pocket. Christopher, the protector of travelers, a life of service.