The Orthodox Church commemorates today the Prophet Isaiah and the Great Martyr Christopher.
The Holy Great Martyr Christofer lived under Emperor Decius. His pagan name was Reprebus. His conversion to Christianity was a miraculous event. He was taken prisoner in a battle with the Roman imperial troops. He joined the Roman legions and fought against the Persians.
After Christopher had performed this service for some time, he decided to help the people to cross the river by carrying them on his shoulders. One day, a small child appeared in front of him, begging him to help it cross the river.
He willingly put it on his shoulders. As he was walking, the child seemed to be heavier and heavier, but he managed to reach the other side of the river. He told the child that the whole world could have been as heavy on his shoulders as he was.
The child answered, “You had on your shoulders not only the whole world but Him who made it. I am Christ your king, whom you are serving by this work. If you plant your walking stick it will grow into a tree,” and then disappeared. As he did so, the stick grew into a giant tree.
After this miraculous incident, he was baptized by the Holy Hieromartyr Babylas, who gave him the name “Christopher”, the bearer of Christ. He became completely a different person after his baptism thanks to the Divine Grace.
In Orthodox hagiography, Saint Christopher is portrayed as a man carrying Christ on his shoulders. That is why he is considered the patron saint of drivers. He became a martyr in 251 AD. He was beheaded because he remained steadfast in the Risen Jesus Christ.
Source: Church of Cyprus
