Christophorus - Christophorus (English spelling)

A semi-legendary martyr. His feast day is July 25th. According to legend, there was a strong man from Canaan called Ophelo in the 3rd century. He longed for the strong in this world, and wandered around serving kings and devils, but eventually he met an ascetic who served Christ, and became a river ferryman. One night, he carried the infant Christ on his back and crossed the river, and from then on he was called "Christophorus" (the one who carries Christ). He then worked hard to spread the gospel, and was martyred in Samos. Just before his death, he vowed, "I will remove all disasters and fears from those who look to me and trust in God." In Europe, he is worshipped as a saint who protects against anxiety and suffering, and is also the patron saint of travel, pilgrimage, and transportation, and is often depicted in sculptures and paintings in churches, bridges, etc. It is one of the prototypes of Romain Rolland's "Jean-Christophe" and Akutagawa Ryunosuke's "The Legend of Saint Kirishitohoro."

[Shigeo Ueda November 17, 2017]

"Ikeda Toshio, 'Saints of the Church, Volume 2', Revised and expanded edition (1981, Chuo Publishing)" ▽ Ueda Shigeo, 'The Characteristics of Patron Saints and the Problem of Popular Customs' (Waseda University Graduate School Bulletin, Vol. 26, 1981)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

半伝説的殉教聖者。祝日は7月25日。伝説によれば、3世紀ごろカナン出身のオフェロとよばれる力の強い人がいた。この世の強い者にあこがれ、王者や悪魔にも仕えて放浪するが、最後にキリストに仕える苦行者を知り、川の渡守(わたしもり)となる。ある夜幼児キリストを背に負って対岸に渡し、以後「キリストを背負う者」（クリストフォルス）とよばれるようになった。その後、布教に努め、サモスで殉教を遂げた。死の直前に「わたしを見つめる者、神に信頼を置く者に、すべての災いとおそれを除こう」と誓いをたてた。ヨーロッパでは不安・苦悩を防ぐ救難聖者として崇拝され、旅、巡礼、運輸にかかわる守護聖者でもあり、教会や橋などの彫刻や絵画に多数造型されている。ロマン・ロランの『ジャン・クリストフ』や芥川龍之介(あくたがわりゅうのすけ)の『きりしとほろ上人(しょうにん)伝』の原型の一つ。

［植田重雄　2017年11月17日］

『池田敏雄著『教会の聖人たち　下巻』増補改訂版（1981・中央出版社）』▽『植田重雄「守護聖者の特質と民間習俗化の問題」（『早稲田大学大学院紀要』26集所収・1981）』

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