One Saint, Two
Lives
The story of Saint Christopher's life is
astoundingly different, depending upon
whether one consults Orthodox or Roman
Catholic sources.
The Western version of St. Christopher was
ultimately repudiated by the Roman Catholic Church, as it was impossible to
distinguish associated accounts from any number of probably fictional folk
tales. Non-fantastic details of the Western Christopher's "life" were so scant
as to be essentially non-extant. [I think it is ironic that a lot of the blame
for Christopher's degredation by Rome in 1969 can be laid fairly and squarely at
the feet of the Aurea Legenda - seeking to extend his fame and glory with
fabulous tales the Aurea Legenda laid the groundwork for his dismissal in the
late 20th century, in times which are not so enamoured of pious
fables.]
This is not the case for St. Christopher as he is known in the East. While surviving
Eastern accounts of his life are replete with miracles and events that do not
mesh well with modern historiography, enough information has been preserved to
present a possible account of a St. Christopher
that would be amenable to modern historical sensibilities.
Fr
Ambrose