<Tr> <Th> Patronage </Th> <Td> bachelors, transportation (drivers, sailors, etc .), traveling (especially for long journeys), surfing, storms, Brunswick, Saint Christopher's Island (Saint Kitts), Island Rab, Vilnius, epilepsy, gardeners, holy death, toothache </Td> </Tr> <P> Saint Christopher (Greek: Ἅγιος Χριστόφορος, Ágios Christóforos) is venerated by several Christian denominations as a martyr killed in the reign of the 3rd - century Roman Emperor Decius (reigned 249--251) or alternatively under the Roman Emperor Maximinus II Dacian (reigned 308--313). There appears to be confusion due to the similarity in names "Decius" and "Dacian". However his veneration only appears late in Christian tradition, and did not become widespread in the Western Church until the Late Middle Ages, although churches and monasteries were named after him by the 7th century . </P> <P> It is disputed whether Christopher existed, and if so whether the name applied to a specific person or was a general title meaning "Christ - bearer" which was applied to several different real or legendary people . He may be the same figure as Saint Menas . His most famous legend, which is mainly known from the West and may draw from Ancient Greek mythology, tells that he carried a child, who was unknown to him, across a river before the child revealed himself as Christ . Therefore, he is the patron saint of travelers, and small images of him are often worn around the neck, on a bracelet, carried in a pocket, or placed in vehicles by Christians . </P> <P> There are several legends associated with the life and death of Saint Christopher which first appeared in Greece and had spread to France by the 9th century . The 11th - century bishop and poet Walter of Speyer gave one version, but the most popular variations originated from the 13th - century Golden Legend . </P>

Who is the saint that carried jesus across the river