Christopher the Roman

Holy Venerable Christopher the Roman (sixth century) was an ascetic of Palestine. He struggled in the monastery of Venerable Theodosius the Great, where he spent his nights in prayer in a cave. Later he went to Mount Sinai, where for fifty years he struggled in severe labours. At a command from above he returned to his native monastery, where he also reposed.

He was tonsured a monk in the monastery of Venerable Theodosius (commemorated on 11 January), in Palestine, near Jerusalem. The stories of Abba Theodulus about Venerable Christopher are passed on in the book The Spiritual Meadow, by John and Sophronius. Once Venerable Christopher went to Jerusalem to venerate the Holy Sepulchre of the Lord and the Life-⁠giving Cross. At the gate of the church he saw a monk who did not move from the spot. Two ravens flew before his face. Venerable Christopher understood that they were demons who would not let him enter the church. He asked the brother: Why do you stand in the middle of the gate and do not go in? Forgive me, father, answered the brother, two thoughts are fighting in me: one says, go and venerate the Precious Cross, and the other says, do not go, first do your work, and another time you will come and venerate. Then Saint Christopher took the brother by the hand and led him into the church. The ravens vanished at once, and the brother venerated the holy places. Venerable Christopher told this for the instruction of those who are not diligent in prayer, forgetting that spiritual service must be done first and only then the necessary work.

By day he fulfilled the monastery's obediences, and in the evening he went to the cave in which Venerable Theodosius and other fathers had prayed before. On each of the eighteen steps leading into the cave he made a hundred prostrations and spent most of the night in prayer, until the board was struck calling to morning singing. For eleven years he kept this labour. Once, going down into the cave, he saw there many lamps lit by two shining youths. Why have you set the lamps here, so that I cannot enter and pray? said the venerable one. These are the lamps of the fathers who serve God, answered the youths. Tell me, asked the saint, is my lamp burning or not? Toil, pray, and we shall light it, they answered. Then the saint said to himself: O Christopher, you must bear still greater labours to light your lamp. He left the monastery for Mount Sinai, taking nothing with him. For fifty years he laboured there in great ascetic feats. At last he heard a voice: Christopher, go to your monastery, where you struggled before, that you may rest there with your fathers.

He is commemorated on 12 September (new style).