Silver St Christopher medal There are traces of the cult of the martyr St Christopher dating back from the 5th century in Bithynia, where a basilica was dedicated to him. His name means "Christ bearer", and became the protector of travel. A legend tells he was crossing a river when a child asked to be carried across. When Christopher put the child on his shoulders, he found the child grew heavier and heavier. The child, according to the legend, was Christ carrying the weight of the whole world.