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02Knights Templar - Julian Emperor

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SAINTS IN THE MIDDLE AGES<br />

Other important shrines dedicated to St Michael are St<br />

Michael’s Church, Liv in the Ukraine, the Monastery of<br />

Archangel Panormitis on the Greek island of Symi and Monte<br />

Sant’Angelo sul Gargano in Italy.Today, St Michael is considered<br />

in Christianity to be the patron saint of a number of occupations<br />

but, because of his role fighting Satan, he is<br />

particularly associated with the armed forces. He is the particular<br />

patron saint of paratroopers and also of police officers.<br />

His feast day is celebrated on 29 September. Today his feast<br />

day is known as St Michael and All Angels because, within the<br />

Roman Catholic Church, it is now shared with the archangels<br />

Raphael and Gabriel.<br />

St Christopher<br />

The popularity of St Christopher reached its peak in Europe<br />

during the Middle Ages. Like those of many other saints, his<br />

story was crystallised in the general imagination by its inclusion<br />

in The Golden Legend by Jacobus deVoragine. Almost<br />

nothing is known about St Christopher but it was believed<br />

that he was a third-century martyr who was killed in Asia<br />

Minor. His name is Greek for‘Christ-bearer’ and is likely to<br />

be the source of the story of St Christopher. According to<br />

one legend, St Christopher was a man of great physical<br />

stature who approached a hermit one day and asked him the<br />

best way that he could serve Christ.The hermit replied that<br />

he should take up residence near a river and help travellers<br />

to cross from one side to another. One day a child asked St<br />

Christopher if he would bear him across the river and the<br />

saint replied that he would. It was said that there had been<br />

a storm and that the river had become a raging and dangerous<br />

torrent. When he was carrying him across the flooded<br />

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