CATHOLICISM’S BELOVED CRYPTID
He’s one of the most enduringly popular saints in Catholicism, despite questions that he even existed. But was the patron saint of travelers a Dogman?
Here in the Great Lakes region, folks like me who love the paranormal share very similar bucket lists: those places of legend and lore that draw us like moths to the flame. Way at the top of out list-in-common is a place near Elkhorn, Wisconsin known as Bray Road. It’s just a little country byway through farm fields, but it’s become a point of pilgrimage for countless legend trippers over the years, as it’s said to be the stomping grounds of a creature called, appropriately, the Beast of Bray Road.
Witnesses of the Beast report sightings of a creature described as wolf-like or bear-like, with humanoid features. Such reports date back to 1936, peaking in the late 20th century but continuing today. In fact, my late friend, Linda Godfrey, initially a skeptical reporter, documented local encounters in the early 1990s and later wrote The Beast of Bray Road: Tailing Wisconsin's Werewolf (2003), which popularized the legend. Linda became the queen of cryptid documentation, writing many, many books over decades and distinguishing herself as the hands-down expert on Dogmen in particular: creatures purported to be part canine and part human.
I loved listening to Linda’s stories, and she was a speaker at some of our Chicago paranormal conferences over the years. It was also fascinating to hear her share her tales on late night radio with paranormal radio host, Art Bell. But little did I know as I followed Linda’s work that the Catholic faith has our own inexplicable cryptid—described not too differently from Wisconsin’s Bray Road Beast.
St. Christopher, one of the most beloved saints in Catholic tradition, is often depicted as a towering figure who carried the Christ Child across a river. However, buried within centuries of hagiography and folklore is a peculiar and enduring legend: that St. Christopher was a cynocephalus—a man with the head of a dog.
This strange depiction is not merely an anomaly of Christian art but part of a much larger, global tradition of dog-headed men. From ancient mythologies to medieval accounts of distant lands, the idea of dog-headed humanoids has fascinated and perplexed humanity for centuries. To understand the full scope of this legend, we must explore the history of cynocephali, their role in different cultures, and how St. Christopher became linked to this enigmatic tradition.
The Cynocephali in Ancient History and Mythology
The concept of cynocephali (Greek: "dog-heads") predates Christianity and spans numerous cultures. Ancient Greek and Roman writers, Indian epics, Chinese explorers, and even medieval European chroniclers all describe races of dog-headed men living on the fringes of the known world.
Herodotus and the Dog-Headed Tribes
The Greek historian Herodotus (5th century BCE), often called the "Father of History," described exotic peoples living in distant lands. In his Histories, he mentions tribes in Libya with dog-like characteristics. Though his descriptions were based on secondhand accounts, they contributed to the widespread belief in cynocephali as real, albeit distant, beings.
Ctesias and the Indian Cynocephali
Ctesias, another Greek historian from the 5th century BCE, provided a detailed description of cynocephali in his Indica. He claimed they lived in the mountains of India, communicated through barking, and were skilled hunters. According to Ctesias, these beings lived off raw meat, carried powerful weapons, and traded valuable goods like gemstones and spices with their human neighbors.
The Cynocephali in Indian and Chinese Traditions
In Indian mythology, cynocephali appear in epics like the Mahabharata. The warrior god Hanuman, often depicted with simian features, may have ties to early cynocephalus lore. In Chinese records, the 7th-century Buddhist monk Xuanzang mentioned dog-headed men in his travelogue, noting their ferocity and primitive lifestyle.
Early Christian Encounters with Cynocephali
The association between Christianity and cynocephali began as Christian missionaries encountered local myths during their travels. Early Church writings occasionally referenced monstrous races, including cynocephali, as evidence of the diversity of God's creation. These accounts also symbolized the Church’s mission to bring salvation to all creatures, no matter how "other" they appeared.
St. Christopher: The Dog-Headed Saint
The Byzantine Origins of the Legend
The idea of St. Christopher as a cynocephalus first appears in Byzantine hagiography, particularly in Eastern Orthodox traditions. A key text, the Menologion (a collection of saints’ lives), describes St. Christopher as coming from the land of the "Cynocephali." He is portrayed as a fierce warrior who encountered Christianity, converted, and became a servant of Christ. In some versions, his monstrous form is a metaphor for his spiritual transformation: from a "beastly" pagan existence to a sanctified life in Christ.
Symbolism of the Cynocephalus
The dog-headed depiction of Christopher might have had symbolic significance. Some scholars believe it represents the evangelization of the “other.” The cynocephali, seen as outsiders or barbarians, represented those farthest from civilization and divine truth. Christopher’s conversion symbolized the reach of Christianity into even the most "inhuman" corners of the world. Other scholars believe the characterization may symbolize the overcoming of the animalistic nature by new life in Christ. In Christian theology, the human soul is often contrasted with animalistic instincts. Christopher’s transformation reflects the redemption of the basest human nature through divine grace.
Artistic Depictions
Byzantine and Eastern Orthodox icons occasionally depict St. Christopher with a canine head. This imagery, though rare, persisted into the medieval period. One notable example is an icon in the Monastery of St. Catherine at Mount Sinai, which portrays Christopher with lupine features. Over time, as Western Christianity distanced itself from fantastical elements in saints' lives, the dog-headed imagery was suppressed in favor of the more familiar depiction of Christopher as a giant.
Dog-Headed Men in Medieval Europe
During the medieval period, the idea of cynocephali migrated westward, appearing in the writings of European scholars and explorers.
Isidore of Seville’s Etymologiae
The 7th-century scholar Isidore of Seville included cynocephali in his encyclopedic work Etymologiae. He described them as monstrous races inhabiting the edges of the known world, emphasizing their animalistic qualities while acknowledging their intelligence and capability for trade.
Marco Polo and the Dog-Heads of the East
The Venetian explorer Marco Polo (13th century) described encountering dog-headed men on the Andaman Islands during his travels. He characterized them as fierce warriors who barked instead of speaking and lived as hunters and gatherers.
Monstrous Races in Medieval Maps
Medieval maps, particularly the mappa mundi, often depicted cynocephali along with other fantastical races, such as the one-eyed Cyclopes and headless Blemmyes. These maps reinforced the belief that such beings lived in distant, unexplored territories.
Other Dog-Headed Figures in Myth and Religion
The legend of cynocephali intersects with various cultural and religious traditions worldwide, suggesting that the idea of dog-headed beings taps into a deep, archetypal symbolism.
Anubis in Ancient Egypt
The Egyptian god Anubis, with his jackal head, presided over mummification and the afterlife. His canine features symbolized protection, guidance, and the liminality between life and death.
The Hounds of God in Folklore
In European folklore, dog-headed figures sometimes appear as benevolent or protective entities. Legends of the Hounds of God describe spectral dogs aiding the faithful, perhaps reflecting a distant echo of cynocephalus lore.
Native American and African Myths
Dog-headed beings also appear in Native American and African stories. These figures are often tricksters, warriors, or mediators between the human and animal worlds.
The Suppression and Survival of the Legend
By the Renaissance, the Catholic Church had largely abandoned the cynocephalus legend of St. Christopher. As hagiography became more standardized, the dog-headed depiction was dismissed as a relic of earlier, less "refined" traditions. However, the legend persists in Eastern Orthodox traditions and popular folklore.
A Saint of Many Faces
In 1969, the Catholic Church removed St. Christopher’s feast day from the liturgical calendar, to make room for saints whose histories were more verifiable than that of Christopher, the patron saint of travelers whose image has graced so many car dashboards over the years. Many mistakenly believed that Christopher had been stripped of his sainthood, but that isn’t the case. Happily, we figured it out, and today St. Christopher is still invoked by travelers before embarking on journeys—putting their faith in the loving friend who the Christ child Himself trusted to carry Him to safety.
As far as the curious legend surrounding his depictions, the story of St. Christopher as a dog-headed man is a testament to the rich interplay between myth, history, and faith. While strange to modern sensibilities, it reflects humanity's fascination with the unknown and the transformative power of grace. Whether seen as a literal being or a metaphor for redemption, the dog-headed Christopher challenges us to consider the boundless reach of salvation — even to the farthest, strangest corners of existence.
Thanks so much for reading! Before we part until next time, I want to pray the Saint Michael prayer together:
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Saint Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray.
And do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.
The name of the father and of the son and of the Holy spirit. Amen.
Thanks again for reading. Until next time, I'll see you around the World of the Supernatural.
Until then, remember to #prayforghosts. God bless you!
Ursula Bielski
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