Patron saint

Saint Christopher, the patron saint of travelers, painting by Peter Paul Rubens

A patron saint is a person or being who is considered in some Christian churches as a saint who pleads in heaven for the interests of a specific nation, place, craft, activity, class of people or person. Catholics were traditionally named after a patron saint in the belief that the patron saint would then help them throughout their life.

Here is a list of some patron saints and the items that they are the patron saint of:

Countries, regions and cities

• Saint Andrew (Scotland, Russia)
• Catherine of Siena Italy and Europe
• Saint David (Wales)
• Saint Denis (France)
• Saint Francis of Assisi Italy
• Saint George (Canada, Catalonia, England, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova, Portugal, Russia, Serbia, Montenegro, Ethiopia, Aragon, Catalonia, Moscow)
• Saint Michael (Vatican City, Rome, Lazio, Italy, France, Germany, Israel, Normandy, France and Kyiv)
• Saint Patrick (Ireland)
• Saint Piran (Cornwall)
• Saint James (Spain)