If you are interested in learning about Eastern Orthodox saints, you have come to the right place. Here you will find a wide variety of information about some of the great Saints that have been honored throughout the history of the Orthodox Church.
Table of Contents
St. Anthony
Saint Anthony the Great was a Christian monk who lived in the desert. He is considered to be one of the fathers of monasticism. His monastic rules became the basis of many monasteries, some of which are still operating today.
The life of Saint Anthony is a fascinating tale, but it is not just the details of his life that make him a hero. He eloquently defended the Orthodox faith against Arian heresy.
St. Photius of Constantinople
Photius of Constantinople is one of the most famous Eastern Orthodox saints. He lived during the reign of Basil I. During his life, he was involved in several important controversies. His erudition was unparalleled in the Middle Ages. Moreover, he was an ecumenical patriarch.
Photius was born into a wealthy family. Both of his parents were martyred. Upon their death, Photius’ father was assigned to the imperial court. In time, he became a captain of the guard.
St. Paisios of Mount Athos
During his life, Venerable Paisios of Mount Athos was venerated for his deeply spiritual life. He became known as an ascetic, who dedicated himself to God and people. His great piety and spiritual accomplishments made him a guide for all those seeking the Truth.
The Holy Mountain of Athos is a peninsula in northern Greece. Located on the northern coast of the country, this place is home to many important monasteries. In the twentieth century, it was one of the most revered elders in the Orthodox Church.
St. Silouan of Mt Athos
Saint Silouan of Mt Athos is a modern day saint who’s life bears witness to the authenticity of his experience. He’s a saint who has touched many lives in a very powerful way.
As the story goes, Silouan was a peasant born into a poor family in Russia. His father was illiterate, and he grew up in hard manual labor. It was only at his teen years that he learned to read and write. During his early years, he lacked a worldly education, but he was blessed with simple piety.
St. Priscilla
Aquila and Priscilla are celebrated as a married Christian missionary couple by the Greek Orthodox Church. The saints were disciples of the Apostle Paul and traveled with him to the cities of Ephesus and Corinth. Priscilla and Aquila are mentioned in four New Testament books.
They became a powerful force in the early church. Their partnership in ministry was noted by the Apostle Paul. In his epistles, he praised them for their devotion and faith. He wrote that they were worthy of bringing Apollos to a full knowledge of the faith.
Abba Sisoes
The Egyptian monk, Abba Sisoes, was an eastern Orthodox saint. He lived in the fourth century. His life was one of asceticism and spiritual purity.
Abba Sisoes was born in Thebes, Egypt. He was a doctor and an ascetic. Upon the death of his mentor, St. Anthony, he became a monk and a hermit in the desert.
He was a disciple of Saint Anthony the Great. Abba Sisoes was a fervent prayer man and had a deep relationship with God.
Hyacinth
The Agios Yakinthos (Saint Hyacinth) of Eastern Orthodox saints is a patron Saint of youth and love. He was born in Amastris on the Black Sea. During the reign of Trajan, he was arrested for his Christian faith. Eventually, he died in prison, at the age of 20.
In honor of his life, there are many places named after Hyacinth. For example, there is the city of Anogia near Rethymno in Crete, as well as the town of St. Hyacinth, also called Giacinto.
Tsaritsa Alexandra
St Nicholas and Tsaritsa Alexandra, Eastern Orthodox saints, are considered the last Russian tsars. They were persecuted and executed by the Bolsheviks in 1918. But their relics and icons still are revered in Russia. Many Orthodox Christians in other countries consider them as examples of the harmonious life of a Christian family.
During the First World War, mounting casualties and the decline in morale fueled revolutionary sentiment in urban factories and the armed forces. Eventually, the Peace Conference at the Hague laid the foundation for the United Nations.
St. Nikodemos
Nicodemus the Hagiorite is one of the greatest figures of the late 18th century on the Holy Mountain of Athos. He was a mystic, philosopher and theologian. His life was devoted to revival of traditional Christian practices.
Born in 1749 on the island of Naxos in Greece, he was educated at the Evangelical School of Smyrna. During his time on Naxos, he was introduced to the teachings of Saint Makarios Notaras.
St. Porphyrios of Athos
An Eastern Orthodox saint, Saint Porphyrios of Athos, Greece was born in 1906. He died on December 2, 1991. In the Greek language, he is known as the Kapsokalyvite. His venerable body was buried in a simple monk’s grave.
When he was twelve, Elder Porphyrios left his native village in Karystia, on Evia, and headed for Mount Athos. While he was still a child, he was tonsured and began his ascetic life in Kavsokalyvia.
