If you’re not familiar with the Eastern Orthodox Church, you may be wondering how many of its saints are still alive today. These holy people are revered around the world and are often considered a symbol of the Christian faith. Some of the most famous saints in the Eastern Orthodox Church are St. John Chrysostom and St. John the Baptist. There are also many others, including St. Gregory of Palamas, St. Agnes, and St. Agnes.
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St. John Chrysostom
Saints are a vital part of the Orthodox Church. All baptised Greeks are named after a saint, and their name day is celebrated instead of their birthdays. Saints are divided into six main categories, and are usually depicted in iconography. The Church also offers a branch of Orthodox Greek theology, called Hagiology, which offers research on the theology, politics, society, and culture of the saints.
Saint John the Baptist, for example, was born into a rich Egyptian family and raised among Monophysites. His ministry was widely regarded, and he welcomed increasing numbers of converts to the Faith. A large diocesan assembly was held in his honor in 1905, during which the bishop presented him with a gold cross.
St. John the Baptist
The number of Saints in the Eastern Orthodox Church is more than ninety-nine. This number is higher than the number of the Saints whose names are officially recognized by the conciliar authorities. The number of these Saints is also higher than the number of them who were recognized by the Roman Catholic Church.
Among the most important Eastern Orthodox Saints is St. Theodora. Her relics are preserved in the Metropolitan church of Corfu. This Saint was elected by the Lord through a vision of the Holy Cross. Her relics are considered a concrete evidence of her sainthood and are displayed in the Metropolitan church of Corfu.
St. Gregory of Palamas
Orthodox saints come from all over the world. You’ll find them in places from North-West Africa to the Canary Islands, to the Scandinavian countries and even as far away as the Hebrides. You’ll also find them in places like Dalmatia, Istria, Sicily, and Malta, as well as in lands in between.
The early Christian period left many moving descriptions of the lives of the Saints. This material, called synaxaria (from the Greek word synaxis, meaning “to gather together in church”), was read by the church as part of liturgical worship. By the eighteenth century, Saint Nicodemos of the Holy Mountain and Fr. George Poulos had compiled and published synaxaria on the lives of the Saints, which were later translated into English.
St. Agnes
While many Orthodox Christians believe that there are thousands of Saints in the Orthodox Church, the reality is a bit different. The Orthodox Church recognizes only one true saint, the Holy One. However, the veneration of saints is a way to acknowledge God’s holiness manifested in the Church through grace-filled people. The veneration of Saints is also a way to honor their relics, which often remain unpolluted and work miracles. Many believers have seen these miracles, as well.
The goal of the life of a saint is to imitate God and live a life of deification. According to the seventh century writer St. Maximos the Confessor, “Saints avoid unnatural development of the soul.” They lived a natural life, looked towards God, and achieved total union with Him by the Holy Spirit.
St. Agrippina
The Orthodox Church has a large number of saints. The list is broken down into several categories. For example, there are those who were martyred, and then there are those who are also considered saints of the Orthodox Church. The Eastern Orthodox Church also recognizes the saints of the Roman Catholic Church.
The number of Orthodox Christians has grown significantly in the last century. In Russia alone, the population has surpassed 100 million. However, as a proportion of the Christian world, the Orthodox Church has decreased, as Protestants, Catholics, and non-Christians have grown faster. Today, only 4% of the world’s population is Orthodox.
St. Lucy of Syracuse
In the Eastern Orthodox tradition, “saints” are those who have achieved sanctity in both body and soul and been accepted into God’s bosom after death. They have also been bestowed with special gifts and privileges, including the ability to pray for others and to perform miracles.
Orthodox Christians consider angels to be the second light after God, who created them before the earth was created. Although angels were originally changeable, they are now considered saved by the grace of God. Their mission is to glorify God, and serve as examples of how to live.
