St. Justin
In St. Justin, how orthodox saints live, the saints are seen as living in the light of the God-man, Jesus Christ. Only by His Incarnation and Resurrection did real life become possible for us, and through His death and resurrection, eternal life in God was made possible. The saints, therefore, bear witness to one life, and are thus the embodiment of Christ-bearing and eternal life.
In the Apology and Dialogue, Justin quotes the Bible and the Prophets. He cites the prophets as a means of disputing with pagan scholars. He claims that the Prophets books contain prophecies of the coming of Christ and the spread of the Church. His arguments with Jews are also based on the idea of Divine revelation and invoke the Scriptures as sacred oracles.
St. Thekla
One of the most prominent saints of the Apostolic age is Saint Thekla. She was born to a pagan family in Iconium, Turkey, in 28 AD. By 46 AD, she was an adult and dissatisfied with her pagan upbringing. She then embraced the Christian faith, converting many to Christ. Today, she is a revered saint and is honored during the tonsure of nuns in the Orthodox Church.
In Antioch, St. Thekla began proclaiming the gospel and was subjected to a number of tortures. She was condemned to be burnt, but her mother persuaded the judge to save her life. In the midst of the flames, she made the sign of the cross, and despite the heat and flames, she remained unharmed. When the prefect learned of her escape, he was scared and ordered her release.
St. Demetrios
Saint Demetrios is one of the most popular saints among Orthodox Christians. The name of this saint is derived from the Greek language, which means “good heart.” He is believed to have a healing presence. Saint Demetrios is a great patron of the city of Thessalonica. His relics are said to protect the city from plague and attacks.
The story of St. Demetrios is famous for many reasons, including his courageous confession of his Christian faith during the persecution of the Roman Emperor, Maximian. This Saint also distributed all of his goods to the poor through his servant Lupus. He also saved many non-believers through prayer. According to the Church, St. Demetrios has fought evil throughout his life, and he is believed to still appear to people in their dreams and to those who invoke his holy name.
St. John the Baptist
St John the Baptist was a glorious prophet who foretold the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. St John lived a life of prayer, abstinence, and heavenly focus. Some Orthodox churches honor him with a feast day, the Feast of the Beheading. This feast is celebrated with many beautiful icons from the Orthodox tradition.
A relic of Saint John the Baptist’s arm is found in the Cathedral of Siena, Italy. The relic was donated to the Cathedral in 1464 by Pope Pius II. The relic has been displayed on the high altar of the church in June.
Martyr Florentius
If you’re interested in learning more about the lives of Orthodox saints, you may be interested in the series of talks and presentations that describe the lives of Martyr Florentius, St. Cyprian and other saints. The series is designed to help people understand what Orthodox Christianity is all about.
Florentios, a Christian from Thessaloniki, was arrested by the Governor of the city for slandering the Greek gods and supporting Christians in Christ. He encouraged others to practice the virtues and follow the commandments of Christ. This prompted the Governor of Thessaloniki to arrest him. He boldly confessed that God is the pre-eternal Maker of all things, and he scorned the Greek gods. He also founded a monastery in Italy.
St. Niketas
St. Niketas, the pious man and father of Orthodoxy, wrote that prayer helps a Christian become more like Christ. His writings are available in many translations, including Russian and Greek. His work is an excellent resource for Orthodox Christian spirituality. It is not only an excellent resource for spiritual reading, but it can also serve as a guide for prayer.
Nicetas, a monk, was once subjected to many temptations when he abandoned his monastery. At one point he was driven away by an evil angel, and was forced to confess in tears. Afterward, he was able to return to his monastic community. He was eventually made bishop of Novgorod. In addition to his spiritual life, he performed many miracles, including healing the blind.
