The Life of Saints books offer the general reader a concise account of the lives of the saints. These are arranged chronologically, making them suitable for the general reader. Some of them have a good deal of information about the saints’ spirituality. Others will focus on specific historical figures, such as the Apostles.
Table of Contents
The Way of a Pilgrim
The Way of a Pilgrim is one of the most famous of all the orthodox saints’ books. In it, the pilgrim recounts his life experiences. He was raised by his grandfather and grew up with an older brother. At a young age, his older brother pushed him from a height, crippling his left arm. Later, his brother turned into a shiftless alcoholic.
The Way of a Pilgrim is a classic spiritual work. It is a first-person narrative, with the narrator revealing little about himself. In this way, he evokes the universal Everyman. He is on a journey without a goal. The purpose of the pilgrimage is simply to follow the “way.” In the book, the pilgrim is divided into four parts, each recounting his experiences.
The Way of a Pilgrim is a Christian devotional classic. It is set during the 19th century, when the world was undergoing a transformation of empires. After Napoleon’s defeat, the British Empire ruled much of the world. In Russia, the tsar ruled territory from Poland to the Pacific Ocean. The peasant population in this part of Russia was extremely poor.
A nineteenth-century Russian peasant wrote The Way of a Pilgrim in which he learns how to pray without ceasing. It transforms his life. His pilgrimage stretches across the country, meeting old believers and learning the wisdom of the Philokalia. He also meets a forester and an Old Believer girl. Ultimately, he reaches the city of Irkutsk.
The lives of the Saints
The lives of the Orthodox Saints are an important part of the Orthodox Christian faith. The goal of each saint is to imitate God, to live a life of deification. In the words of St. Maximos the Confessor, the soul of a Saint reaches theosis when they reach full union with God through the Holy Spirit. The lives of the Saints are a great source of inspiration and guidance for Orthodox Christians.
The lives of the Orthodox Saints also include their experiences in their respective eras. For example, Saint Theophanes was a native of Nicea, Greece. He became a monk at a young age and spent time at Mt Sinai and Mt Athos. He later served as the Patriarch of Constantinople. His relics are located in the Near Caves of Saint Anthony.
The early Christians honoured the relics of their martyrs, and they paid great respect to them. In fact, the Church historian, Eusebius of Caesarea, said that “Martyrs have fellowship with the living God”. The Apostles’ Constitutions (5:1) also refer to martyrs as vessels of the Holy Spirit.
Saint Germanos was born to a prominent family in Constantinople. He was elevated to the throne at Constantinople in 715. During his time as Patriarch, Saint Germanos baptized a young Emperor named Constantine. Patriarch Germanos also predicted that Constantine would bring about heresy. As emperor, Constantine was a notorious iconoclast.
The lives of the Orthodox Saints include Saint Peter, St Paul, and St Andrew. These men were martyred for their faith in Christ. The martyrs had to undergo tortures for their convictions. They were also stoned to death. Today, their relics are kept in the Skete of the Venerable Forerunner.
Some of the most famous Orthodox Saints are the Prophets of God. Prophets typically wear a yellow ribbon on their shoulders. They also dress according to their social status on earth. In fact, Ss David and Solomon wear king’s clothes. Some of them hold open scrolls with prophecies. They may also hold instruments of salvation.
The lives of the Orthodox Saints can be fascinating. The Orthodox Church also celebrates the lives of its Saints. These saints are also the subjects of various popular films. In honor of the 50th anniversary of the Orthodox Church in America, Orthodox Christian Laity has introduced a new feature on its website called Getting to Know the Orthodox Christian Saints in America
