Those who follow the Orthodox faith are familiar with the story of canonized saints. They are those who died before 1054 AD. After that scism in Christianity, the paths of the saints changed. However, the story of canonized saints in Orthodox Christianity is similar to that of their Roman counterparts.
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St. Polychronius
The feast days of Orthodox saints are not imposed by ecclesiastical authority but are the living devotion of Christian people. There are no “institutions” in the Orthodox Church, and no saints are canonized unless there is popular interest and veneration for them.
Polychronius is an exemplary example of asceticism and piety. His prayers helped a spring to spring up near his village, which was essential for the survival of the town. The saint also worked in the vineyards around Constantinople, where he ate only twice a day. In return, the master of the vineyard gave him money, and the young man used it to build a church. He was later ordained a priest in that church.
St. Menas
St. Menas is the patron saint of soldiers. In the Coptic Orthodox Church, he is celebrated on the 15 Hathor day, which corresponds to November 24 on the Gregorian calendar. But Eastern Orthodox churches follow the Julian calendar. He is also known as Mina the Soldier or Wonder Worker. In the West, he is known mainly as a military saint.
His relationship with St. Mina goes back to his childhood. When the emperor Anba Youaness ordained him as Mina, the Pope became closer to the Egyptian saint and asked her intercession. He then constructed a church in her name in Old Cairo and received requests to live in the ancient church in Mariut.
St. Gregory Palamas
Saint Gregory Palmas is an Orthodox saint who lived in the 1300s. He converted to Christianity at an early age and was a part of the Byzantine Empire in the city of Constantinople. When he was older, he decided to leave the court life and devote his life to the Church, becoming a monk on Mount Athos. Here, he practiced asceticism, which involves abstaining from self indulgence and focusing on God.
As a result, he became one of the greatest theologians in Church history. He was named Ecumenical Teacher of the Church. His works helped the Church to combat various heresies. In addition, his detailed accounts of the life of the Theotokos were incorporated into the teachings of the Church.
St. Cosmas
During the early years of Christianity, two brothers named Cosmas and Damian practiced medicine. Born into a wealthy family in Asia Minor, they were gifted with an intellectual curiosity and became inseparable. They believed in the healing power of God and dedicated their lives to sharing their knowledge with the poor. They practiced the healing arts for free and were often asked by patients to believe in Christ.
The Christian faith venerates Sts Cosmas and Damian as saints. They were brothers who practiced medicine and were revered by many as “unmercenary physicians.” The Greek term for unmercenary physicians means “without money” and refers to a physician who heals from a love of God and strictly follows Jesus’ commandments. Both Sts Cosmas and Damian are also revered as patron saints of pharmacists.
St. Damian
Saint Damian was born in Asia Minor in the third century. He was raised in the Christian faith by his mother, and was gifted with healing powers. In addition to healing people, he was also able to heal animals. It is also interesting to note that many Orthodox saints were mothers. The mother of Jesus is the patron saint of both the Coptic Orthodox churches.
In his youth, St. Damian was a blind Patriarch in the Roman Empire, but he was passionate and warlike. He later married the Princess Anna and returned to his native land with a retinue of priests from Constantinople. While living in a poor community, he was able to spread the Orthodox faith. He also helped baptize people and set up a Christian government, modelled on the Gospel. He died peacefully in 1015, leaving behind the largest Orthodox nation in the world.
St. Patrick
Patrick’s life was marked by danger, and his steadfast faith in God ensured his safety. During his life, he lived in the Roman Empire, which was being invaded by barbarians. At the age of sixteen, he was kidnapped by pirates and taken to Ireland. After he was sold as a slave, Patrick was forced to work as a swine herder on a mountain.
Patrick’s life had many similarities to those of eastern mystics and desert fathers. Desert Fathers were known for their retreats from the city, but they tended to spend long periods in solitude in the desert of their hearts. Like the Desert Fathers, St. Patrick spent a lot of time in prayer, memorizing the Book of Psalms and praying hundreds of times a day.
St. Stratigos
The feast of St. Stratigos is celebrated on the 29th of June and is the patron saint of Armenians. He was a Galilee fisherman who received the name Peter from Jesus and later became the Patriarch of Antioch. Later, he traveled to Corinth and Rome. There, he was condemned to death by crucifixion by the Emperor Nero, who ordered him to be crucified upside down. Today, we celebrate the life of this Armenian saint and all that he did for the Church.
Name days of Orthodox saints are often celebrated throughout the year. They are often marked with special events, some of which are held in the early part of the month while others are celebrated on other religious or cultural holidays.
St. Kontakion
The Orthodox Church has dedicated a day to St. Kontakion. The day is celebrated every September 18th. The day is named after the deacon who was born in Sylivria, Thrace, in 1846. He lived in a poor family and felt called to serve the Church from an early age. He went to Constantinople for his studies, and later, to Chios, where he was tonsured a deacon and a monk.
The Orthodox Church has a traditional hymn for St. Kontakion, called a KONTAKION. In the past, a kontakion was a longer hymn, usually composed of several strophes and several proemia. Today, however, it is shortened to a single stanza, which is used after the Sixth Ode during Matins and the Hours.
St. Troparion
The orthodox calendar of saints days includes St. Troparion on February 9 and Kontakia on February 12. Both Saints Day prayers are composed of the Troparion and Kontakion. These prayers are aimed at the souls of the faithful who have passed away. They are also prayers for peace in the Church.
The Troparion is a short hymn or chant that is read during the liturgical service. It is related to the monastic hymn book Tropologion. It may be composed in psalmodic hexameters or complex meter. It is often chanted at the end of Vespers.
St. Troparion was born in the ancient Greek country of Thrace. He was raised in a humble family but felt a call to serve the Church at a young age. He studied in Constantinople and became a deacon and monk. He spent 20 years as a monk on Mount Athos.
St. Stavros
Saint Stavros celebrates his day on September 14. His name is also celebrated on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, one of the most important feasts in the Christian calendar. It commemorates the finding of Jesus’ crucified body on a double cross. Many Greeks celebrate their saint’s day on this day.
The name Stavros is derived from the Greek word stauros, which means cross. It is also used to refer to a man who is dedicated to the Christian faith. In Greek, Stavros’ name is pronounced stoos, but some Greeks spell his name as Stavros.
The name Stavros is a common Greek male name. It comes from the Greek word “stavros” and means “cross.” In ancient Greek, this word meant anything with this shape. The ancient Greeks and Romans used crosses to crucify people. Later, the cross became a sacred object in the Christian faith when Christ was crucified. Because of this connection, Stavros’ name is honored on September 14th, the day of the Holy Cross.
St. John Chrysostom
One of the Three Hierarchs of the Church, St. John Chrysostom was a great preacher. His mother, Saint Anthousa, cultivated his love of Christ at a young age. His sermons were eloquent and he was known as the “golden-mouthed” of the Orthodox Church.
Saint John Chrysostom died on September 14, 407, in the city of Comana in Pontus. He was en route to exile when he died. In 403, he was exiled from Rome. He was banished by the emperors Eudoxia and Arcadius, but was rehabilitated by Theodosius II, who had his relics moved to Hagia Irene in Constantinople.
Chrysostom also authored several works, including commentaries on the Gospels. These works have exerted a great influence throughout the centuries.
