You may have heard that St. Nicholas and St. John the Baptist are Orthodox saints, but do they really attend church? Let’s find out. These two men and their followers are popular icons of our faith. While they aren’t necessarily saints, they are highly revered in the Orthodox Church.
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St. Nicholas
If you are an orthodox Christian, you can attend church on December 6 or Christmas Eve. You can also honor the saints on these days. There are many ways to do so. First, you can attend mass to thank the saints in the form of presents. For example, the orthodox saints of the Christmas season include St. Nicholas, St. Joseph, and St. George. These saints can attend church as well, and they are considered to be part of the church’s clergy.
Saint Nicholas is a famous patron of sailors and travelers. He is often invoked when sailors are in danger. His charitable work inspires many people. On December 19, many people give gifts anonymously to people in need. Parents also put gold coins inside their children’s shoes, and discuss the life of Saint Nicholas with their children.
Saint Nicholas was born in 270 AD, and is a great example of a Christian. His parents were Orthodox Christians and were persecuted for their faith. Many were even killed. However, his parents raised him to love the Lord. He later became a parish priest of his village church, where he worked hard to instruct his flock and help those in need. He also participated in all Divine Services, and served as a spiritual father to all.
You can visit the original church of Saint Nicholas in Demre, Turkey. This place is near the ancient ruins of Myra and is a popular tourist destination. It is home to a small Orthodox church dedicated to St. Nicholas, which is in the process of being restored. In 2007, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey granted permission for the Divine Liturgy at the site. In addition to the permission, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism also contributed 40,000 Turkish lira towards the restoration project.
During the First Ecumenical Council of 325, St. Nicholas fought for the teachings of the Church and against Arius, the heretic. Arius was trying to convince people that Jesus was not God in the flesh, but merely a human being. Nicholas fought against this heresy and was eventually reinstated.
St. John the Baptist
Saint John the Baptist was a disciple of Jesus and preached about repentance, the necessity of turning away from selfish pursuits and the coming of the Savior. He also baptized thousands of people and denounced the Pharisees as “generations of vipers.” According to church hymnology, St John the Baptist was the last prophet of the Old Testament, illuminating the way to the coming of Jesus.
Saint John the Baptist is one of the most important Christians in the world. He was baptized by Jesus, and is a key witness to his teachings. He was also a cousin of the Lord, as his mother was Zoia, Christ’s grandmother. His parents are also memorialized on September 5. In the fourth century, the head of St. John the Baptist was found in Jerusalem. After this, Constantine the Great restored the temple and holy places of Jerusalem.
In the early days of Christianity, people worshipped St. John the Baptist as a prophet. The body of Saint John the Baptist was buried in the Samaritan city of Sebaste. Later, holy Evangelist Luke went preaching the Christ in different cities and came to Sebaste. The apostle Luke took the hand of St. John the Baptist, the Forerunner of Christ, to Antioch. In addition, deacon Job took the hand of St. John the Baptist to Chalcedon, and from there, it was transferred to Constantinople.
Orthodox worship includes physical worship as well as words and symbols. This includes bowing and making the sign of the Cross. Non-Orthodox people are not required to do these things, but can still participate in worship to the extent they are able. They can even attend church if they are not Orthodox.
Saints are living Christians who are models of devotion to God and intercessors. Each Orthodox Christian is assigned a patron saint. Early Orthodox churches were built on the sites of holy martyrs and dedicated in their name. In honor of their martyrdom, these communities called on the saint to act as an intercessor and a protector for their members.
