The Orthodox faith has a great tradition of relying on saints to battle addiction. Holy Father John of Kronstadt, who lived during the 19th century, dedicated his life to combating addictions. His Orthodoxy was founded on the Holy Gospel and authentic life in the Holy Spirit, which he manifested through daily Divine Services, frequent Holy Communion, and frequent Confession.
St. Matthias
Matthias was an Apostle of Christ and patron saint of alcoholics. He was chosen by early Christians to replace the apostle Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus Christ. He is also the patron saint of tailors and carpenters, making him an appropriate choice as a patron saint for those with addictions. Matthias, who lived in the 1st century in ancient Judea, preached self-control and encouraged his followers to keep away from addiction.
Matthias was appointed to be an Apostle after Judas Iscariot and Peter. He was one of the original 72 disciples of Jesus. His appointment to be an apostle is described in the Acts of the Apostles, which was written in AD 63. This was before the Holy Spirit descended on the early Church.
St. Fotini
The story of St. Fotini is one of the most popular in the Orthodox faith. He was a prisoner in Rome who was tortured by the Roman Emperor Nero. After suffering the torture, he transformed his prison into the House of God. As a result, many Romans converted to Christianity. He was then thrown into a deep well and later back into prison. This time, however, he did not receive the crown of martyrdom, but he prayed for release from this life.
As a disciple of Christ, St. Fotini received the name “Photini”, which means enlightened one. She and her children went on to become evangelists in the early Church. They were ordered by the emperor to give up their faith in Christ, and she refused, committing suicide. Her children and husband were subsequently converted, and they became a constant missionary for the faith.
St. Ephraim
A Greek taxi driver once heard a story about a young Greek-American addict and decided to record it word for word. He then took the addict to a drug rehabilitation center where he encountered Saint Ephraim. This saint is considered the patron saint of those who are addicted to drugs.
In 1950, a hermit nun was led by God to reveal St. Ephraim’s name to her. She believed that she was being guided to restore the Monastery of the Annunciation in Nea Makri, which had been destroyed by pirates in the 15th century.
For Greek Orthodox believers, faith-based rehab programs are a great option for overcoming addiction. These programs utilize Orthodox Christianity teachings to help people achieve sobriety and heal their spirituality. The faith-based approach also helps the addict stay positive and optimistic in recovery. It also helps them resist relapse triggers and stressors that trigger addiction.
Venerable Matt Talbot
Matt Talbot, the patron saint of alcoholics, was born into a life of extreme poverty in Dublin, Ireland. His father was an alcoholic and the family was constantly on the move. He did not go to school until the age of twelve and was not able to read or write. As a result, he struggled to survive. He began a life of strict penance, abstaining from meat for nine months a year. He also devoted hours to praying the rosary and reading Scripture. His life story became so inspirational, that the Pope gave him the title of venerable. His liturgical feast is celebrated on June 19.
In 1890, Matt Talbot joined the Third Order of St. Francis, which is now known as the Franciscan Secular Order. For the next two decades, he lived a life of simplicity. He didn’t care for money, and his fasting days were much longer than those of his peers. He also attended all of the Order’s meetings and regularly attended daily Mass. He also practiced charity towards others.
St. Ephraim of Nea Makri
The relics of St. Ephraim of Nea Makri, Greece, were discovered through a divine revelation in 1950. This miracle worker and Holy New Martyr was born in Greece on September 14, 1384. His mother, who was a single mother, was left to raise seven children alone. The Holy Spirit led Ephraim to a monastery on the mountain of Amoman near Nea Makri, where he took the Cross of Christ and was martyred for his faith in Jesus Christ.
As an orthodox Christian, St. Ephraim of Nea Macri is known as a patron saint of those suffering from addiction. His intercession for people suffering from addiction has been attributed to the power of prayer.
