The Orthodox Church honors saints as “friends of God.” They were mortal, but they pleased God and were sanctified in body and soul, and after they passed into eternal life, they were accepted into God’s bosom, granting them the power to pray for those still on earth. This makes them the ultimate role models for Orthodox Christians.
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St. Panegris
Several reasons exist for praying to St. Panegris, but perhaps none more so than his powerful image. His icon depicts a young soldier holding a cross. The icon also shows twelve scenes from his life. These include being questioned by an official, being whipped with stones, being tied to a rack, and finally being crushed under a huge rock.
While this saint is not officially recognized as a saint, the Eastern Orthodox Church considers him to be one. The title is applied to anyone who lived in the footsteps of Christ throughout history, although only some are officially canonized. Nevertheless, every baptized Orthodox Christian is a saint, as he or she is a member of the royal priesthood instituted by Christ when He created His Church. Those who have been canonized are exemplary examples of how to live the life of Christ.
St. Thekla
Saint Thekla was born in AD 16 and died at the age of thirty-five. She devoted her life to spreading the Gospel of Christ in the city of Antioch. Her devotion to Christ and the Word of God was so strong that she was put through many trials and sufferings. At the age of twenty-one, she received the blessing of St. Paul and Barnabas, and they were able to preach the Gospel right in her bedroom. However, her parents complained to the city’s governor, and he put Paul in prison. They said that he was disturbing the public. Paul, meanwhile, was left in prison until he was tried and resurrected.
According to Orthodox tradition, Thekla was the daughter of wealthy parents and possessed exceptional beauty. She was betrothed at age 18 to an eminent youth. However, after hearing the apostle Paul preach the Gospel, Thekla became enamored with the Lord and turned her attention to Him. When she became a Christian, she dedicated her life to preaching the Gospel and helping people find faith in Jesus Christ.
St. Demetrios
The life of St. Demetrios is a story of courage and steadfastness. He persisted during difficult times, and, despite persecution from the emperor, he preached the Gospel. While preaching, he was exposed to danger, but instead of giving up, he calmly asked his servant to prepare himself for heavenly riches. Through the grace of God, he became Christlike and superhuman.
Demetrios was the patron saint of Thessaloniki, which was where he was born. The city was ravaged by many nations in its history, but Saint Demetrios protected the city and saved it. The city was finally liberated in the Balkan Wars of 1912, thanks to his efforts.
St. Polycarp
Saint Polycarp is an excellent candidate for Orthodox prayer. He is one of the most revered and respected Christian martyrs, who lived during the early second century. Polycarp was martyred on the seventh day of the Kalends of May. He is revered for his holiness and sanctity.
Polycarp was born in 70 AD to a Christian family. He received his faith from the Apostles of the Lord Jesus. In Epistles, the apostles warned the Church of hard times, and Polycarp was one of their followers. In his early twenties, he was chosen by his bishop to be his personal secretary. Later, he became Bishop of Smyrna. He served in this role for 86 years, and is considered one of the most important Christian figures of all time.
Saint Polycarp was born in Ephesus around 70 AD. He studied under the apostle John and became Bishop of Smyrna. Saint Polycarp was known to be generous and thirsty for service. The Church followed his teaching and he became a standard bearer of the Faith. Eventually, he traveled to Rome to consult with the Pope and other Christian leaders.
St. Judas Maccabeus
As an orthodox Jew, you can pray to St. Judas Maccabeus. He was the third son of the priest Mattathias and led the revolt against the Seleucid kings. His name derives from the Hebrew word maqqaba, which means “hammer”. His supporters christened him by using the name. Their efforts were exalted in the Epistle to the Hebrews, which extols the Maccabees as noble warriors of the Faith.
According to the Orthodox, praying to the dead is a necessary part of the faith. This is because the Last Judgment is not yet finished. Orthodox also pray to the dead, so that they may be raised in the future. This is the reason why the Second Book of Maccabees mentions the resurrection. In fact, Judas Maccabeus offered sacrifices for the dead on the assumption that they would rise in the resurrection.
