You might have heard of the orthodox saints St. John Chrysostom and St. Basil the Great, but did you know that there are some others who can yell as well? This article will discuss some of them, including St. Nicholas of Myrrh.
Table of Contents
St. John Chrysostom
Saint John Chrysostom, an Orthodox Christian bishop and preacher, was famous for his public speaking and preaching. He was also known as “golden-mouthed.” He was born in 347 AD in Antioch, Syria and was raised in the Orthodox Faith. He was baptized at age 18 and became a preacher and prolific writer.
He was also a father to orphans and a teacher of the young. He taught his children to fear God and to serve Him. His unceasing prayers protected his flock, no matter where they lived or where they came from. He was a beloved luminary, beloved by all, and the bestower of spiritual consolation.
Another way to call on God is to yell. The Orthodox Church does not allow its members to yell at each other, though they may use yelling to call for help. It is common for orthodox saints to shout in prayer when they are experiencing trouble, such as in an emergency situation. In this way, they can be heard by the entire community.
St. Basil the Great
In the third century, St. Basil became the bishop of Caesarea. When the Christian Church was threatened by the Arian emperor Valens, St. Basil was called back to his see. His theological policy sought to unite the Church against Arianism. He sided with the Nicaeans and former semi-Arians, and defended the idea of the Trinity as three persons in one substance. Although he had some opponents, he remained an orthodox saint and was chosen as Eusebius’ successor.
Basil’s many writings stem from his practical experiences as a monk. He also sought out famous hermit saints in Arabia and Syria to learn about asceticism. His family was wealthy, and his parents were famous for their unquenchable zeal for Christianity. His family included several saints, including Saint Emily (also known as Emmelia), Saint Macrina the Elder, and Saint Theosebia.
He was also a gifted rhetorician and possessed the passion for the Faith that can only come from Christ. In fact, when he preached in a ruined diocese, he saw the Holy Spirit sitting on his shoulder. As a result, he uttered words of sober endurance and mystical joy that feed the flock of Christ today.
St. Nicholas of Myrrh
In the Middle Ages, St. Nicholas was known for saving three men who had been falsely accused of a capital crime. They had been tricked by a corrupt regional governor into being convicted in spite of their innocence. On the day of their execution, a bishop grabbed the executioner’s sword and explained that the men were innocent. He also denounced the corrupt governor and begged for forgiveness for the false convictions.
Nicholas was born in the city of Myra in Asia Minor around 275 AD. He was the son of two Christians. His parents were well-respected and faithful to their faith. His uncle, who was also a bishop, educated Nicholas for a life in the Church. As a boy, he was ordained by his uncle. He went on to succeed him as the Bishop of the Christian Church of Myra in Asia Minor (modern-day Demre).
One of his miracles was that an icon of Saint Nicholas began to weep. The icon began to exude large tears of myrrh for about a week. This occurred three months before a plane crashed near Donetsk. The icon was later discovered to be miraculously exuding myrrh. It’s been known that this miracle also happened in Balasich, near Moscow.