What Are Saints in the Orthodox Church?

St Silouan of Mt Athos is a saint in the orthodox church

Silouan was born in Russia, but later took the name Silvanus. He went to a monastery on Mt Athos where he lived for 46 years. His life was marked by prayer, simplicity, peace, and love. The Patriarchate of Constantinople honored Silouan on the occasion of the 1988 Millennium of Russian Christianity.

St Silouan was a monk in the monastery and attained an extreme state of dispassion and pure love of God. He was a spiritual father to Sophrony, who later became a hieromonk and deacon. The writings of Silouan were edited by Elder Sophrony, a disciple of the saint. The result of this collaboration is the book Saint Silouan of Mt Athos.

St Seraphim of Sarov is a saint in the orthodox church

St Seraphim of Sarov is renowned for his miraculous healing powers. According to tradition, the holy priest had a vision of the Son of Man. In it, the Son of Man was more beautiful than the sun. He was surrounded by heavenly powers and appeared at the North Gate of the church’s sanctuary. As he appeared to those praying, he raised his hands to bless them.

Seraphim was a particularly kind and forgiving man. While he was harsh on himself, he was always kind to others. In fact, when he received visitors, he would greet them with prostration and say, “Christ has risen!” Similarly, he called everyone he met “my joy.” He died on the 19th July, 1815, kneeling before the icon of the Theotokos. This icon is presently housed in the chapel of the Patriarchate of Moscow.

St Evodus and Onesiphorus is a saint in the orthodox church

Saint Evodus was a disciple of the Apostle Peter and became the bishop of Antioch. He is credited with giving the name “Christian” to members of the Church. He was martyred under Emperor Vespasian. His feast day is May 6. The apostle Paul mentions him in his second epistle to Timothy. The Apostle Peter appointed his successor before leaving Antioch.

This pious saint is highly venerated in the Orthodox Church and is revered as a powerful patron of translators and scholars. He is also an intercessor for non-believers and missionaries. The story of his life is a moving one. He was born in a pious family and was mute until he was five.

St Nicholas of Myra is a saint in the orthodox church

Nicholas of Myra is a patron saint of the orthodox church. He was born in Patara, Lycia, to wealthy and honorable parents who were Orthodox. The Angels revealed to them that Nicholas would be the next bishop of the town. He always entered the church at the early hours of the day.

Nicholas was initially jailed for his actions. He was clad in bishop robes when he was arrested. Constantine begged him to be released. Nicholas was eventually reinstated as the Bishop of Myra. His ideas were later adopted by the Council of Nicaea, which resulted in the Nicene Creed, which is repeated by many Christians every week. The saint is credited with many miracles. The orthodox church has more than one church named after him.

St Michael Maximovitch is a saint in the orthodox church

St Michael Maximovitch, also known as Michael the Archangel, is a saint of the orthodox church. He was known for his veneration of the holy hierarch. He spent his nights in silent prayer, his arms raised, and was said to foresee his own death.

He lived during the time of the Bolshevik Revolution, fled to Serbia, and later studied at the Department of Theology at the University of Belgrade. In 1926, he was tonsured a monk by Metropolitan Anthony of Kiev, the first primate of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia. The Metropolitan gave him the name John in honor of St. Michael, who was a martyr. On November 21, 1926, he was ordained a hieromonk by Bishop Gabriel of Chelyabinsk.

St John Chrysostom is a saint in the orthodox church

The name St John Chrysostom literally means “Golden Mouth” and is a fitting tribute to the man’s intellect. He studied under the most eloquent masters of the Syrian Empire and even went to Athens to study Greek Wisdom. He not only excelled in his studies but also in virtue.

As the successor of Saint Gregory the Theologian, Saint John Chrysostom was unable to preach as often, so he focused on the spiritual perfection of the priesthood. Saint John Chrysostom’s devotion to the poor led him to channel his financial resources to establishing hospices and running hostels for pilgrims.

Martyrs

Martyrs in the Orthodox church are saints who died for their faith. The feast day for their martyrdom is the First Saturday of Great Lent. During this time, people are encouraged to read their prayers before the image of the holy martyr. They can also light a candle to drive away evil spirits.

Cyprian and Justina are also revered as martyrs. They were martyred during the time of Diocletian. The emperor Eutholmius had ordered their torture and sent their bodies to Rome to be beheaded. The two martyrs’ names are still remembered today, and their graves are marked with crosses.

Prophets

According to the Orthodox Church, “a saint is one who has shown humility and devoted love for humanity.” Saints are referred to as “friends of God,” and their relics often remain undefiled and perform miracles. This makes them the ultimate role models for Orthodox Christians.

In addition to their role as a model of Christian behavior, Saints are also believed to have had personal contact with God. This means that they can intervene directly on behalf of mankind. This may include interceding for people to obtain salvation, as well as enabling the living to experience personal communion with God.

Monks

A monk is a person who has taken vows to serve God in a solitary life. These vows are based on the principle of self-denial. A monk must strive to live an angelic life. There are various symbols to represent this. One example is the lampada, a lit oil lamp hanging before an icon.

A monk is a person who has made a lifelong vow to follow the commandments of God. This entails giving up all fleshly pleasures and self-will. The Orthodox Church recognizes three different levels of monasticism. The first is referred to as a rasophore monk. This type of monk wears a full habit and other monastic garb.

Those who fought for the faith

The Orthodox church lays great weight on precedent and tradition. They believe that the Holy Spirit speaks through the entire church over time. While the church has traditionally had male priests and bishops, women have also played an important role in its mission. For most of its history, the church used deaconesses to baptize women and nuns to serve in other ministries.

Orthodox Christians believe that the Bible is the Word of God. They believe in the Apostles and the Holy Spirit. The Orthodox Church celebrates Pentecost, which commemorates the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles. It marks the beginning of the Church’s mission to the world. It also believes in the unity of the Church, which was formed at Pentecost.

Martyrs’ relics

Martyrs’ relics are a central part of the Orthodox church’s liturgy. The veneration of these relics is rooted in the Martyrs’ imitation of Christ in their death, suffering, and sacrifice. In addition to this, they became an intercessor between God and man, and their relics are a visible manifestation of that spiritual union.

Martyrs’ relics are collected in various places in the Orthodox church. They may consist of a hand, foot, or finger or an item that has come into contact with the saint. They may also be in the form of cloth or traces of blood. Relics have the power to heal and perform miracles through their contact. Ultimately, these relics transmit sacred energy to those who touch them.

Others who have manifested holiness

Holiness is a constant striving to imitate the Lord Jesus Christ. This means working on ourselves, becoming a better version of ourselves, and following Christ even to the point of death. Holiness is not something we acquire on our own, but rather a gift from God. The Holy Spirit is the only one who can grant us this grace. This is why it is important to practice holiness daily.

Throughout the history of the Church, Christians of many nations and classes have manifested holiness. This includes monks and laity, those with authority and those without. Holiness is a calling to serve Christ and the mysteries of God. Each of us will be called to give an account of our response to this calling on the day of judgment.