Philoptochos Spiritual Enrichment Series

The Saints

Prayer
Most glorious, ever-virgin and blessed Theotokos,
present our prayer to your Son, and our God,
and through your intercession entreat Him
to save our souls.

Vitamin Verse
But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit. (2 Thessalonians 2:13)

Inspiration
George Bebis, Ph.D. writes, "It must be stated at the beginning that the only true saint (holy one - hagios) is God Himself. The Bible states, "For I am the Lord your God; you shall name yourselves holy and keep yourselves holy, because I am holy…" (Levitcus.11:44; 19:2, 20:7.) Holiness or sainthood is a gift (charisma) given by God to man, through the Holy Spirit. Man's effort to become a participant in the life of divine holiness is indispensable, but sanctification itself is the work of the Holy Trinity, especially through the sanctifying power of Jesus Christ."

Through the work of the Holy Trinity, all baptized and chrismated Christians could be called saints just as St. Paul refers to the faithful in Ephesus as "the saints." Many Orthodox theologians classify the saints in six categories: apostles, prophets, martyrs, fathers and hierarchs, monastics, and the just. The just, Dr. Bebis explains, are those who lived in the world leading exemplary lives as clergy or laity with their families.

The ultimate goal of the saint is to imitate God and live the life of deification known as theosis. St. Maximos the Confessor (7th C) writes that the saints are persons who have reached theosis; they have avoided unnatural development of the soul, that is, sin and tried to live the natural way of life (i.e., living according to created nature), turning and looking always towards God, thus achieving total unity with God through the Holy Spirit.

We can say that there are 5 common characteristics of the saints. Saints are, first of all, "friends" of God. Second, through their obedience and piety they are sanctified in both body and soul. Third, they have been accepted into God's Kingdom after passing from this world. Fourth, they have been given special grace to perform miracles either before or after their departure from this world. Fifth, saints have been granted the special gift to intercede for those still living in this world and fighting the "good fight" for the glory of God.

As Orthodox Christians we believe in the communion of saints which means that there is a constant interaction and unity between the glorified saints in heaven and the Christians who still live in the world. Asking for the prayers of the saints is first encountered in the letters of St. Paul to the Ephesians, Thessalonians, Colossians and Romans as he asks the faithful to pray for him. The practice of beseeching the prayers and intercessions of the Saints in Heaven is evident in the writings of the Church Fathers and in every Divine Liturgy to this day. Worship is reserved for God alone, yet we honor the saints to express our love and gratitude to God, who has perfected them. The Seventh Ecumenical Council (787 AD) summarizes: "we adore and respect God our Lord; and those who have been genuine servants of our common Lord we honor and venerate because they have the power to make us friends with God the King of all."

The Orthodox Church does not follow any official procedure for the recognition of saints. The saints are saints thanks to the grace of God and they do not need official ecclesiastical recognition. When a person's life is remembered and honored after their death, it is this popular acclaim that lead them to be "recognized". Recently in order to avoid abuses, the Ecumenical Patriarchate has issued special encyclical letters in which the Holy Synod affirms and accepts the popular feeling about a saint. We honor and commemorate a saint on the date of their death, as this is their "birthday" into eternal life.
From: A Companion to the Greek Orthodox Church, Fotios K Litsas ed., GOA

Reflection

What does it mean to you to celebrate your patron saint's day?
How can learning the lives of the saints help our children today?
Are there saints living today? Talk about modern saints from the 20th Century?

The Spiritual Enrichment Series is compiled by Presbytera Christine Salzman.

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