Patron Saints?

[Sothron]

It is my understanding that Orthodox have few (if any?) patron saints.

If this is true, then what is the belief on this idea? Is it something that is considered heretical or just a minor difference in theology? Do any of you here on TAW pray to a certain saint for a certain problem?

And just out of idle curiousity, why does the RCC have patron saints and not the Orthodox faith? Is there a basis for the concept in Scripture.

 

[authiodionitist]

We have tons of patron saints! And yes, we do have saints whose intercession we seek when we encounter specific problems/situations. If you notice, many of the Orthodox on this forum have an icon of their patron/matron on their photo on the right - see mine? So, yes, we do have patron saints - as far as RCC goes, we generally don't recognize their saints post-1054.

 

[Mary of Bethany]

I believe you misunderstand about Patron Saints. Each of us takes the name (or is given one at birth) of a Patron Saint - mine is Mary of Bethany - when we are brought into the Church. Some traditions (Serbian, for example) have "Slavas" - family patrons. Most parishes have the name of a patron saint - mine is St. Sava, Archbishop of Serbia.

I think what you are thinking of, is that in Orthodoxy we don't tend to think of particular Saints for particular "causes". Though we do have some - Saint Pantoleimon (sp?) and others who were healers in their earthly life, are often asked for intercessions in healing others.

Does this help?

Mary

 

[Sothron]

Yes, that is what I am wondering about. I know that people are named after saints after being baptised but I am referring specifically to praying for "Saint X" for help in, let's say, being a firefighter. Or praying to "Saint Y" because I am from country "X".

Why do the Catholics have specific saints for specific jobs/countries/causes/etc and not the Orthodox? And is it acceptable as an Orthodox to turn to one saint over another along the same lines that the Catholics do?

Thanks for the responses, just very curious about this.

 

[Asinner]

Is this what you are looking for?

Love,
Christina




For deliverance from alcoholism or addiction:
St. Boniface, Dec. 19
St. Moses the Black, Aug. 28

For deliverance from mental disorders:
St. Anastasia, Dec. 22
St. Gerasimos of Cephalonia, Oct. 20

For deliverance from despondency:
St. Tikhon of Zadonsk, Aug. 13

For chastity and deliverance from lustful passions:
St. Martinian, Feb. 13
St. John the Long-suffering, July 18
St. Moses the Hungarian, July 26
St. Thomais, April 13
St. Mary of Egypt, April 1
St. Anysia the Virgin Martyr, Dec. 30

For protection from evil spells, demons, and witchcraft:
Ss. Cyprian and Justina, Oct. 2
St. Theodore Sykeote, Apr. 22
St. Anastasia, the Healer from Potions, Dec. 22

For the driving away of evil spirits from people and animals:
St. Basil the Great, Jan. 1
St. Maruthas of Martyropolis, Feb. 16
St. Niphon, Dec. 23

For enlightenment of the mind for learning:
Ss. Cosmas and Damian, Nov. 1
St. Sergius of Radonezh, July 5
St. John of Kronstadt, Dec. 20
St. Justin the Philosopher, June 1
The Three Hierarchs: St. Basil the Great, St. John
Chrysostom, and St. Gregory the Theologian, Jan. 30

For guilelessness and simplicity:
The Holy Apostle Nathaniel, Apr. 22
St. Paul the Simple, Mar. 7

For marital difficulties:
The Holy Prophet Elias, July 20
Ss. Shamuna, Guria, and Habbib, Nov. 15
Ss. Peter and Febronia of Nuron, June 25

For protection from fire and lightning:
Holy Mother of God of the Unburnt Bush, Sept. 4
St. Nikita of Novgorod, Jan. 31

For protection from earthquakes:
St. Demetrios the Great Martyr of Thessalonica, Oct. 26

For deliverance from sudden death:
St. Barbara the Great Martyr, Dec. 4
St. Charalampus, Feb. 10
St. Onuphrius the Great, June 12
St. Sadoc, the Hieromartyr, Oct. 19

For deliverance from floods, and other calamities and sorrows:
St. Nicholas the Wonderworker of Myra, Dec. 6

For patient endurance of affliction:
St. Job the Much-suffering, May 6
St. Eustathius Placidas and his family, Sept. 20

For a solution to the problem of barrenness and childlessness:
St. Anna, Mother of the Theotokos, July 25
St. Elizabeth, Mother of the Forerunner, June 24
St. Roman the Wonderworker, Nov. 27
St. Hypatius, Abbot of Rufinus, Mar. 31
St. Irene Chrysovalantou, July 28

For freedom from difficulties in childbirth:
The Feodorovskaya Icon of the Most Holy Mother of God of Kostroma, Aug. 16
St. Catherine, the Great Martyr, Nov. 25
St. Eleutherios, Dec. 15

For preservation of the health of infants:
Icon of the Tikhvin Mother of God, June 26
Righteous Symeon the God-Receiver, Feb. 3
St. Stylianos, Nov. 26

For the recovery of stolen things:
St. Theodore the Tyro, the Great Martyr, Feb. 17
St. John the Soldier, July 30

For the recovery of lost things:
St. Tryphon, Feb. 1
St. Theophilus of Kiev, Oct. 26
St. Phanurios of Rhodes, Aug. 27
St. Menas the Great Martyr of Egypt, Nov. 11

When seeking a new job:
St. Xenia of Petersburg, Jan. 24
St. Nectarios of Pentapolis, Nov. 9

For the healing of sicknesses of the eyes:
St. Menas the Egyptian, Nov. 11
St. Laurence, the Archdeacon of Rome, Aug. 10
St. Longinus, the Centurion, Oct. 16

For healing of headaches:
St. John the Baptist, Aug. 29

For healing of tooth diseases:
St. Antipas of Pergamum, April 11

For healing of throat diseases:
St. Blaise of Sebastia, Feb. 11

For healing of trembling or shaking diseases:
St. Maron, Feb. 14
St. Photini, the Samaritan woman, Mar. 20
St. Basil the New, Mar. 26

For healing of cancer:
St. Nectarios of Pentapolis, Nov. 9

For recovery of sight to the blind:
Holy Mother of God of Kazan, July 8

For help when cooking:
St. Euphrosynos the Cook, Sept. 11
St. Juliana Lazarevskaya, Jan. 2
baking—St. Sergius of Radonezh, Sept. 25
prosphora making—Ss. Spyridon & Nikodim of
Kievo-Pechersk, Oct. 31

For protection of gardens:
St. Tryphon, the Great Martyr, Feb. 1

For traveling mercies:
St. Nicholas, the Wonderworker of Myra, Dec. 6
on cars and buses—St. John the Russian, May 27
at sea—St. Niphon, Patriarch of Constantinople, Aug. 11

 

[Davis]

Whats wrong with just having our Lord Jesus Christ listening to our requests and prayers?

That relationship with Jesus Christ. I come to my Lord Jesus Christ with my pleas of thanksgiving and forgiveness not Paul, James, Mary, or Matthew. The Lord hears my crys. The Lord is the Great Physican.

 

[Asinner]

Whats wrong with just having our Lord Jesus Christ listening to our requests and prayers?

Nothing. The prayer of a righteous man, though, does availeth much.

Love,
Christina

 

[Davis]

There is no one rightous besides our Lord Jesus Christ.
We were all born sinners. Even Paul, Peter, James, etc.


Romans 3:10


Christ tells us to cast all our burderns and cares on Him. There is no other needed.

I'm not hear to argue. I'm hear to make sure my brother the OP is not being mislead in anyway. He is a dear friend.

 

[Asinner]

There is no one rightous besides our Lord Jesus Christ.
We were all born sinners. Even Paul, Peter, James, etc.


Romans 3:10

Are those in Heaven not perfect?

Love,
Christina

 

[ModernDaySpyridon]

Whats wrong with just having our Lord Jesus Christ listening to our requests and prayers?

That relationship with Jesus Christ. I come to my Lord Jesus Christ with my pleas of thanksgiving and forgiveness not Paul, James, Mary, or Matthew. The Lord hears my crys. The Lord is the Great Physican.

Those saints pray with us and for us, our prayers don't have to go through them to God any more than me asking my wife for prayer is me going through her to get to God.

 

[Sothron]

Is this what you are looking for?

Love,
Christina




For deliverance from alcoholism or addiction:
St. Boniface, Dec. 19
St. Moses the Black, Aug. 28

For deliverance from mental disorders:
St. Anastasia, Dec. 22
St. Gerasimos of Cephalonia, Oct. 20

For deliverance from despondency:
St. Tikhon of Zadonsk, Aug. 13

For chastity and deliverance from lustful passions:
St. Martinian, Feb. 13
St. John the Long-suffering, July 18
St. Moses the Hungarian, July 26
St. Thomais, April 13
St. Mary of Egypt, April 1
St. Anysia the Virgin Martyr, Dec. 30

For protection from evil spells, demons, and witchcraft:
Ss. Cyprian and Justina, Oct. 2
St. Theodore Sykeote, Apr. 22
St. Anastasia, the Healer from Potions, Dec. 22

For the driving away of evil spirits from people and animals:
St. Basil the Great, Jan. 1
St. Maruthas of Martyropolis, Feb. 16
St. Niphon, Dec. 23

For enlightenment of the mind for learning:
Ss. Cosmas and Damian, Nov. 1
St. Sergius of Radonezh, July 5
St. John of Kronstadt, Dec. 20
St. Justin the Philosopher, June 1
The Three Hierarchs: St. Basil the Great, St. John
Chrysostom, and St. Gregory the Theologian, Jan. 30

For guilelessness and simplicity:
The Holy Apostle Nathaniel, Apr. 22
St. Paul the Simple, Mar. 7

For marital difficulties:
The Holy Prophet Elias, July 20
Ss. Shamuna, Guria, and Habbib, Nov. 15
Ss. Peter and Febronia of Nuron, June 25

For protection from fire and lightning:
Holy Mother of God of the Unburnt Bush, Sept. 4
St. Nikita of Novgorod, Jan. 31

For protection from earthquakes:
St. Demetrios the Great Martyr of Thessalonica, Oct. 26

For deliverance from sudden death:
St. Barbara the Great Martyr, Dec. 4
St. Charalampus, Feb. 10
St. Onuphrius the Great, June 12
St. Sadoc, the Hieromartyr, Oct. 19

For deliverance from floods, and other calamities and sorrows:
St. Nicholas the Wonderworker of Myra, Dec. 6

For patient endurance of affliction:
St. Job the Much-suffering, May 6
St. Eustathius Placidas and his family, Sept. 20

For a solution to the problem of barrenness and childlessness:
St. Anna, Mother of the Theotokos, July 25
St. Elizabeth, Mother of the Forerunner, June 24
St. Roman the Wonderworker, Nov. 27
St. Hypatius, Abbot of Rufinus, Mar. 31
St. Irene Chrysovalantou, July 28

For freedom from difficulties in childbirth:
The Feodorovskaya Icon of the Most Holy Mother of God of Kostroma, Aug. 16
St. Catherine, the Great Martyr, Nov. 25
St. Eleutherios, Dec. 15

For preservation of the health of infants:
Icon of the Tikhvin Mother of God, June 26
Righteous Symeon the God-Receiver, Feb. 3
St. Stylianos, Nov. 26

For the recovery of stolen things:
St. Theodore the Tyro, the Great Martyr, Feb. 17
St. John the Soldier, July 30

For the recovery of lost things:
St. Tryphon, Feb. 1
St. Theophilus of Kiev, Oct. 26
St. Phanurios of Rhodes, Aug. 27
St. Menas the Great Martyr of Egypt, Nov. 11

When seeking a new job:
St. Xenia of Petersburg, Jan. 24
St. Nectarios of Pentapolis, Nov. 9

For the healing of sicknesses of the eyes:
St. Menas the Egyptian, Nov. 11
St. Laurence, the Archdeacon of Rome, Aug. 10
St. Longinus, the Centurion, Oct. 16

For healing of headaches:
St. John the Baptist, Aug. 29

For healing of tooth diseases:
St. Antipas of Pergamum, April 11

For healing of throat diseases:
St. Blaise of Sebastia, Feb. 11

For healing of trembling or shaking diseases:
St. Maron, Feb. 14
St. Photini, the Samaritan woman, Mar. 20
St. Basil the New, Mar. 26

For healing of cancer:
St. Nectarios of Pentapolis, Nov. 9

For recovery of sight to the blind:
Holy Mother of God of Kazan, July 8

For help when cooking:
St. Euphrosynos the Cook, Sept. 11
St. Juliana Lazarevskaya, Jan. 2
baking—St. Sergius of Radonezh, Sept. 25
prosphora making—Ss. Spyridon & Nikodim of
Kievo-Pechersk, Oct. 31

For protection of gardens:
St. Tryphon, the Great Martyr, Feb. 1

For traveling mercies:
St. Nicholas, the Wonderworker of Myra, Dec. 6
on cars and buses—St. John the Russian, May 27
at sea—St. Niphon, Patriarch of Constantinople, Aug. 11

Yes, thank you, that is exactly what I was looking for. Is that an inclusive list of Orthodox patron saints if I may ask?

I was reading an answer on the oca.org site from one Father who said the Orthodox had not many patron saints and it had me curious as to why that was.

 

[DonVA]

I don't know about the others, but I know I ask for the intercessions of the Theotokos ALL the time, and of St. Nectarios when there's illness in the family, and St. Joseph when I need prayers for my family (I'm an adoptive parent, so I think he knows my heart), and as I learn about the lives of the many other saints and what they accomplished during their time in this world, I include them in my prayers when I'm asking for intercessions.

...and even though I am not Serbian, I have also selected a patron saint for my family, as I received word that the adoption was final on the day that we honored St. Demetrios. You guessed it.

I didn't have to look for him, though. I believe he found us!

 

[Davis]

Are those in Heaven not perfect?

Love,
Christina

We still are not on the same level as God.
Our Jesus Christ is God.

Why go to another or attempt to go to another when we have direct contact with the Father through our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

[Asinner]

Here is a calendar of saints.
http://goarch.org/en/chapel/calendar.asp

Love,
Christina

 

[Sothron]

They are not praying to the saints Davis, they are simply asking the living in Christ (both here and in Heaven) to pray *with us* for whatever needs we bring before Him. This is not about asking a demigod for help because we can not go to the Big Guy ourselves. Or rubbing a magical lamp for one problem and picking up a different lamp for another problem.

If you ask for others to pray for you and with you, are you putting them on an equal plane as God? Of course not. Its the same idea. At least as far as I can understand.

 

[Asinner]

We still are not on the same level as God.
Our Jesus Christ is God.

Why go to another or attempt to go to another when we have direct contact with the Father through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Because the prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Those that are alive in Christ are as much a part of the Church (Church Triumphant) as those Christians that have not passed on (Church Militant). We pray for each other out of Love.

Love,
Christina

 

[Davis]

Difference of opinion then.
I have said my peace. No need for me to say anymore.

 

[Greg the byzantine]

There is no one rightous besides our Lord Jesus Christ.
We were all born sinners. Even Paul, Peter, James, etc.


Romans 3:10


Christ tells us to cast all our burderns and cares on Him. There is no other needed.

I'm not hear to argue. I'm hear to make sure my brother the OP is not being mislead in anyway. He is a dear friend.

There is no one perfect besides our Lord Jesus Christ the Son of God.
There are/were many righteous

righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Romans:22-24

I think if you read that line in its context it makes much more sense.

 

[silouanathonite]

Whats wrong with just having our Lord Jesus Christ listening to our requests and prayers?

That relationship with Jesus Christ. I come to my Lord Jesus Christ with my pleas of thanksgiving and forgiveness not Paul, James, Mary, or Matthew. The Lord hears my crys. The Lord is the Great Physican.

If this is the case for you, then do not ever ask anyone ever to pray for you or any member of your family or a loved one. Of course Christ can do it by himself, but we also believe whether a fellow Christian is here on earth or with God in heaven, we need all the help we can get.

 

[ModernDaySpyridon]

They are not praying to the saints Davis, they are simply asking the living in Christ (both here and in Heaven) to pray *with us* for whatever needs we bring before Him. This is not about asking a demigod for help because we can not go to the Big Guy ourselves. Or rubbing a magical lamp for one problem and picking up a different lamp for another problem.

If you ask for others to pray for you and with you, are you putting them on an equal plane as God? Of course not. Its the same idea. At least as far as I can understand.

Very well put!

It's nice for someone to believe us, not tell us what we really think...