Patron Saints

[SpiritlMuse]

I want to know about your Patron Saints. How do you get one, do you chose after studying the different ones.. I have four volumes of saints, goes by the months and has several saints for each day.. now these volumes are rather old found them at a garage sale. Did your Patron Saint come to you through prayer, or did your church Father or spiritual teacher tell you who it was or helped you decide, does everyone have a Patron Saint?

 

[Gregorios]

I want to know about your Patron Saints. How do you get one, do you chose after studying the different ones.. I have four volumes of saints, goes by the months and has several saints for each day.. now these volumes are rather old found them at a garage sale. Did your Patron Saint come to you through prayer, or did your church Father or spiritual teacher tell you who it was or helped you decide, does everyone have a Patron Saint?

There are two ways..well three. First, for those born in the Church, their first or middle name will be that of a Saint, chosen by their parents or Godparents, and that saint is their patron. This is done during the Baptismal service. Second, for converts, either through Baptism or Christmation, they can choose a saint they are inspired by or identify with..for any reason really or if they already are named after one, they can keep that name and in some cases if they cannot decide or if it's the local custom, the priest or their sponsor or their spiritual father/mother will choose the name. For example, my name is Matthew, my baptismal name is Gregory (Gregorios in Greek), my patron is St. Gregory the Great (St. Gregory the Dialogist in the East). I could have stuck with Matthew or I could have used my middle name, Edward. But I chose St. Gregory as a nod to my western roots (I was a Roman Catholic Catechumen before I discovered Orthodoxy so I credit the RCC for leading me to Orthodoxy), I also chose him because he is not only a Western Saint (He was Pope) but he is credited with the Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts in the East so for me, he was the bridge of West to East. The third way is via Ordination or monastic tonsure. Some people when they are ordained to a clerical rank or tonsured a monk/nun, they will be given a name by their Bishop or Superior or their Bishop or Superior will allow them to choose a new name, this is to symbolize death to the old self and the birth of a new creature (this is another reason I opted to change my name). Overall, if you choose a patron, pray about it, study them, and make sure you identify with them because they will be interceding for you to God. Not that there is ever a bad or a wrong choice mind you, it's just some saints an individual may identify with more than others. The only downside is, in my case, people forget my namesday since he's not a "major" saint in the East, sadly, but that's okay, he's a great saint and he prays for me, that's all that matters . I hope this helps in some way.

 

[Gregorios]

Oh and yes, all Orthodox Christians have a patron Saint.

 

[SpiritlMuse]

There are two ways..well three. Second, for converts, either through Baptism or Christmation, they can choose a saint they are inspired by or identify with.. the priest or their sponsor or their spiritual father/mother will choose the name. Overall, if you choose a patron, pray about it, study them, and make sure you identify with them because they will be interceding for you to God. Not that there is ever a bad or a wrong choice mind you, it's just some saints an individual may identify with more than others. . I hope this helps in some way.

Oh and yes, all Orthodox Christians have a patron Saint.

Thank you so much, this helps a whole lot. I have a direction to go in, I have some reading to do on the Saints.

 

[Gregorios]

I would also hasten to add, that you don't have to pick a female saint. If you chose a male saint, you would simply use the female version of his name. For example, St. Seraphim of Sarov, you would be Seraphima. St. Basil the Great, in Greek it is rendered as Vasili you would be Vasiliki. St. Paul, you would be Paula or something similar. And so on and so forth in that fashion.

 

[E.C.]

I like to believe that the saint picks you

I told my father and local priest that I want to become Orthodox on a Saturday and that Sunday during right before Matins my dad grabbed a book on the Lives of the Saints, gave it to me and said "read it and find one". By the time Liturgy started I found St. Constantine.

 

[Knee V]

I chose the Holy Prophet Joel because that is also my name and I didn't want to have to go by two different names when I'm in different circles. Only after I was christmated did I realize that his Feast day is the same week as my chrismation date (I was going to be chrismated later than I was, but I was going to be deployed and my priest wanted to get it done before I went out to sea instead). His feast is Oct 19 and I was christmated on Oct 16.

Interestingly, my daughter, whom I'm not able to have baptized for a number of reasons, is named Lucy. I just realized last week that there are TWO martyrs named Lucy, one in December and one in July. I was only aware of the one commemorated in December, and for a while I've been asking for her intercessions for my daughter. The one commemorated in July is in the same week that my up-and-coming son is due to be born. I'm curious to see how the dates play out.

Another interesting note, on my birthday are two saints who both apostatized and then came back to the Church... (which, by the way, is part of my own story).

 

[ArmyMatt]

yeah, when I came into the Church and was thinking about what Saint name to take, I talked to my priest and he already was sold on St Matthew, especially after I told him my grandfather, who is named Levi, was born 11/28/28 and I was born 11/28/82.

 

[SpiritlMuse]

I like to believe that the saint picks you

that's kinda what I was hoping. I have books on the Saints and I thought that if I read about them, then one of them may pick me.

I would also hasten to add, that you don't have to pick a female saint. If you chose a male saint, you would simply use the female version of his name. For example, St. Seraphim of Sarov, you would be Seraphima. St. Basil the Great, in Greek it is rendered as Vasili you would be Vasiliki. St. Paul, you would be Paula or something similar. And so on and so forth in that fashion.

Honestly, I would never have thought of a male saint and, wow so much more reading.. geez I hope through prayer and meditation a Saint will pick me and tell me their name!

I chose the Holy Prophet Joel because that is also my name and I didn't want to have to go by two different names when I'm in different circles.

Okay now I am not sure what you mean by this statement. "go by two different names when in different circles." ?? Are you saying that the saint name that I chose will become my new name, at least around my Orthodox brothers and sisters or is that my Christian brothers and sisters ?

 

[Knee V]

Okay now I am not sure what you mean by this statement. "go by two different names when in different circles." ?? Are you saying that the saint name that I chose will become my new name, at least around my Orthodox brothers and sisters or is that my Christian brothers and sisters ?

Just in Orthodox circles. Not everyone does that, but many do. Everyone uses their "baptismal name" when receiving communion. Some limit the use of that name solely to communion. Some use their baptismal name any time they're in Church or around Orthodox people anywhere. Some cease using their "legal" name altogether (except for legal purposes) and introduce themselves to everyone by their baptismal name whether they're Orthodox or not.

Some priests will tell you that if your name is already that of a Saint that you should use the same name, or some version of it. Not every priest will tell you that. My priest didn't tell me that, but that was part of my reasoning as well. If my name is already that of a Saint, why change it?

 

[-Kyriaki-]

Most priests I know make us keep our names if they are the names of Saints - it's very confusing to have multiple names, and we're honouring our parents by keeping their choice. It also is very easy to fall into the novelty of it all by changing ones name - makes a clear distinction between sacred and secular, which isn't the Orthodox way at all.

I'm Kyriaki rather than what I was named as a child, although Kyri is short for both, because what my legal name is is rather amusing to the Orthodox and it's too much of a hassle to keep. It's also completely hilarious to the Greeks (who I live with most of the time - my DBF and his family are very ethnic Greek Cypriots and I spend a lot of time with them, so as far as I'm concerned Kyriaki is my (assumed) name for everything except things where it must be legal. When I get married I'll change both names officially.

If you have the name of a Saint, find out about them It's usually easiest just to keep the name you've always born unless it's something completely non-Christian (but it's amazing how many names are actually Christian when you look at them or translate them)

 

[SpiritlMuse]

yeah, when I came into the Church and was thinking about what Saint name to take, I talked to my priest and he already was sold on St Matthew, especially after I told him my grandfather, who is named Levi, was born 11/28/28 and I was born 11/28/82.

That might be easier for me.. someone name me. please!

All kidding aside, I do have 4 volumes of Butler's Lives of the Saints that I can go through and I believe that by the time it comes I will have a patron Saint.

 

[Antony in Tx]

I was given the name Antony at birth, but converted as an adult. Found out when I became a catechumen that my birthday is on the feast of St. Antony the Great! No brainer there.

 

[seamstress Susanna]

Through my search, I looked for a saint who shared my legal name, or any form of it, one around my birthday, my first Divine Liturgy, and my Chrismation date. I couldn't find one to whom I felt drawn. I read through the lives of the saints, and haphazardly chose a saint. A friend pointed me to St Susanna, of the Elders. When I read through her prayer and found her icon, I knew I'd found my patroness- or she'd chose me. She's a very little known saint with only one known parish in her honor.

Since then, I've married, but I haven't legally changed my name to my baptism name. I feel that's disrespecting my non-orthodox parents. I am known by 2 names, depending on the circle I'm in. At home, with my family-in-law, and with my church, I'm known as Susanna, while at work, my siblings, and my parents call me by my legal name. My family still struggles with my decisions now, some 6 years after my baptism.

 

[SpiritlMuse]

My first and middle name's are not any part of a saints, male or female.. which really disappoints me. So I am doing a lot of reading I hope one will stand out and touch me.

 

[-Kyriaki-]

Would you mind giving us your first name? It's always amazing what names are Saint's names, and we can probably help find out if yours is (there are a LOT of Saints).

 

[seamstress Susanna]

My first and middle name's are not any part of a saints, male or female.. which really disappoints me. So I am doing a lot of reading I hope one will stand out and touch me.

In another post, someone made mention of the petition " All saints pray for us sinners". Even though it may seem strange (depending on your church background) I encourage you to use that petition while you're searching. I felt not having a saint-related name while freeing, was also frustrating- there are SO many! My heritage is French, German, and English. It wasn't until after my baptism I studied the saints of the British Isles. Do you know your genealogy? the origins of your legal name? Choosing a saint is a small thing while you're inquiring, and a catechumen. It will come! As my priest told me each time we talked " enjoy the journey!"

 

[Michael G]

I was given the name Antony at birth, but converted as an adult. Found out when I became a catechumen that my birthday is on the feast of St. Antony the Great! No brainer there.

That is awesome. My favorite icon has always been the Holy Mandylion. I paint it every chance I get. I just found out this past summer that my birthday happens to fall on a minor feast of the Holy Mandylion that is about a week before the major feast of the Mandylion in August!

 

[Coralie]

Perhaps look into your name meaning(s), and find a saint's name that has the same meaning.

For example, my first name means "queen mother". And my saint's name is Marie (geddit?).

I actually chose Marie for St Mary of Egypt, because I loved her even before I was a Christian, and I only realised later that the Theotokos would be just as good a choice according to my name meaning Strange how these things work out eh...

 

[SpiritlMuse]

Would you mind giving us your first name? It's always amazing what names are Saint's names, and we can probably help find out if yours is (there are a LOT of Saints).

My name is Renae and means "reborn"

My heritage is French, German, and English. It wasn't until after my baptism I studied the saints of the British Isles. Do you know your genealogy? the origins of your legal name?

I am French, English, and 1/2 Polish

Perhaps look into your name meaning(s), and find a saint's name that has the same meaning.

For example, my first name means "queen mother". And my saint's name is Marie (geddit?).

I looked into the names of our family and I am the only one that doesn't have a saint name out right...