My Favorite Saint is............ Because..........

[Yeznik]

To get away from Pope bashing (for a while anyway).

In this thread I would like for people to share their favorite Saints and why.

[Secundulus]

My favorite Saint is St. Joan of Arc. This is primarily because of her unwavering faith in the face of martyrdom and that fact that she was a Soldier as am I.

“Hold the cross high so I may see it through the flames!”

[xristos.anesti]

St. Stephen Archdeacon and protomartyr,

for it is my slava (http://www.istocnik.com/articles/40/eng_slava.html).

For many years I did not know what my slava was as it was not traditioned to me by my father. Then I became Seventh Day Adventist and slava was forgotten.

Then 10 years ago on the beginning of the years I converted to Orthodoxy and as St. Stephen is celebrated on 27 Dec / 9 Jan according to the new calendar I adopted this saint to be my slava.

At the same time my search for the original slava started. Some time later I received information that explained what was my father’s slava and so it happened that the very same saint who was there when I became Orthodox was actually my father’s slava – thus my slava.

Saint Stephen, Archdeacon and Protomartyr of the Church.


On December 27, we commemorate the holy, glorious, all-laudable Apostle Stephen the Protomartyr.


The holy, glorious, all-laudable Apostle Stephen the Protomartyr was an early Christian convert from among the Hellenistic Jews, one of the original seven deacons ordained by the Apostles, and the first martyr of the Orthodox Church. The Church remembers the martydom of St. Stephen on December 27, and the translations of his relics on August 2.

Life of Saint Stephen

St. Stephen was a Jew living in the Hellenic provinces, related to the Apostle Paul and one of the first seven deacons ordained by the Apostles to serve the Church in Jerusalem (thus making him an archdeacon). The Holy Spirit worked powerfully through his faith, enabling him to perform many miracles and always defeat the Jews who would dispute with him. The Jews in their hatred of St. Stephen lied about him to the people. But St. Stephen with his face illumined reminded the people of the miracles God had worked through him and even rebuked the Jews for killing the innocent Christ.

The people were enraged by what they thought was blasphemy and 'gnashed their teeth' at Stephen. It was then that he saw his Christ in the heavens and declared it so. Hearing this, the Jews took him outside the city and stoned him to death, with his kinsman Saul (later St. Paul) holding their coats while they did it. Afar off on a hill was the Virgin Mary and St. John the Theologian who witnessed this first martyrdom for the Son of God and prayed for him while he was being stoned. This occurred about a year after the first Pentecost.

When the Jews stoned St. Stephen, they left his body at the foothill of the city for two days to be eaten by dogs. But on the second night, Gamaliel—teacher of the Apostle Paul and the Apostle Barnabas—came and moved the body to his own land in Capharganda. Nicodemus, who died while weeping at this grave, was also buried there along with Gamaliel's godson Abibus and Gamaliel himself upon his repose.

After many years the memory of St. Stephen's burial place had left the minds of men, until 415 when Gamaliel appeared three times to Father Lucian, priest at Capharganda. He revealed to Fr. Lucian the place of his burial and everything about it. Fr. Lucian received the blessing of the Patriarch to exhume the saints from their grave where a strong, sweet fragrance fillled the cave.

St. Stephen's relics were tranlated to Zion and honorably buried, and many of the sick were healed by his relics. The other three relics were placed inside a church atop the cave on a hill. Eventually, his relics were translated to Constantinople.

Hymns

Troparion (Tone 4)
O Protomartyr and mighty warrior of Christ our God,
You are victorious in battle and crowned with glory, O holy Stephen!
You confounded the council of your persecutors,
Beholding your Savior enthroned at the right hand of the Father.
Never cease to intercede for the salvation of our souls!

Kontakion (Tone 3)
Yesterday the Master assumed our flesh and became our guest;
Today His servant is stoned to death and departs in the flesh,
The glorious Protomartyr Stephen.


http://www.greek-icons.org/icons_saints/images/saint_stephen.jpg (http://www.greek-icons.org/icons_saints/icons-of-saints.html)

[GratiaCorpusChristi]

St. Demetrius of Thessaloniki. He was a Roman soldier, possibly a general, assisted in the defeat of a pagan giant, and was martyred under Diocletian.

I think many Orthodox will agree.

Or. Sts. Ignatius of Antioch, Irenaeus of Lyons, Athanasius of Alexandria, and Augustine of Hippo. But that's just the theologian in me.

[cobweb]

St. Felicitas of Carthage, martyr and pregnant slave of St. Perpetua. She was martyred in the Carthagian ampitheatre in the early 3rd century 2 days after the birth of her child.

She's been a favorite of mine ever since I read the prison journal of her mistress and the account of their martyrdom.

[Sothron]

I will repaste the link in my sig of a post I made before on TAW:

I have always loved the story of St.Patrick and the life he led in Christ. When my wife and I knew in our hearts that were being led by the Holy Spirit to the One True Church there was no question in my mind or heart which patron saint I would take.

I believe that we study the life of the saints to not only venerate them properly for their deeds in Christ but to discern from them ways in which to live our own life. We have in their lives examples of men and women from all walks of life from the world over that accomplished much for the Church. These precious men and women not only sanctified Christ by their lives but they left impressions on the Church that all preceding Christians can learn from. By their deeds and words they praised Christ and exalted Him and they showed the rest of us a life truly worth living.

It is difficult to look at Christ's life on this Earth and believe at some point we as Christians can truly emulate Him. It is through our study of the saints and our veneration of them that we find myriad examples of regular Christians who tried as best as they could to not only follow Him but to try and live like Him. These blessed people received their salvation and sainthood through their lives and deeds. Their lives have become living examples of the Word in action, of Christians who accomplished much through Him that was within them.

It is through their example that those of us, "mere" Christians, can find strength and comfort. We can never be truly like Christ in our sin filled world and human failings after the fall. But if we aspire, if we attempt with an earnest heart, we can accomplish much.

When I look at St. Patrick I see a man whose entire life is an example for my walk as a Christian. This is a man who was enslaved for six years by raiders coming from Ireland. He had two visions that said he was going to return home and that his boat was now ready to take him back home. He walked on foot for two hundred miles to the coast and he found the boat to take him home.

He then had a vision that the people of Ireland were beseeching him to return to teach them of Christ. The courage it took for him to not only endure six years of slavery as a shepherd torn from his family and his church but to return to the people who had treated him so is something I can not fathom.

St. Patrick found it in his heart to not only forgive them but to return and preach the Word to them. Every day he spent there he was under threat of being enslaved again or possibly killed by the pagans in Ireland. He not only brought them to the Word but he eventually brought thousands to Christ and built dozens of monasteries and churches through the island.

All too often in our modern world we shy from conflict. We turn a deaf ear to the cry of the needy. We keep our light hidden in a bush of complacency. We wish not to offend sensibilities and by our silence we allow souls to be lost. We have the greatest News that man has ever had gifted to it and yet we are stricken dumb by our hubris and fear.

St. Patrick was beaten and enslaved and through God's mercy he escaped. And when he was called he found the courage to return to those people and preach the very same Word that was gifted to us. His beautiful prayer, the Lorica of St. Patrick, was the only defense he had against the pagans and violent men he came to save. And through his faith he was kept safe and his witness saved an entire people.

I can not know the experience St. Patrick went through. I can only admire his deeds and his kindness and his mercy that included those who enslaved him and tried to murder him. I can only pray that I can have his mercy, his love, his forgiveness and his courage.
We live in a world that is going cold. We have the fire, they very same fire, that descended at Penecost. We have within us the seeds of faith that were matured in St. Patrick. If he found that much in the Spirit, surely can we not find enough in our world today?

From slavery you escaped to freedom in Christ's service: He sent you to deliver Ireland from the devil's bondage. You planted the Word of the Gospel in pagan hearts. In your journeys and hardships you rivaled the Apostle Paul! Having received the reward for your labors in heaven, Never cease to pray for the flock you have gathered on earth, Holy bishop Patrick!

I struggle daily to find forgiveness in my heart for my parents who abused me, for my enemies that have said unkind words or have assaulted me. I struggle daily to find the mercy in my heart to remember them in my prayers and to ask for prayers for their own sakes. I struggle daily to find the courage to reach out to the lost around me in this modern world. I struggle daily to find the faith to fully trust in Him and to place all of my cares and worries in His hands.

I pray through this righteous man, this blessed man, that I can find any of the courage and the mercy and the love he showed his enemies. I pray that I can find his patience to endure slavery on an isolated mountain. I pray that I can find his utter trust and faith in the Lord to return to those who harmed him and to not only survive but to exalt the Lord with his deeds.

I offer a prayer of thanksgiving that this blessed Apostle taught my family in the ancient of days and planted a seed in them that flowers even now in me.

[Albion]

To get away from Pope bashing (for a while anyway).

In this thread I would like for people to share their favorite Saints and why.

It probably would be St. Charles, King and Martyr. Although frequently villified because of his political decisions, Charles showed remarkable qualities late in his life. He could have avoided death merely by recanting his religious beliefs under pressure from Oliver Cromwell's men but would not compromise even to save himself. He faced his death with grace and courage even though the order for his execution was illegal. While many Christian martyrs lost their lives under similar circumstances, I find his story somewhat more inspirational because of his position and that of those who killed him; normally, it is the reverse, in which ordinary people are arrested by representatives of a powerful and anti-Christian government that it would be almost impossible to imagine them having any ability to deal with.

[Secundulus]

St. Felicitas of Carthage, martyr and pregnant slave of St. Perpetua. She was martyred in the Carthagian ampitheatre in the early 3rd century 2 days after the birth of her child.

She's been a favorite of mine ever since I read the prison journal of her mistress and the account of their martyrdom.

I got my username from her story. Secundulus was arrested with her and died a martyr in prison before he faced martyrdom in the arena.

[EmperorConstantine]

St. Constantine.

He was the emperor who ended the persecutions, called the bishops together at Nicaea in 325 and his mother, St. Helena, went to Jerusalem, found the Holy Cross and built the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (among other buildings).

Great saint. I see a lot of myself in him hence, why he is my saint.


St. Nicholas of Myra punched Arius the heretic. That is worthy of coolness.:cool:

[WarriorAngel]

To get away from Pope bashing (for a while anyway).

In this thread I would like for people to share their favorite Saints and why.

Tough one! :scratch:
I love them all....
St Anthony, St Joseph, St Francis....etc

ASIDE FROM MARY Our Lady who is numero uno with me.... it might be St Pio. :thumbsup:
Awesome guy.

[WarriorAngel]

St. Nicholas of Myra punched Arius the heretic. That is worthy of coolness.:cool:

:eek: How come?
Ya know...I said months ago I would love...NM.

WILL make a thread. ;)

I got my username from her story. Secundulus was arrested with her and died a martyr in prison before he faced martyrdom in the arena.

St. Felicitas of Carthage, martyr and pregnant slave of St. Perpetua. She was martyred in the Carthagian ampitheatre in the early 3rd century 2 days after the birth of her child.

She's been a favorite of mine ever since I read the prison journal of her mistress and the account of their martyrdom.

I read about these Saints.
AMAZING valor under the persecutions.
Was it St Perpetua who had the dreams about the ladder ...?

[EmperorConstantine]

:eek: How come?
Ya know...I said months ago I would love...NM.

WILL make a thread. ;)
Why did he punch Arius? Because the heresy made St. Nicholas so angry and so forth, that it is believed he ran up and punched Arius in the face. After the punching, he was asked to leave. Granted, once they figured out that Arius was a heretic, St. Nicholas was apologized to and asked of forgiveness.

Or was it why is St. Nicholas cool? He punched a heretic! :D

[WarriorAngel]

Why did he punch Arius? Because the heresy made St. Nicholas so angry and so forth, that it is believed he ran up and punched Arius in the face. After the punching, he was asked to leave. Granted, once they figured out that Arius was a heretic, St. Nicholas was apologized to and asked of forgiveness.

Or was it why is St. Nicholas cool? He punched a heretic! :D

How come he punched him. ^_^

Yea, I guess political correctness wasn't even a term back then. ;) How refreshing. :holy:
Gotta give him kudos but he probably regretted it.

So, what did the Arius do?
Guess he didnt retract what he believed.

[EmperorConstantine]

So, what did the Arius do?
Guess he didnt retract what he believed.
Arius said that Christ was not divine. He said that Christ was some created creature among other things.

Heretic in the early 4th century. The Nicene Creed was written to say "this is what Christians believe" because of Arius' heresy, Arianism. Jehova's Witnesses are essentially neo-Arians.

[WarriorAngel]

Arius said that Christ was not divine. He said that Christ was some created creature among other things.

Heretic in the early 4th century. The Nicene Creed was written to say "this is what Christians believe" because of Arius' heresy, Arianism. Jehova's Witnesses are essentially neo-Arians.

:) Not to digress, but yeah, JW's are quite the clan. :holy:
When I was 5-7 yrs old my neighbor friend told me the birds would eat me.
Then I dated a JW when I was 15...
It was all about avoiding his parents who would pull out tracts and their Bible.
Then debated one online for 2 years. ;)

Back to the regularly scheduled Saints. :D

[zhilan]

My favorite saint is St. Moses the Ethiopian.

[Secundulus]

Why did he punch Arius? Because the heresy made St. Nicholas so angry and so forth, that it is believed he ran up and punched Arius in the face. After the punching, he was asked to leave. Granted, once they figured out that Arius was a heretic, St. Nicholas was apologized to and asked of forgiveness.

Or was it why is St. Nicholas cool? He punched a heretic! :D

The mental picture of Santa Claus punching Arius in the face just makes me laugh. LOL

[Yeznik]

The mental picture of Santa Claus punching Arius in the face just makes me laugh. LOL

LOL! He is making a list checking it twice gonna find out who's naughty or nice. Santa Claus is punching heretics. Everyone sing along!

[EmperorConstantine]

LOL! He is making a list checking it twice gonna find out who's naughty or nice. Santa Claus is punching heretics. Everyone sing along!
:D

Arius? check.
Nestorius? check...

[GratiaCorpusChristi]

:D

Arius? check.
Nestorius? check...
Apollinarus...
Eutyches...

Haha, I don't know what game we're playing but I just thought I'd add some heretics to the list...

[Iosias]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/03/Sandro_Botticelli_050.jpg/390px-Sandro_Botticelli_050.jpg

[Macarius]

St. Photius :P

No but seriously - I like St. John of Krondstadt and St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco.

[Yeznik]

Saint Nerses the Graceful

[nikostheater]

Saint Nicholas of Myra...
MY favorite and my patron Saint..

[WarriorAngel]

:D

Arius? check.
Nestorius? check...

Naughty list I see. :holy:

[MrJim]

St Francis, he's the one I've read the most and have always found his sacrificial ascetic life to be a challenge.

I watched some ancient black/white movie (with subtitles) that was just raw enough to put some life into what I'd read about him.

The "Little Flower" is another fascinating saint I've read about.

I don't really know the Orthodox saints...yet.

[eoe]

Saint John the Wonderworker - the speedy helper and intercessor of my soul.
http://saintjohnwonderworker.org/images/Stjohn2006.gif
http://www.orthodoxphotos.com/Holy_Fathers/St._John_Maximovitch/37.jpg

[WarriorAngel]

St Francis, he's the one I've read the most and have always found his sacrificial ascetic life to be a challenge.

I watched some ancient black/white movie (with subtitles) that was just raw enough to put some life into what I'd read about him.

The "Little Flower" is another fascinating saint I've read about.

I don't really know the Orthodox saints...yet.

I highly recommend St Padre Pio.



Saint John the Wonderworker - the speedy helper and intercessor of my soul.

http://saintjohnwonderworker.org/images/Stjohn2006.gif

http://www.orthodoxphotos.com/Holy_Fathers/St._John_Maximovitch/37.jpg


I read a bit on him online...
in the miracles thread.

[Macarius]

He was an incredible saint - those who knew him (who are still alive, of whom I've met a couple) say it was impossible to keep a pair of shoes on him because he'd walk outside, fully intending to keep them, see someone without shoes, and give them to the person.

I mean - a bishop - with no shoes!

The book "Blessed John" (Saint Herman of Alaska press, I think), has the best collection of miracles from his intercession. The second half of the book (so about 150 pages) is nothing but first hand testimonials about miracles worked through St. John before or after his respose in the late 60's.

Absolutely one of my favorites. I pray to him frequently, and his prayers are one of the reasons I'm Orthodox today.

In Christ,
Macarius

[kamikat]

I love St John the Wonderworker because I believe that through my prayers to him, I was healed of a serious genetic disorder. Now, all my genetic tests come out negative for this disorder. Also, while I was going through some major medical tests and procedures last fall, I was having lots of anxiety and insomnia. Being annointed with oil consecrated at his church in San Fransico really helped me get through it all and cured the insomnia.

[WarriorAngel]

I love St John the Wonderworker because I believe that through my prayers to him, I was healed of a serious genetic disorder. Now, all my genetic tests come out negative for this disorder. Also, while I was going through some major medical tests and procedures last fall, I was having lots of anxiety and insomnia. Being annointed with oil consecrated at his church in San Fransico really helped me get through it all and cured the insomnia.
:hug:

I think the Saints are such wonderful allies and friends.
I am very happy that you have been cured. :hug: