THE GLORIFICATION OF SAINTS ACCORDING TO THE HOLY TRADITION OF THE ORTHODOX CHURCH

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True Lord, God, and Savior,

CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

The Glorification of Saints According to the Holy Tradition
of the Orthodox Church.

"As for the saints who are on the earth,
They are EXCELLENT ONES, in whom
is all my delight" [Psalm 16:3].

"To the Church of God which is at Corinth,
to those who are SANCTIFIED in Christ Jesus,
CALLED TO BE SAINTS, with all who in every
place call on the name of Jesus Christ our
Lord, both theirs and ours" [1 Corinthians 1:2].

"so that He may establish your hearts BLAMELESS
IN HOLINESS before our God and Father at the
coming of our Lord Jesus Christ WITH ALL HIS
SAINTS" [1 Thessalonians 3:13].

"Precious in the sight of the Lord
Is the DEATH OF HIS SAINTS" [Psalm 116:15].

"When He comes, in that Day, TO BE GLORIFIED
IN HIS SAINTS and to be admired among all those
who believe, because our testimony among you
was believed" (2 Thessalonians 1:10].

"He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some
evangelists; and some pastors and teachers; FOR THE
PERFECTING OF THE SAINTS, for the work of the ministry,
for the edifying of the Body of Christ: till we all come in the
unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God,
unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the
fullness of Christ" [Ephesians 4:11-13].

The "Sanctified in Christ" and "saints" those set apart to God. Baptized into Christ, united with Him, "the church of God" who by His mercy is one with the faithful everywhere.

In the Old Testament there was NO VENERATION of the bodies of the righteous, for the righteous themselves were still awaiting their deliverance. Then also the flesh (of the dead) in itself was considered UNCLEAN. In the New Testament, after the Incarnation of the Savior, there was AN ELEVATION OF THE BODY AS THE DWELLING PLACE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. The Lord Himself, the Logos/Word of God, was incarnate and took upon Himself a human body. Christians are called to this that NOT ONLY THEIR SOULS BUT ALSO THEIR BODIES, SANCTIFIED BY HOLY BAPTISM, SANCTIFIED BY THE RECEPTION OF THE Most Pure Body and Blood of Christ, might become TRUE TEMPLES OF THE Holy Spirit. "Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit Who is in you?" [1 Corinthians 6:19]. And therefore the bodies of Christians WHO HAVE LIVED A RIGHTEOUS LIFE, OR WHO HAVE BECOME HOLY THROUGH RECEIVING A MARTYR’S DEATH, ARE WORTHY OF SPECIAL VENERATION AND HONOR.

The Holy Church in all times, following Sacred Tradition, has shown HONOR to HOLY RELICS. This honor has been expressed (a) IN THE REVERENT COLLECTION AND PRESERVATION OF THE REMAINS OF THE SAINTS OF GOD, as is known from accounts even of the 2 century, and then from the testimonies of later times; (b) IN THE SOLEMN UNCOVERING AND TRANSLATION OF HOLY RELICS; (c) IN THE BUILDING OVER THEM OF CHURCHES AND ALTARS; (d) IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF FEASTS IN MEMORY OF THEIR UNCOVERING OR TRANSLATION; (e) IN PILGRIMAGE TO HOLY TOMBS, AND IN ADORING THEM; (f) IN THE CONSTANT RULE OF THE CHURCH TO PLACE RELICS OF HOLY MARTYRS AT THE DEDICATION OF ALTARS, OR TO PLACE HOLY RELICS IN THE HOLY ANTIMENSION UPON WHICH IS PERFORMED THE DIVINE LITURGY.

This very natural honor given to the holy relics and other remains of the saints of God has a firm foundation in the fact that God Himself has deigned to honor and glorify them by innumerable signs and miracles– something for which THERE IS TESTIMONY THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE COURSE OF THE CHURCH HISTORY. [Orthodox Dogmatic Theology]

What makes the saints holy is that they possess the highest spiritual purity and righteousness. The Church is holy through its Head, the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is holy, further, through the presence in it of God the Holy Spirit and His Grace-creating gifts, communicated in the Mysteries (Sacraments) and other sacred rites of the Orthodox Church. It is als holy through its tie with the Heavenly Church.

The very "body of the Church" is holy: "If the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root be holy, so are the branches" [Romans 11:16]. Those who believe in Christ are "temple of God," "temples of the Holy Spirit" [1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19]. In the True Church there have always been and there always are people of the great spiritual purity and with special gifts of Grace–MARTYRS, VIRGINS, ASCETICS, MONKS AND NUNS, HIERARCHS, RIGHTEOUS ONES, BLESSED ONES. The Church has an uncounted choir of departed ones of all times and peoples. It has manifestations of the extraordinary gifts of the Holy Spirit, both visible and invisible from the eyes of the world.

The Church IS HOLY BY ITS CALLING, OR ITS PURPOSE. It is holy also by ITS FRUITS: "But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have YOUR FRUIT TO HOLINESS, AND THE END OF EVERLASTING LIFE" [Romans 6:22]. Slavery to God, initiated in baptism, IS TRUE FREEDOM. The "FRUIT" of baptism IS "HOLINESS," OR SANCTIFICATION, AND IT ENDS IN "EVERLASTING LIFE." [Romans 6;22]. SALVATION IS A PROCESS OF TRANSFIGURATION FROM SINNER TO SAINT. We are saved through baptism, and we are being saved, that is, being transformed by the UNCREATED GRACE OF GOD TO BE LIKE Him, in anticipation of Eternal Life.

The opinion that the Church consists only of righteous and holy people without sin DOES NOT AGREE WITH THE DIRECT TEACHING OF CHRIST AND HIS HOLY APOSTLES. Our Savior compares His Church with a field on which THE WHEAT THAT GROWS TOGETHER WITH THE TARES, AND AGAIN, WITH A NET WHICH DRAWS OUT OF THE WATER BOTH GOOD FISH AND BAD. In the Church THERE ARE BOTH GOOD SERVANTS AND BAD ONES [Matthew 18:23-35], wise virgins and foolish (Matthew 25:1-13).

For those who find it difficult or challenging to understand the significance and necessity of holiness we must turn to the Holy Apostle Paul who writes, "But nothing UNCLEAN CAN ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD" [Ephesians 5:5]; Revelation 21:27). God is Light, and there is NO DARKNESS IN Him, and those WHO ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD MUST THEMSELVES BE SONS OF THE Light. Therefore, entrance into it NECESSARILY REQUIRES PURITY OF SOUL, A GARMENT OF "HOLINESS, WITHOUT WHICH NO MAN SHALL SEE THE LORD" [Hebrews 12:14].

The GLORIFICATION of Saints in the Holy Orthodox Church is A RECOGNITION THAT GOD’S HOLINESS IS MANIFESTED IN THE CHURCH THROUGH THESE GRACE-FILLED MEN AND WOMEN WHOSE LIVES WERE PLEASING TO GOD. Very early on, the Holy Church recognized the Righteous ancestors of Christ (Forefathers), those who predicted His Coming (Prophets), and those who proclaimed the Divine Gospel (Holy Apostles and Evangelists). Then those who risked their lives and shed their blood to bear witness to Christ (Holy Martyrs and Confessors), were also recognized by the Church as Saints. There was no special canonization process, but their holy relics were treasured and the annual anniversaries of their MARTYRDOMS WERE WHO FOLLOWED CHRIST THROUGH SELF-DENIAL, were numbered among the Saints. BISHOPS AND PRIESTS who proclaimed the True Faith and fought AGAINST HERESY WERE ADDED TO THE LIST. Finally, those in other walks of life who MANIFESTED HOLINESS were recognized as Saints.

While the GLORIFICATION of a Saint may be initiated because of miracles, IT IS NOT AN ABSOLUTE NECESSITY FOR CANONIZATION. The Roman Catholic tradition requires THREE VERIFIED MIRACLES in order to recognize someone as a Saint; the Orthodox Church DOES NOT REQUIRE THIS. What is required IS A VIRTUOUS LIFE OF OBVIOUS HOLINESS. And a Saint’s writings and preaching MUST BE "FULLY ORTHODOX," in agreement with the PURE FAITH THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED FROM CHRIST AND THE HOLY APOSTLES AND TAUGHT BY THE HOLY FATHERS AND THE ECUMENICAL SYNODS.

Can the Church "MAKE" a Saint? The answer is NO! ONLY GOD CAN DO THAT. WE GLORIFY THOSE WHOM GOD HIMSELF HAS GLORIFIED, SEEING IN THEIR LIVES TRUE LOVE FOR GOD AND THEIR NEIGHBORS. The Church merely recognizes that such a person has cooperated with God’s Grace to the extent that his or her HOLINESS IS BEYOND DOUBT.

Are Saints "ELECTED" by special panels or by majority vote? Again, the answer is NO! Long before an official inquiry into a person’s life is made, that person IS VENERATED BY THE PEOPLE who pray for his or her soul or who ask him or her for INTERCESSION. Then a request is made, usually through the Diocesan Bishop, for the Church to recognize that person as a Saint. A Canonization Commission is formed to research the life of the person who is being considered fo glorification and to submit a report to the Holy Synod stating the reasons why the person should or should not be recognized as a Saint. Then the Holy Synod decides to number that person among the Saints and have icons painted and liturgical services composed.

The formal Rite of GLORIFICATION begins with a final Memorial Service for the person about to be canonized, after which Vespers and Matins with special hymns to the Saint are chanted and the Saint’s icon is unveiled. The Saint’s life is published and the date of his or her commemoration is established. The other Orthodox Churches are notified of the glorification so that they can place the new Saint’s name on their calendars.

Through the prayers of all the Saints, may we be encouraged to follow their example of VIRTUE AND HOLINESS. AMEN. [Resourc: Orthodox Church in America, Father Joseph Frawley).

___________
"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
+ + +

With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father Geoge