www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Your favorite ORTHODOX Saint

Pre-break... but I can't help but say St. Gregory the Theologian.

St. Helen or as she is also know the Empress Helen, the mother of St. Constantine. I was named in her honor. I admire her for her choice to accept Christianity and her work in identifying sacred places in the Holy Land.
However, because of reading this forum I have learned about St. Xenia of St. Petersburg and she may become my favourite saint.
I admire St. Xenia for her strength of faith and her patronage of the poor and hungry. Somehow now that I know about her, St. Xenia seems closer to me both in time, in her life and ministry of caring for the poor than a grand historical empress.
Halia

St Kosmas Aitolos, an account of whose life and teachings may be found here:

http://www.stmaryofegypt.org/kosmas/welcome.html

and also St Nektarios.

I found this about St. Kosmas at the website [stmaryofegypt.org] you recommended. It sounds like the Holy Spirit did some profound work through this man ! God be praised !

"The anchorite and hieromonk Kosmas arrived [in Kephallenia] in 1777. Initially, he preached in the rural areas and then in the city, being followed by thousands of inhabitants of every class and sex. The austerity of his character, the evangelical simplicity of his words and the power of his arguments brought about such a transformation of life that families that were enemies were seen living together as brothers, having exchanged the kiss of peace and asking of each other forgiveness. Men who had committed serious crimes were seen crying bitterly over their sins. Broken marriages of long standing were restored again. Prostitutes abandoned their shameful work and returned filled with repentance and prudence. Rich upper class young ladies gave away their valuable jewelry to the poor or to churches. Court trials ceased. Stolen articles were returned. Insults were forgiven. Depraved men took up the monastic habit and followed the preacher. In a few words, the appearance of the island was transformed."

Halia,

If you read about her many miracles while still alive, you will see that she was a good friend to her female friends. I loved this about her. She visited them and prayed for them and for their earthly cares: unemployment, being unmarried, having drunken husbands, etc.

She also cared so much about the fact that her young husband died after drinking, and that he was therefore, unrepentant. She brings to the faithful the importance of the panakhida/memorial prayers for those who have passed on.

It is as if she understands the problems associated with people all over the world and from all different walks of life, and her miracles were granted accordingly--a newly grieving widower was 'matched up' with an unmarried friend, jobs were granted, children were healed, even an engagement of a friend (to an imposter) was broken up thanks to a miraculous turn of events which exposed the murderer posing as a respectable general to his fiancee, etc., etc., etc....All her stories are so relevant and so resonant of the delicate and loving side of our gender.

What a wonderful friend the people of St. Petersburg had during her life, and whom ALL faithful have today in this precious and holy 'fool for Christ'.

St. Xenia of St. Petersburg, our dearest friend in Heaven, pray unto God for us!

Alice

Wow: Alice and Halia, thank you. I'm going to have read up on St. Xenia of St. Petersburg.

-- John

Yes, that's for sure. Fr Kosmas was possessed of tremendous physical, moral and spiritual courage. I made an immediate connection with Fr Kosmas as soon as I read about him. He was extremely concerned about the need for education, and this reminded me of the hedge schools that we had here in Ireland at this time. Indeed, his championing of the poor and his safeguarding of the spiritual and national identity of his people very much spoke to me as an Irishwoman. He reminded me of an old-style Catholic priest who loved his people but wasn't afraid to address their faults or say what needed to be said. There is a book by Constantine Cavarnos in the series Modern Orthodox Saints which reproduces the account of Fr Kosmas' life by his disciple Sapphiros Christodoulidis, and an overview of his teachings. You can find an extract plus the troparion, kontakion and megalynarion to the saint here:

http://www.serfes.org/writtings/stcosmas.htm

Brigid

Dear Brigid,

Up here, we have an Orthodox monastery in honour of St Kosmas Aitolos (Bolton, Ont.), that has a miraculous icon of St Kosmas!

The nuns make prayer ropes and one nun there has an icon button for every day of the year now!

Alex

After reading your post on ST Xenia I will be praying for a few friends who are in very difficult marriages. YOur post answered a question I had of who to pray to for my friends. Thank you very much! Once again I am uplifted by your post.
God bless you!

Dear Alex,

Thanks, I presume this is the icon we can see in the Feastday slideshow on the monastery's website?

Alas, we don't have any Orthodox monasteries in Ireland.

Brigid

My favorite Orthodox saints are John of Kronstadt, Mark of Ephesus, and Photius the Great!!!!!

I forgot about St. Elizabeth, I would add her to my list...

St. Seraphim of Sarvo...

james

I added another St Helen of Synopi to my website. She is a great example of courage, purity and holiness for youth and adults!

Enjoy!

Gordo

http://www.catholicchurchgeek.com/holy_martyrs

This St Helena sounds wonderful!