About patronages: I've found patronage to be kind of odd in some ways. I can't remember the exact scenario, but for instance: Saint X was tortured by having his ear ripped off, and so you pray to him if you have an earache. That I personally find a bit too close to searching out just the right "magic spell" for a given ailment. Perhaps its just the
excessive systemization I have trouble with.
But I think the saints, while always willing to help everyone, have particular interests based on what they are known for. St Mary of Egypt is known for her repentance after a life of sexual sin, so if one struggles in that area she is someone to turn to, because she knows something about it. The key is always to think of the saints as people, because they are. People have interests in specific areas, and so do the saints.
That has helped me, anyway.
[edit] I have a question about addressing saints as well. Many people refer to bishops as "Sayedna" or "Vladika". Would it be inappropriate to refer to a bishop, say, St Raphael of Brooklyn, as "Sayedna" in prayer, if it's meant in loving respect? I love hearing stories about people who knew saints personally when they were alive, and the family-like familiarity in that is beautiful.
