Modern Saints

[Raouf]

Friends,

The Coptic Church, thanks be to God, has been blessed with a tremendous amount of modern saints including patriarchs, bishops, holy ascetics, priests, layman, etc... And even now, there are many known and certainly unknown living saints. It is wonderful to read about their lives and works since there proximity to us is such a great testimony to God's continuous work in the world and also as hope and motivation for us still struggling on the path of perfection.

I also find that the accounts of the modern saints tend to be very thorough, giving extensive details about the saint's personality, dealings with others, virtues, prayer life, etc... This aspect seems to sometimes be missing in the saints of the early centuries (with the exceptions of course of such classic works as Vita Antony and the like).

I have also enjoyed reading from the modern saints in the EO tradition, especially the Russian and Greek saints of the 20th century.

I was hoping to learn more about modern saints in the other OO traditions - Indian, Syrian, Ethiopian, Armenian, etc... - especially from the 19th and 20th centuries. Also, if you can point me to English texts on their lives, virtues and miracles, that would be great.

In Christ,
Raouf

[Thomas Daniel (Reji)]

Mor Gregorios Geevarghese (Patron Saint of Malankara)
http://www.parumalathirumeni.com

Maphriyono Mor Baselios Yeldo
http://www.syriacchristianity.org/bio/MorBaseliosYeldho.htm

St.Gregorios Abdul’ Galeel
http://www.saintgregorios.org/PARAVUR/SaintGregorios.htm

[paul2004]

There are three saints remembered in the official liturgy (Indian Orthodox).

St. Gregorios (Parumala Thirumeni), Feast on Nov. 2   (declared saint by the Synod of Catholicos Mar Gheevarghese 11 on Nov 2, 1947)

http://www.stgregorios.com/2002/stg.asp

St. Baselius Yeldo, Feat on Oct. 3  (declared saint by the Synod of Catholicos Mar Gheevarghese 11 on Nov 2, 1947)

St. Dionysius (Vattasheril Thirumeni), Feast on Feb. 24  (declared saint by the Synod of Catholicos Mar Mathews 11 on 24 th February 2003)

http://www.massey.ac.nz/~ccherian/stdionysiusnz/saints.htm

There are other fathers considered saints by people, as they go to their resting place for intercession, as well as church observe feast. But they are still not declared saints by the Synod. Few fathers considered saints are:

- Mar Ahatallah Bava (believed to be sent by Alexandria, feast at Thumpamon and Mavelikkara Orthodox churches), Feast day January 13-15.

- Blessed Kuriakose Mar Gregorios (Pampady Thirumeni, Late Metropolitan of Kottayam), Feast on April 5.

http://www.icbs.com/prayer/conflict-resolution-in-church.htm
http://www.stgregorios.com/2002/listening.asp


- Mar Gregorios Abdul Jeleel, Patriarch of Jerusalem (Feast April 27)

- Catholicos Mar Gheevarghese 11, Feast on Jaunary 3

- Anchel Achen  (Priest).

- Kallada Muthappan (Anthrayose  Bava) Feast March 2-4 at Kallada Orthodox Church.
http://www.indianchristianity.org/orthodox/calendar.html


There are many other saints, considered so by people and the church,  in local places.

There is a church some 5 kms. from my home in India were two lay people are buried. From ancient times people go there and light candles, as well as feast celebrated by priest.

---------------------------------

-Paul

[Mor Ephrem]

Dear Paul,

For a long time, I've been very sorry that our Church in India has chosen not to canonise as many of its faithful members as other Churches have.  In two thousand years, we have two or three officially canonised saints (while other Churches have scores, even hundreds and thousands in some cases), and yet, in your post you reference several holy individuals of our land who are regarded by the people as saints, but not formally canonised.  Why have they not been canonised?  Is there any hope that they will be formally canonised?  I believe our Church needs as many examples of holiness as possible, because it is through personal holiness that I believe most of the problems in our Church will be solved, and I think the canonisation of truly holy people will provide in a very public way examples to be emulated, and holy ones to intercede on our behalf, and to receive our veneration for all the things God has done through them.  I hope our Church is or will give this sort of thing some consideration.

[paul2004]

Dear Phil, We don't have a canonization proceedure. But eventually the Synod will consider a father through observations and make a declaration officially accepting as a saint, so that churches can be built in the name of the saint.  In 2003, it was a declaration read during the liturgy con-celebrated by all the Bishops in the Synod.


-Paul

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