It's not just the saints that you leave behind, but an entire concept about the saints, or your entire life as you knew it. Saints in the Orthodox Church are normal people who were healed by God, purified by sin and united with Him through The Grace of The Holy Spirit (theosis). So, this is a humble and existential approach to the saints, religion and God, as opposed to the idolatrous version (seeing the saints as people who are better than everybody through their own powers, unattainable, etc.)
As far as the saints themselves, you don't have to leave them behind as people, but to the contrary, you love them even more. But your whole concept about life and sainthood changes.