Our Patron Saints - Saint Porphyrios & Saint Paisios

Why We Look to Our Patron Saints

The saints of the church, who are alive in Christ, are not only models whose lives and devotion to God we should strive to emulate, but also are intercessors to God. Individual faithful and parish communities are called upon to take a patron saint, in the tradition of the Holy Orthodox Church. Early churches were built at the site of the graves of many of the Holy Martyrs. These communities were dedicated with the name of the martyr, and he or she was called upon by the community who worshiped there to act as an intercessor and protector for the faithful. Churches today place relics of the saints inside the Altar table as well as in places for veneration in the church in remembrance of these holy men and women in our lives.

 

About Saint Porphyrios & Saint Paisios 

The patron saints that we look to for enlightenment for our Youth Ministry are Saint Porphyrios +1991 and Saint Paisios +1994, both of Mount Athos, and of the modern day, contemporary saints of the Orthodox Church in the last century.  Both of these Saints lived wondrous monastic lives, which has been brought to light by Christ’s love for His Church. As modern day saints, Saint Porphyrios and Saint Paisios were constantly telling stories from their own lives that helped make sense of spiritual teachings in the modern world to share faith, hope, and love. 

Saint Porphyrios the Kapsokalyvite was born in the little village of St. John Karystia, in the province of Evia on February 7, 1906. He was one of Orthodoxy’s most well known contemporary elders who happened to live most of his life working as a priest in a clinic chapel in Athens, Greece. As a child, Saint Porphyrios tended to sheep in the hills, where he first read about the life of Saint Joint the Hut-Dweller; this planted the desire of monasticism in his heart to devote his life to Christ. Venerable Elder Porphyrios was declared a saint on November 27, 2013 by the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and the church commemorates his feast day on December 2. 

Saint Paisios the Athonite was born in Cappadocia on July 25, 1924. He was a well-known Greek Eastern Orthodox elder from Mount Athos, respected for his spiritual guidance and ascetic life. He first visited Mt. Athos in 1949 after his time in the army. He returned in 1950 and, after a short time in the neighbourhood of Karyes, settled in the Monastery of Esphigmenou. Venerable Elder Paisios was declared a saint on January 13, 2015 by the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and the church commemorates his feast day on July 12.

Learn more about the lives and teachings of these glorious Saints:

       

Sources

The Life of Saint Porphyrios and Saint Paisios  from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America blog: https://blogs.goarch.org/blog/-/blogs/three-lessons-from-saint-porphyrios