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The points in Orthodox Christian theology have often
been misunderstood. The Orthodox Church believes that
sainthood is the normal goal of every Christian as we
enter the fullness of Christ at Baptism and Chrismation.
In the Orthodox tradition holiness is a process that is
on going throughout life and leads us to deification
(divinization) in the Holy Spirit.
The holiness code itself goes back to the Old Testament
wherein keeping the Law of Moses sanctified the
individual as well as the community. In the New
Testament this tradition was continued with an
additional emphasis on the love of God and the love
neighbor. As we understand it holiness must include all
aspects of the spiritual life including morality and the
development of a Christian conscience.
The saints in every age have taken up the cross and
followed Christ no matter what the cost. During this
course we will examine sanctity and its ramifications in
our levels by taking a look at some very modern saints
in the Orthodox Church.
The saints, though diverse, are united in their witness
to the crucified and risen Christ. Like John the
Baptist, their lives point consistently away from
themselves and toward Christ: “He must grow greater,
and I must grow smaller.” It is to be hoped that in
making their lives and writings accessible to a wider
public, we in our generation may be renewed in our
discipleship, and recover a more dynamic sense of our
participation in the body of Christ.
Why were the saints saints? Because they were cheerful
when it was difficult to be cheerful, patient when it
was difficult to be patient, and because they pushed on
when they wanted to stand still, and kept silent when
they wanted to talk, and were agreeable when they wanted
to be disagreeable. That was all. It was quite simple
and always will be.
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